Vision Group's Kaija scoops international award

 

 

PORTUGAL - Vision Group's Editor-in-Chief, Barbara Kaija has won an international award from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publisher (WAN-IFRA) for her excellent leadership in the newsroom.

 

Renowned for her excellent leadership in the newsroom, Kaija was recognised in the "Women in News Editorial Leadership," Awards category that identifies exemplary contribution of an editor in her newsroom and under her leadership as well as the contribution of her newspaper to society.

 

According to the Women in News website, http://www.womeninnews.org/, Kaija was named the 2018 Africa Laureate alongside Noura al Hourani, Lead Arabic Editor at Syria Direct.

 

Commenting on her recognition, Kaija said: "This acknowledgement by WAN-IFRA is recognition for all women in the media in Africa. My win, is a win for all women in the newsroom at Vision Group and all women in the media in Uganda.

 

"I am humbled to join the few women laureates in newsrooms in Africa and I pray that this will grow into a large army and large voice for the voiceless in our society." 

 

Hourani also said: "Today, we must strive to empower women at all levels and ensure that they are properly represented in leadership roles, both politically and professionally, especially in the Middle East.

 

"I am incredibly grateful to Syria Direct for providing me with my first opportunity to lead and I want to thank WAN-IFRA for your support and encouragement for women to be role models."

 

The award is part of WAN-IFRA's Women in News initiative, supported by Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

The 2018 awardees will be honoured at the WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress and World Editors' Forum slated to take place in Estoril-Cascais, Portugal from June 6-8, this year.

 

Former awardees include Toyosi Ogunseye, former editor of the Sunday Punch in Nigeria; Karima Kamal, columnist and contributing editor for the Egyptian daily Al Masry Al Yom and Pamella Sittoni, editor of the International Desk for the Nation Media Group and Managing Editor for The East African.