Welles Prize winner Dogbevi shares the struggles of African biz reporting

Emmanuel Dogbevi of Ghana Business News shared his acceptance speech for the Welles Prize from the Columbia University Knight-Bagehot program.

Dogbevi writes, “Just like my inability to pay for my way and come to New York, I have so many other stories untold because I can’t afford to pay for the cost of writing them. And from my part of the world where I live and work as a journalist, often my work is considered as an affront to people. I am often seen as a criminal. Journalism is seen as a crime.

“The police, military or secret service, could decide to arrest, detain and or torture me for doing journalism; and there are judges in whose court when I appear, I am not likely to get a fair trial when I am accused of any crime while doing journalism. That goes without saying that, I live in a democratic country with a constitution and a mantra for the rule of law and respect for human rights, free speech and free media.

“And most Journalists who feel and have the responsibility to hold power to account are often unable to do their work.

“Think about it. How many of such stories haven’t been written because journalists cannot afford to. For safety reasons and for lack of resources.”

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