CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST 2013 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2013 Competition were announced today by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel. The competition is now in its 18^th year.

This year the competition received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.

There are 27 finalists from 11 countries:  

Gifty Andoh Appiah, Joy News TV, Ghana

Rebekah Awuah, GBC 24, Ghana

Domingos Bento, Seminário Novo Jornal, Angola

Thomas Otieno Bwire, Pamoja FM, Kibera, Kenya

Axcel Micael Chenney, Le Défi Média Group, Mauritius

Florence Dallu, Freelance for Koch FM, Kenya

Nicola de Chaud, Freelance for Carte Blanche, South Africa

Adrian de Kock, The Star, South Africa

Ibrahima-Benjamin Diagne, Radio Futurs Médias (RFM), Senegal

Msindisi Fengu & Yandisa Monakali, Daily Dispatch, South Africa

Selma Inocência, Rede de Comunicação Miramar, Mozambique

Geoff Iyatse, The Guardian, Nigeria

Thanduxolo Jika & Media 24 Investigations Team, Media 24, South Africa

Judy Jeptum Kosgei & Mauritius Oduor, Citizen TV, Kenya

Lucas Ledwaba, City Press, South Africa

Lázaro Mabunda, O País, Mozambique

Carol Natukunda, New Vision, Uganda

Amon Ngabo, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Uganda

Tolu Ogunlesi, Freelance for Ventures Africa, Nigeria

Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, Sunday Punch, Nigeria

Brenda            Okoth, The Star, Kenya

Nassima Oulebsir, El Watan, Algeria

Passant Rabie, Egypt Today, Egypt

Roseline Wangui & Wambui Kurema, NTV, Kenya

The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday 12 October.

The host for the evening is Isha Sesay, host of CNN International’s ‘NewsCenter’.

Announcing the finalists, chairperson of the independent judging panel Ferial Haffajee said: “A tough table of judges was often visibly impressed by the range of stories presented to us.  African journalists, as represented by our entries, have risen to the challenge of 2012.  The big stories were well-covered.  The small stories were not forgotten.  We commend the dedication of journalists who are very much part of a rising Africa with rising professionalism, increased appetite for tough and investigative journalism, an eye on those left behind and a deep commitment to telling good stories across many mediums.”

The independent judging panel, chaired by Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa includes: Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria; Betty Dindi, Managing Editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions ; Anton Harber, Professor of journalism & media studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant; Arlindo Lopes, General Manager, Regulatory and Corporate, Angola and Mozambique, MultiChoice Africa Ltd; Arlindo Macedo, Journalist Rádio Nacional de Angola, (RNA); Amadou Mahtar Ba, CEO, African Media Initiative and Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa

The competition is once again supported by the following sponsors, who continue to lend their valuable support to the awards: The Coca-Cola Company; Ecobank; Ericsson; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), UNICEF and A24 Media.

An all-expenses paid four day programme of workshops, media forums, networking has been set up for the finalists during the run up to the award ceremony on 12 October 2013.

Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: “Now in its 18^th year, the quality and excellence of the work submitted to the African Journalist Awards continues to rise year on year, ensuring that the 2013 competition maintains its place as the most prestigious Pan African Awards for journalists. CNN is proud to continue its commitment to fostering inspired journalistic excellence in African reporting.”

Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, said: “MultiChoice South Africa is proud to play a role in amplifying the voice of journalists across the African continent. We congratulate the finalists for telling the stories of Africa and its people to the world. We look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town for the awards.”

Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa said: ”MultiChoice Africa is especially proud to once again partner with CNN in hosting these prestigious Awards. We believe that these awards play a key role in encouraging excellence in media while sharing the great stories of the continent. Congratulations to the finalists of 2013, we look forward to hosting you in Cape Town in October to celebrate the best journalism Africa has to offer.”