#AWiM21 Pitch Zone received pitches from incredible media women all over the continent. It is our pleasure to profile Elizabeth Angira, from  Kenya, who won the ‘Africa’s digital transformation strategy – How the digital economy can help accelerate the achievement of the Africa We Want‘  Category. Read more about Elizabeth below

Tell us/the readers about yourself, your education, job, interests and what you do for fun

A journalist based in Kisii County, Kenya, I am an associate member of Political Journalist Association and Kenya Correspondent Association.

I am accredited as a journalist by the Media Council of Kenya (MCK). The Council, as indicated on its website, is an independent national institution established by the Media Council Act, No. 20 of 2013. Its mandate includes setting media standards and ensuring compliance with those standards as set out in Article 34(5) of the Constitution.

A holder of a Diploma in Mass Communication and Journalism from the Eldoret Aviation Training Institute, I won the African Journalist Gender Equality Award in 2021 organized by the African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET). FEMNET is Pan-African Feminist and membership-based network.

As an accomplished and results-oriented professional with years of experience of developing, researching for and writing insightful feature and news stories, public relation initiatives and campaigns, social media digital marketing, audio editing, script writing, voicing journalism, and communication to inform, educate, entertain and propel brand exposure and growth.

A multimedia journalist, I possess a wide range of knowledge and skills in reporting, audio editing, script writing, feature writing, production of radio programmes, voicing, mass communication and journalism.

I am currently working with The Sun Weekly, an online publication, as a reporter where I have gained hands-on experience in audio editing, script writing, voicing, feature and news writing and public relations.

I have, however, corresponded and had my stories published/aired by different national and community print and electronic media houses including The Standard, The Nairobian, Kenya Institute of Management (KIM)’s Management Magazine, Kenyan Weekly, HIVI SASA, Scholarmedia, The County News, Qwetu Radio, Opera News Hub, Education, Gusii Star , Radio Baraza (Development Reporters)  Hope FM Radio and TV. Also my stories and a recipe programme are aired on Radio Vuna.

I enjoy reading books, magazines, newspapers and other publications, listening/watching feature documentaries, cartoons and gospel music and traveling.

What was your inspiration for the story that won the award? Why did you pitch in that particular category?

It is a story I felt I have an obligation to Africans to tell. The global economy is transforming into a knowledge-based economy and African countries, including Kenya, face a stark reality –swim or sink in the raging sea known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The scenario is both exciting and scaring for the African journalist, including myself, because, depending on how well or poorly the continent handles the 4IR- use technologies, artificial intelligence, big data and high speed connectivity, the opportunities and consequences are beyond comprehension. Failure to embrace it by creating an enabling legal, regulatory and resource infrastructure, the continent will be consigned into, at best, a spectator and, at worst, a market and dumping ground for other continents production processes. Tap, exploit or harness the 4IR and the continent will be motoring into socioeconomic prosperity with its fast-growing highly educated and skilled youth population in the driving seat. I felt I have to tell the story in a simple and easy to understand manner for the small scale farmer in Kenya, a fisherman in Nigeria, a miner in South Africa or harder in the Sudan will comprehend because 4IR is going to have a lifetime impact on them.

How did you feel when you found out about your winning?

Since I was not expecting to win, I was overwhelmed with a contradiction of emotions after I got the response. I was overjoyed because someone had agreed with me that it is a story worth telling. At the same time a strong wave of fear hit me after it dawned on me what the win meant – I suddenly had a big responsibility to tell this big story in the most captivating way to have the desired impact.

What was the most interesting or best thing about this story?

Africa was the latecomer into all the past phases of global economic development -the First, Second and Third Industrial Revolutions. But here is the 4IR, a new phase of economic development, in which Africa –with its army of youthful, educated and highly skilled citizens who have honed their craft both at home and abroad- is starting almost on the same footing with the rest of the world. I am here writing a story about it not from history books like in the three past revolutions, but living through it.

What challenges do you expect to face when working on this story?

The biggest challenge remains the sources for the story. This being a new and fairly technical and even specialised area, few people comprehend it well. Most of these are mostly educated researchers or technocrats who are busy and are found in big cities like Nairobi. Reaching them requires planning, traveling or long hours of telephone calls. Even then, the information most of them provide is coached in a highly technical jargon. My goal is to reach them and break down whatever information they will provide me into easy to read content.

What support do women journalists need to produce similar stories?

They need capacity building through training, mentoring and attachments besides facilitation to research for the stories.

What advice would you give other journalists seeking to produce similar stories?

Read widely, especially stories of seasoned and successful journalists, believe in yourself and never give up.

What advice do you wish you had been given before you pitched this story and before you started working on it?

Elizabeth you are a good journalist and you can do it.

What lessons/tips are you taking with you after working on this story?

Lessons/tips I have learnt are:

-As an African journalist, it is my obligation to tell the African stories

-The African story is an interesting story

-There are many interesting and impactful stories in Africa only waiting to be told;

-Global developments can make good African stories if given a local angle; and

-There is no technical topic that cannot be told in a simple and easy to understand language.

Did the pitch zone award make any difference in the way you executed this story or in your ability and intention to work on this story?

Yes, the conditions set made me think creatively and the topics provided gave me a lead.

Who is an African journalist/ media woman that inspires you and why?

Catherine Gicheru, an International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ) Knight Fellow, inspires me for, besides breaking the proverbial glassceiling in Kenyan media by rising to a news editor in the country’s largest media house -Nation Media Group, and her capacity to remain an ever – present and insightful writer of impactful African stories and mentoring young journalists

What is a quote that inspires you?

“If you don’t like someone’s story, write your own”- Chinua Achebe