Journalist, Kiki Mordi accused of winning an international award with a stolen story, “Sex For Grades”
A Nigerian Journalist, Kiki Mordi has been accused of stealing someone else’s story, “Sex For Grades” and winning an international award with it.
It all started after the International Center for Journalists, ICFJ, announced Kiki Mordi as winner of the 2020 Michael Elliot Award for African Storytelling.
Kiki who is a co-founder of Feminist_Co was rewarded for uncovering sexual harassment going on in Nigerian universities with a documentary she produced from an allegedly stolen “Sex For Grades” story.
ICFJ tweeted, “With the Elliott family & @ONECampaign, we’re thrilled to present Nigerian journalist Kiki Mordi (@kikimordi) the 2020 Michael Elliott Award for African Storytelling. Her documentary uncovered sexual harassment at universities and had a tremendous impact”
With the Elliott family & @ONECampaign, we're thrilled to present Nigerian journalist Kiki Mordi (@kikimordi) the 2020 Michael Elliott Award for African Storytelling. Her documentary uncovered sexual harassment at universities and had a tremendous impact: https://t.co/Drr7yTrJz2 pic.twitter.com/No5jhFy4z5
— International Center for Journalists (@ICFJ) December 9, 2020
According to a fellow Journalist, Ruona, identified with the handle @RGAMeyer, the popular “Sex For Grades” story was originally written by someone she called “O.O”.
She emphatically noted that it would be unfair if Kiki refuses to acknowledge and share whatever prize money accrued to the award with the said “O.O” whose intellectual property she “stole” and won the international award with.
She wrote, “Kiki, make sure this time you at least share whatever prize money there is with O.O and acknowledge her – given this was all her story as pitched, sourced/started.
Real journalists have honour and also hold themselves to account, not just the government. #TruthIsSacrosanc”
Kiki, make sure this time you at least share whatever prize money there is with O.O and acknowledge her – given this was all her story as pitched, sourced/started.
Real journalists have honour and also hold themselves to account, not just the government. #TruthIsSacrosanct https://t.co/gvmQ42IeFo— Ruona J. Meyer (@RGAMeyer) December 10, 2020
Reactions have trailed the story with many making mockery of her while others took to the page of the International Center for Journalists, to inform the organization of the need for Kiki’s Sex for grades story to be properly investigated before giving her the award.
See some of the reactions below;
I guess Winter came early for the House of Kiki Mordi. Another Coven Failure.
— SEGA L'éveilleur® (@segalink) December 10, 2020
Hi @ICFJ
, there is currently a dispute as regards the intellectual property rights of the Sex For Grades documentary. For justice and the sake of your reputation. You will do well to investigate it thoroughly before going ahead with awarding Kiki.— Oba (@diamond_dre) December 10, 2020
