Journalist of the Year 2025, Moses Apiah, says training by DW Akademie and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) changed how he approaches journalism, teaching him to look beyond events and headlines to the lived experiences of the people at the centre of his stories.
Speaking on A1 Radio after winning the overall award at the 5th Upper East Regional Ghana Journalists Association Awards, Mr Apiah said the training had particularly influenced his approach to investigative and development journalism.
“Their training actually shaped my understanding to go beyond the headlines, to telling the lived experiences of my protagonists,” he said.
According to Mr Apiah, the training encouraged him to look beyond what had happened and examine how an issue affects the people involved, particularly when reporting on vulnerable communities and accountability issues.
He cited his reporting on period poverty among adolescent girls in Bawku and the alleged defilement of two young sisters as examples of stories in which he sought to place the experiences of affected people and families at the centre of his reporting.
Mr Apiah said producing such stories could be demanding, requiring journalists to spend considerable time gathering evidence, building trust with sources and seeking responses from relevant institutions.
He said the approach had, however, helped him better document the human consequences of some of the social and development issues affecting communities in the Upper East Region.
Mr Apiah also acknowledged the role of A1 Radio in his professional development and said the recognition at the GJA Awards had strengthened his resolve to continue pursuing such stories.
“Going forward, this winning empowers me more to do more,” he said.
The 5th Upper East Regional GJA Awards were held under the theme, “Beyond the Headlines: The Media’s Role in Promoting WASH for Safe Motherhood and Quality Healthcare.”
The awards were headlined by MyTurn Constructions Limited and Lesken Enterprise Limited, with Kacstones Records and Paga Youth Movement serving as main sponsors.
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