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ROUNDCHECK researcher, Iretomiwa Balogun, has scooped two nominations at the 2025 Campus Journalism Awards (CJA), placing her in the Gender Reporting category and the Fact-Check of the Year category. The shortlist puts a spotlight on her steady rise as a young journalist working at the intersection of gender issues, public health communication, and online misinformation.
Her fact-check entry, “Exposing Social Media Claim That Any Liquid Can Make a Pregnancy Test Strip Turn Positive” published in April 2025, analysed a viral TikTok claim that soda, soap, bleach or even male urine could force a false positive on a pregnancy test. She ran controlled tests using new strips, compared the reactions, and spoke with medical laboratory scientists who explained the science behind hCG detection. The report corrected a widespread misconception and broke the procedure down in language readers could follow.
The same investigation earned her the first runner-up position at the 2025 African Fact-Checking Awards in Senegal, one of the continent’s most respected verification award programme. Judges noted that the story carried significant public health relevance because misinformation around pregnancy often targets or pressures women.
Her gender-focused story, “Femicide Denials Raise Concerns With Increased Cases In 2024,” was shortlisted in the Gender Reporting category and published on January 23, 2025. It examined the rise in femicide cases and the denial patterns that follow them, citing the case of 17-year-old Falmata, who was murdered by her paternal uncle, Awana, among others. She pulled together individual cases from 2024, combined them with data and expert insight, and showed how dismissive narratives online help bury the seriousness of gender-motivated killings.
The piece also connected offline violence with subtle digital rhetoric that tries to sweep it aside.
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Speaking with ROUNDCHECK, Iretomiwa said the CJA nomination came at a time when she needed encouragement.
“I was happy, especially when I saw that I was nominated for both categories I submitted entries for,” she said. “This recognition means a lot, that I was doing something right after all.”
She added that she had applied for two other awards around the same period without hearing back.
“I was downcast,” she explained. “The CJA nomination boosted my morale, especially the one in the gender reporting category.”
Amid the conversation, the nominee reflected on her growth over the past year. She said she has learnt, unlearnt and relearnt in journalism and fact-checking, while emphasising that ROUNDCHECK played a key role in helping her gain the experience she needs.
She hopes the recognition pushes more people to verify information before sharing information.
“Misinformation spreads fast on the internet. Verifying before sharing will help people make informed decisions,” she buttressed.
The seventh edition of the Campus Journalism Awards takes place on December 6, 2025, under the theme “AI and the Future of Journalism.” The event, organised annually by Youth Digest through its Campus Journalism Initiative, highlights young reporters whose work shapes public understanding.
Iretomiwa’s double nomination adds to ROUNDCHECK’s growing visibility in student journalism circles, especially in areas that require patient verification and depth. The final list of winners will be announced at the ceremony in Abuja.
