An eye-opening experience which has given him the courage and zeal to pursue the stories that really matter is how one journalist described winning the Young Journalist Award.
Maurice Oniango from Kenya joined fellow winners in sharing the transformative impact the accolade and subsequent mentoring by the foundation has had on their confidence and careers.
The Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award 2019 is open for entries until 16th August. To qualify, journalists must be 30 or under and reporting from a country with a Gross National Income per capita of $20,000 or less.
Judges of the award look for stories that are revelatory, prompt public debate and have led to, or have the potential to lead to, positive change in society. Three finalists will be flown to London in November to spend two nights in the city and attend the gala award night hosted by the UK Foreign Press Association (FPA).
Here is what our previous winners have to say about what their victory has meant to them.
"It opened so many doors for me. A huge thank you to Thomson Foundation for empowering local journalists"
Yousra Elbagir, 2016 Young Journalist winner
-- Play
-- --
I see a lot of interesting things awaiting for me - Alisa Kustikova, Russia It was a great honour for me to be the winner, says Alisa Kustikova, the 2018 winner and the first Russian to win the prize. It helps me to understand the next step I want to take.
I will always be interested in telling stories about people and the problems they are in. I want to tell complex stories that society is not ready to hear about. In the near future I see a lot of interesting things awaiting for me.
I would say to others, be sure to try your hand. This is the chance for you and the chance for the journalistic community of the country that you represent to demonstrate their achievement and level.
Winning was a watershed moment - Judy Kosgei, Kenya The award reaffirmed that little voice in my head that said changing lives begins with me, says Kenyas Judy Kosgei, who was the first winner of the award back in 2013 and whose winning work resulted in a change in the education law in Kenya.
Winning was a watershed moment as it not only gave me the chance to amplify the voices of the marginalised, but it also connected me to key networks and personalities who have since shaped my worldview.
My passion then, as it is now, is to advocate for the rights of the marginalised. It is in receiving the Young Journalist Award that I have now been given the skills and platforms to effectively get them to be heard.
I would say to any journalist and aspiring journalist out there, rewrite the narrative and influence change. No media platform is too small to stir change, no voice too low, no picture too hazy and no ink too faint.
There is no greater opportunity than this.
-- Play
-- --
It has helped me excel as a journalist - Mariana Motrunych, Ukraine It can be a dangerous and difficult job, but journalists have a lot of tools to change the world and improve the lives of ordinary people, says 2017 winner, Ukrainian investigative reporter, Mariana Motrunych.
It was a really great honour to be the winner of the Young Journalist Award. It has helped me excel as a journalist and has made me understand that my material and reporting is necessary. It's given me more confidence.
I strongly recommend that others apply for this award. It can bring new opportunities for you, new job offers, new projects, and of course, an interesting trip to London!
-- Play
-- --
For me, it was just as much about the support after winning - Waad Al Kateab, Syria The award has given me a lot of confidence and hope that we, as new voices around the world, are heard, says Syrian filmmaker and producer for Britains Channel 4 News, Waad Al Kateab. Waad received special recognition in 2017 as part of the Young Journalist Award.
I was very honoured to receive this award. But it's not just about the award, but the good relationship with and the support received from Thomson Foundation after receiving the award.
The inspiration that journalists and their work can give to others can help to change the world. I would tell people to apply for this award. It gives you a push and enables you to have relationships with people who can give you a lot of support. It's also great to just have people recognise our voices and our work.
-- Play
-- --
The whole experience has been an eye-opener - Maurice Oniang'o, Kenya The Young Journalist Award has enabled me to get onto platforms that I would never, ever have even imagined getting onto before I won the award, enthuses Maurice Oniang'o from Kenya who was the worthy winner of the award in 2014.
It has opened so many doors for me as a journalist. The whole experience has been an eye-opener in terms of the kind of journalist I want to be and the kind of content I want to give my audience.
The award gave me the courage and zeal to pursue stories that are informative and create impact in society. It's encouragement that your effort to bring change in society has received recognition.
For anyone thinking of applying, I would say, please, do make your submission. This award will take you places that you never imagined you will go.
-- Play
-- --
The award came with enormous exposure - Caroline Ariba, Uganda A lot has changed since winning, says 2015 winner, Ugandan journalist, Caroline Ariba, who won the award at the FPA Awards ceremony held in November in 2015.
The award came with enormous exposure. Recognition at this level means everything and the experience has opened doors. I once walked into a meeting with ambassadors and they all stood up. I wasn't just Caroline Ariba anymore, but an award-winning and respected journalist. T
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
19/08/2026
As the cost of IP nears price parity with traditional SDI, Reynolds argues that ...
19/08/2026
A private 5G bubble was chosen instead of traditional broadcast RF for the race ...
19/08/2026
(L-R) Rafael Manuel and Isabel Sicat attend the Filipi ana premiere during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at The Ray Theatre on January 23, 2026, in Park Cit...
