The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Thursday released the names of winners of this year’s awards. The event is on the theme: “Giving Credence to Elections and Democratic Stability: The Role of the Media” slated for the Banquet Hall of the State House in Accra on Saturday, August 25, 2012. Out of the 434 entries, 35 journalists and media institutions were selected for 35 categories of awards. They include Samuel Nii Narku Dowuona, Adom Online, Samuel Darko, Joy FM, Ms Doreen Hammond, Daily Graphic, Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah, Daily Graphic, Edmund Smith-Asante, Ghana Business News, Jamila Akweley Okertchiri, Daily Guide, Albert Futukpor, GNA, Rosemary Gaise, GBC Radio, John Vigah, and Ghanaian Times. The rest are Suleiman Mustapha, Graphic Business, Shirley Asiedu-Addo, Daily Graphic, Portia Solomon, TV3; Geoffrey Buta, Ghanaian Times, and Francis Asamoah Tuffour, Ghanaian Times, among other winners. The awards also include the Journalist of Year and the most promising young journalist, Human Rights (with focus on children), news reporting print, newspaper lay-out & design, sanitation and water for all, anti-corruption and oil and gas. The rest are investigative reporting, social security (individual and media institution), agriculture, HIV & AIDS, human rights, crime and court reporting. The applicants were assessed on their ability to demonstrate high levels of accuracy, balance, relevance and language in their writings. The social impact of the story and its effect on society and the journalist’s initiative in developing the story beyond the assignment, were also considered. The awards committee was also interested in journalists whose writings complied with ethical standards, safeguarded the innocent and treated sensitive issues with dignity. The committee said successful applicants were those who wrote truthful and valid stories. At a press conference held in Accra, the Chairman of the 11-member committee of this year’s awards, Mr Edward Ameyibor, observed that the committee received entries and nominations from journalists across the country. There were no entries from journalists from four regions: the Brong-Ahafo, Volta, Upper East and the Upper West regions, he said. In addition, Mr Ameyibor said 12 awards would have first and second runner-ups, adding that this was the first time the GJA was initiating such a “pilot-based” category. However, he noted, there were a number of challenges that included packaging, labelling, categorising, sorting out and endorsement of the entries received from candidates, which delayed the work of the committee as compared to the efforts candidates made in their entries four years ago. He, therefore, advised news editors of the various media houses to help their journalists and endorse their entries before they submit them. Meanwhile, Newmont Ghana Limited has presented GH¢20,000, to support the awards ceremony. Ashfoam Limited has sponsored the Best TV Journalist award with GH¢3,500, a mattress to the Best Journalist on Human Rights (with focus on children) while Plan International has contributed GH¢3,500 and Cosmos Energy, GH¢3,000 and an Ipad.