AIPS Awards Highlight Deep Divide in Global Sports Journalism, Uganda Lags Behind

The AIPS Sport Media Awards, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, drew 1,987 entries from 130 countries across writing, photography, audio, and video categories. While celebrating top global talent, the event underscored a persistent gap, with no Ugandan journalists securing recognition and Africa underrepresented on the podium.

Final winners hailed from countries like Brazil, France, Italy, and Iran, featuring standout works such as Henrique Arcoverde’s ‘Galeguinho - The Backwards Runner’ in short video features and Loïc Venance’s Tour de France portfolio. African journalists earned special mentions in categories like investigative reporting (Baboucarr Fallaboweh from Gambia) and anti-doping (Geoffrey Anene from Kenya), but top honors eluded the continent.

Leon Ssenyange, former Uganda Sports Press Association executive now at CGTN, attributes the disparity to shallow reporting practices. ‘We focus on results without digging deeper for meaning,’ he said, stressing the need for purpose-driven pitches and robust editorial oversight, which local newsrooms often lack.

Freelance work dominates Uganda’s sports journalism, fostering isolation over teamwork. Ssenyange notes that without quality controls, even talented pieces falter. Abdul-Nasser Ssemugabi, an ACME award-winning Daily Monitor features writer known for boxing and disability sports stories, echoes this, lamenting inadequate equipment, funding, and collaborative support.

‘Good journalism thrives on teams and grants, but here we chase volume alone,’ Ssemugabi observed, highlighting untapped potential in untold stories stifled by constraints.

AIPS leaders acknowledge these imbalances, pushing for better access to tools and training amid growing calls for equitable global standards.

Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)