TV 47 journalist Sharon Barang’a wins international award

Sharon Barang’a of TV47, a renowned journalist, placed second in Colombia’s 2022 International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Violence Against Children Reporting Contest.

As part of a collaboration between the ICFJ and the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve the caliber and volume of news coverage on violence against children worldwide, the Violence Against Children Reporting Competition was held.

Due to her “Child Maltreatment Documentary,” which received 50 entries from all around the world, Barang’a, a seasoned Kenyan journalist, placed second.

Winners received a prize of Ksh122,570 (USD$1,000), second-place Ksh91,928 (USD $750), and in third-place position Ksh61,285 (USD$500).

“Reporting on violence against children is critically important, and it requires great care and professionalism.

“The winning entries shed light on this under-reported topic, with coverage that is careful, human-centric and solutions-oriented,” ICFJ’s deputy vice president of programs Aliza Appelbaum stated.

In determining the winners, two adjudicating global organizations developed a media guide about a solution-oriented reporting on violence against children where contestants were encouraged to comply with.

A distinguished panel of judges from ICFJ and its partners received the 50 entries and selected winners from three WHO priority countries – Colombia, Kenya and the Philippines.

In 2016 Barang’a received the Mandela Washington Fellowship, launched by former President Barack Obama and funded by the US Department of State.

The media personality was among the winners of ICFJ’s Early Childhood Development Reporting Contest also in 2016.

In her presentation Barang’a showcased how essential naps were helping preschoolers learn and retain information, the importance of play in early childhood brain development and community efforts to feed and clothe vulnerable orphaned children in the society.

The award-winning broadcast journalist has over ten years of experience in the field of journalism. She also boasts of over five years of reporting on topics that cover on education and children’s affairs. Before joining TV47, Barang’a was a reporter at NTV.

The renowned features reporter holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Communication from Tangaza University, a constituent of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa – CUEA.