19/08/2026
Studio owners invited to have their say on rates cuts
The Music Producers Guild (MPG) are inviting UK-based studios to take part in an in-depth survey that ...
19/08/2026
Vintage-inspired desktop interface revealed
Harrison's latest hardware offering sees them head into the world of audio interfaces, delivering a 10-in/12...
19/08/2026
Granular effect remains locked to scale and tempo
Described as your dream granular effect , Minimal Audio's latest creation is capable of turning any s...
19/08/2026
First polyphonic SWAM instrument incoming
Audio Modeling's latest physical-modelling orchestral instrument is just around the corner, and is now availab...
19/08/2026
World Cup Games Generate 84 Billion Minutes Across FOX, Fox Sports 1 and NBCU...
19/08/2026
July brought typical peak-holiday drops in viewership, driven primarily by viewers stepping away from screens and a visible decline in reach across both traditi...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Henry joins BCE as the company accelerates its commercial strategy and expands its international presence across the media, broadcast and technology markets. He...
19/08/2026
iWedia, a leading provider of software solutions for connected TV devices, today announced a major milestone in Android platform optimization with the successfu...
19/08/2026
NTP Technology announces that ST 2110-30 audio-over-IP connectivity with AES67 and RAVENNA capabilities is now available for the brand's world-class audio i...
19/08/2026
Net Insight has been selected to provide its Nimbra platform by the service provider Big Blue Marble, formerly ORS Group, as the core media transport solution f...
19/08/2026
LiveU has supported Coventry City FC and several other top-flight UK football clubs through one of their most demanding live production challenges of the year, ...
19/08/2026
Nature Seekers Documentary Shot with Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K LF
Brie Clayton August 18, 2026
0 Comments
Filming endangered turtles required camera...
19/08/2026
Neyrinck Brings D-Control Consoles Back to Life on Apple Silicon with D-Control ...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
19/08/2026
Riedel Communications today announced that Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Australia, implemented a comprehensive communications infrastructure that brin...
19/08/2026
QuickLink, a leading provider of award-winning video production and remote guest contribution solutions, will spotlight a major leap forward in remote guest con...
19/08/2026
Integrated platform melds media asset management, playout automation and newsroom workflows
EMAM, PlayBox Neo and SNEWS have officially launched Nuvex, a conne...
19/08/2026
Screen Australia releases the Private Investment Toolkit to strengthen screen in...
19/08/2026
Do Aussies truly value local content? Unpacking Screen Currency 2026 with Deirdr...
19/08/2026
There's an early Christmas gift for Bookish fans, as UKTV confirms the re-commission of the hit U&alibi drama, created by and starring Mark Gatiss. Viewers ...
19/08/2026
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sky gives sports fans the chance to watch multiple liv...
19/08/2026
On Saturday September 5 Katie Taylor will step into the ring for the fight of her life against Flora Pili in front of 80,000 fans in Croke Park. A legendary fig...
18/08/2026
SportStream 2026, a free three-day virtual event, will take place September 15-17. One registration provides access to all three days of live programming and on...
18/08/2026
BeckTV will introduce BeckFlow to the European market at IBC2026, demonstrated on the Providius stand (10.F53).
BeckFlow is a web-based schematic documentation...
18/08/2026
Boland Communications will introduce a SMPTE ST 2110 input option for its 4K monitors at IBC2026, along with a new 55-inch super-narrow bezel display for video ...
18/08/2026
Dolby Laboratories and the Seattle Seahawks have announced a partnership integrating Dolby OptiView into the Seahawks' live streaming coverage, making the S...
18/08/2026
For BMG Executive Producer of Sports Production, Graham Taylor, producing live s...
18/08/2026
TMRW Sports has appointed Rufus Hack as President of Golf, a newly created role in which he will lead the company's golf businesses including TGL presented ...
18/08/2026
SMT will provide race technology for FOX Sports' coverage of the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, D.C. on August 23, when the NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ...
18/08/2026
The live, YouTube-native roundtables combine fan voices, credentialed reporters,...
18/08/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
18/08/2026
The industry legend sounds off on replacing the Heat's iconic Medusa score...
18/08/2026
William F. Rasmussen, the sports fan-turned broadcaster and entrepreneur whose out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the ...
18/08/2026
DAZN Group has completed its acquisition of ViewLift, a provider of streaming and digital solutions for sports content owners. The acquisition was first announc...
18/08/2026
The American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB) has added SI TV, Sports Illustrated's 24/7 streaming channel, as a broadcast partner for the remain...
18/08/2026
The Esports Foundation has announced that the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), originally scheduled for November 2026 in Riyadh, will be postponed to Novemb...
18/08/2026
Diversified has announced a new Global Managed Services Practice, consolidating the company's managed services capabilities into one organization. Rob Mello...
18/08/2026
Appear has completed a proof of concept with Thoroughbred Racing Productions (TRP), demonstrating multi-camera remote live production over bonded 5G cellular an...
An eye-opening experience which has given him the courage and zeal to pursue the stories that really matter is how one journalist described winning the Young Journalist Award. 
