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For release: 12th May 2009

CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST 2009 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Competition were announced today by Azubuike Ishiekwene, Chair of the independent judging panel. The competition is now in its 14th year.

This year the competition received entries from 836 journalists from 38 countries throughout the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.

There are 25 finalists from 12 countries: 

• Ayodeji Adeyemi,  TELL Magazine,  Nigeria

• Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje,  ORTB - Parakou,  Benin

• Anas Aremeyaw Anas, The Crusading Guide,  Ghana

• Rajen Bablee,  Samedi Plus,  Mauritius

• Ernesto Bartolomeu,  TPA, Angola

• Nicola De Chaud, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa

• Ethar El-Katatney,  Business Today Egypt  

• Hazel Friedman,  Special Assignment, SABC,  South Africa

• Halden Krog,  The Times,  South Africa

• Anna-Maria Lombard,  Health-e News Service for 3rd Degree ,  South Africa

• Paul McNally, Men's Health Magazine,  South Africa 

• James Moturi Mogaka,   KTN,  Kenya

• Fredrick Mugira,  Freelance for Mail & Guardian online mg.co.za,  Uganda

• Sammy Muraya,  Metro FM,  Kenya

• Boniface Mwangi,  Expression Today, Kenya

• John Benson Mwangi,  KTN,  Kenya

• John-Allan Namu,  KTN,  Kenya

• Elshadai Negash,  Freelance for Fortune Newspaper,  Ethiopia 

• Luís Nhachote,  Zambeze, Mozambique 

• Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria

• Violet Otindo, K24 Television,  Kenya 

• Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa

• Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso

• Beauregard Tromp, The Star,   South Africa

• Alain Zongo,  L'Observateur Paalga,  Burkina Faso 

This year the recipient of the Free Press Africa Award is Nicaise Kibel’bel Oka, of Les Coulisses in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is awarded this prize, for his work in the DRC, and also in recognition of all the journalists in the DRC who have put their lives at risk in telling the story. There are three journalists in particular that we would like to mention who were murdered fulfilling their professional duties:

Pascal Kabungulu (killed 31st July 2005)

Serge Maheshe (killed 13th June, 2007)

Didace Namujimbo (killed 23rd November 2008)

 

The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening at The International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa on Saturday 18th July.

The hosts for the evening will be Isha Sesay, presenter of CNN weekly programme ‘Inside Africa’, joined on stage by South African eNews Channel presenter Macfarlane Molele.

Announcing the finalists, Azubuike Ishiekwene said: “2009 saw a steady, remarkable improvement in the overall quality of the entries.    A number of journalists who entered the competition over the last few years took the opportunity to improve their skills, enter again and raise the bar on their previous entries.  Many first time entrants also delivered inspiring work that raised the overall quality. The competition was particularly strong in the Health, Sport, Tourism, Environment, TV 60, Radio and Print General News categories.  Across the continent - including countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, Angola and Egypt - we saw entries from young journalists who are determined to make a difference. That is really gratifying."

The independent judging panel, chaired by Azubuike Ishiekwene, Executive Director, Punch Nigeria Limited, includes: Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, Mail & Guardian, South Africa; Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant; Arlindo Lopes, Secretary General of SABA – Southern African Broadcasting Association; Kim Norgaard, CNN’s Johannesburg Bureau Chief; Anna Umbima, journalist and broadcaster. Filipe Correia de Sá, Senior Producer at BBC World Service and Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief at France 3 were brought in to help judge the Portuguese and French language categories.

The prestigious sponsors include: British Airways; Coca-Cola Africa; Ecobank, IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); Safebond Africa Ltd; South African Tourism; Zain; Global Media Alliance; and A24 Media.

The Southern Sun Elangeni is the delegate hotel for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2009. The hotel extends a truly warm Durban welcome to finalists, judges and attending media and guests from across the continent. The finalists will enjoy an all expenses paid five day programme of workshops, media forums, networking and have the opportunity to see some of the sights of Durban.

 

“Once again the calibre of entries is outstanding. Their thirst for top class storytelling continues to raise the bar year-on-year;” said Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International. “Now in its 14th year the African Journalist Awards 2009 maintains its position as the most prestigious pan-African accolade for journalism and CNN is proud to continue its commitment to fostering inspired journalistic excellence in African reporting”

Nolo Letele, Group CEO, MultiChoice South Africa said, “We are very proud to partner with CNN to host the African Journalist of the Year Awards in South Africa, in the beautiful city of Durban. It is an annual event we look forward to, to celebrate and recognise true excellence in African journalism. Congratulations to all the finalists. Your journey commenced with an individual thought, which has the potential to stitch together communities, nations and the African continent”.

About the award:

The CNN African Journalist of the Year Award was founded in 1995 by Edward Boateng (formerly African Regional Director for Turner Broadcasting System Inc., CNN’s parent company) and the late Mohamed Amin, to recognise and encourage excellence in journalism throughout Africa.

Note to Editors: Competition Criteria

To enter the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 competition the journalist must be an African national and work on the continent for African owned, or headquartered, media organisations that produce a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television broadcaster, radio station or website) primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.

Entries were published or broadcast in 2008 for the following awards:

Arts & Culture: Economics and Business: Environment: Free Press Africa; HIV/AIDS Reporting; MSD Health & Medical: Mohamed Amin Photographic; Print General News; Radio General News; Sport; Television Features; Television News Bulletin; Tourism; Francophone General News; Portuguese Language General News

africanawards

Issued: 12th May 2009

For further information please contact:

CNN International: Joel Brown + 44 20 7693 0967 joel.brown@

MultiChoice Africa: Caroline Creasy + 27 11 289 3081 ccreasy@multichoice.co.za

MultiChoice South Africa: Marilyn Watson +27 11 289 3062 mwatson@multichoice.co.za

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