Ace Journalists; Channels TV’s Opurum, Guardian’s Godwin Bag DMOMA Awards

Celebrated journalists, Charles Opurum of Channels TV and Guardian Newspaper’s Ann Godwin at the weekend won Best Television Reporter and Media Personality of the Year at the Distinguished Media Organisation Merit Award (DMOMA).

The awards were conferred on the duo alongside others by Dez Mayorz Group at the DMOMA Awards Heritage Edition on Saturday, December 13, 2025 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Reacting to the award in an interview with Kristina Reports on the sidelines of the event, Opurum attributed the award to hardwork and dedication, revealing that the award has been given to him twice in a row as he has spent only three years in Port Harcourt.

He said the award is a call for more work as it places recipients in the spotlight, appreciating the management of Channels Television for the privilege of serving in the media house, encouraging journalists to work hard and remain focused.

“My call to other journalists like myself is, these are low-hanging fruits. Journalists should find a way to incorporate other human angle stories, give a voice to the voiceless, even if they cannot pay for it.”

“We know that the politicians pay for airspace and all these things, but those who cannot pay for this should also find a way to give them that voice.”

“So, that’s my call to my colleagues. If you want to get into journalism, you must focus, you must know why you’re getting into it.”

“If it’s money you’re pursuing, if that’s your interest, at the beginning you’ll be disappointed, because this is a call to service.”

“So, as a call to service, you have to put in the work, and after you do the time, whatever it is you’re looking for, we’ll start rolling it. So, it’s a call to service.”

On her part, Ann Godwin, who is the South-South Bureau Chief of the Guardian Newspaper, told Kristina Reports that the challenges of practicing Journalism are enormous “but with dedication and focus, one can achieve anything on merit”.

She said the award, for her, is not just an award but a healing from pains, patience and perseverance amidst the storms.

“It’s like a charge and a challenge for us, Nigerians to do more in the civic space, to take our civic responsibility, our civic duties very, very important.”

“Knowing fully well that when your work impacts the society, people are out there, you know, watching, even when you feel that nobody’s, you know, taking note of what you do. So this award to me will promote accountability.”