The Environmental Journalist of the Year Award launched by Somarelang Tikologo in 1999 at the Communicating Environment Workshop is awarded to Botswana journalist annually. The award aims at recognising and promoting environmental coverage in Botswana in realising that environmental reporting in this country is still minimal.

The media has a challenging role to report and inform the public about environmental issues and problems locally, regionally and internationally. The 1992 Earth Summit on Environment and Development, recognised that; “there is still a considerable lack of awareness of the interrelated nature of all human activities and the environment, due to inaccurate or insufficient information.”

This is a challenge to the media since they have a role in providing and disseminating information on issues affecting the environment, which will lead to increased personal environmental responsibility. The award winners are expected to show an ability to display at greater latitudes good reporting on issues and expression of own stance on motions.

Somarelang Tikologo runs this award to encourage and recognize environmental reporting in Botswana in order to enhance wider public awareness. This award also intends to foster networking and information sharing between environmental organizations and the media.

The 2004 award went to Emmanuel Tlale from the Botswana Daily News. Tlale demonstrated responsibility, accuracy and consistency in his reporting and he also expressed an intense passion in environmental reporting hence he was elected the most fitting aspirant for this award.