JoySports' Joseph Ayinga-Walter has been shortlisted among the top five young reporters worldwide for this year’s AIPS Awards, set to take place in Morocco.

The undergraduate journalism student at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC–IJ), formerly known as the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), earned the recognition for his compelling story, “From Riches to Rags: The Story of Eric Agyemang, Former Ghana Premier League Star,” which made waves last year.

His work has been acknowledged as one of the best stories submitted by young sports journalists across the globe, according to the judging panel.

The feature chronicles the tragic decline of Eric Agyemang, a former Berekum Chelsea player whose life took a drastic turn, leaving him battling alcoholism and living in an uncompleted building.

Since the story aired, Agyemang has reconnected with former teammates and now holds a well-paying position at Sapholda Ventures.

The AIPS Sport Media Awards, now in its sixth edition, are the highest international accolade in sports journalism, celebrating excellence and inspiring a new generation of sports media professionals worldwide.

Ayinga-Walter’s work stood out among more than 1,890 submissions from 141 countries, with his entry making it into the top 35 percent of qualified submissions—a testament to its quality, creativity, and journalistic depth.

The announcement of the Top 5 finalists marks the third stage of the judging process, guided by the preferences of the AIPS Executive Committee. Winners will be officially announced on May 13, 2025, at a grand ceremony in Rabat, Morocco.

This year’s competition saw over 600 submissions in the Young Reporters categories alone, cutting across 11 award categories, including Video (Athlete Profile, Documentary, Short Feature), Young Reporters (Broadcasting, Photography, Writing), Audio, Photography (Portfolio, Sport Action), and Writing (Best Colour Piece, Best Column).

Since its inception in 2018, the AIPS Sport Media Awards have accepted entries from 161 countries, awarding over $500,000 USD in prize money to outstanding sports journalists across the globe.