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1995 - 2008 Finalists and Winners


CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST 2007 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2007 Competition were announced today by Joel Kibazo, Chair of the independent judging panel. The competition, now in its 12th year, received a record-number of entries from across Africa.

The competition, held in association with South African Airways and in collaboration with The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for HIV/AIDS Journalism, and sponsored by a number of leading African companies received 1670 entries from 40 countries throughout the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.

There are 26 finalists from 12 countries:

  • Toyin Akinosho, Africa Oil + Gas Report, Nigeria
  • Nicola de Chaud, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  • Mary Corrigall, The Sunday Independent, South Africa
  • Irčne Ndzana Fouda, Cameroon Radio Télévision, Cameroon
  • Albert Gachiri, Nation TV, Kenya
  • Adri Kotzé, A˛ Media Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  • Anna-Maria Lombard, A˛ Media Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  • Diana Lucas, Diana Lucas Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  • Esther Mbondo, Medeva, Media Development in Africa for Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
  • Charity Mutinta Mboozi, Catholic Media Services TV Studios for Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Zambia
  • Selma Mhaoud, 2M TV, Morocco
  • Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, Freelance, thezimbabwetimes.com, Zimbabwe
  • Richard M. Kavuma, The Weekly Observer, Uganda
  • Wamunyima Muwana, Zambia News and Information Services for Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Zambia
  • Steve Mwei, Nation TV, Kenya
  • Kaizer Ngwenya, DRUM, South Africa
  • Justus Nwakanma, Sunday Champion, Nigeria
  • Boni Odinga, Kenyan Television Network, Kenya
  • Jessica Pitchford, Special Assignment, SABC, South Africa
  • Reginald Richardson, Botswana Television, Botswana
  • Musa Saidykhan, The Independent, Gambia
  • Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  • Arăo Valoi, Meianoite, Mozambique,
  • Mandy Wiener, Talk Radio 702, South Africa
  • James Wokabi, The Sunday Standard, Kenya
  • Alain Zongo, L'Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso

The winners of the competition will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa at the International Convention Centre, on Saturday July 21st.

The co-hosts for the evening will be Nothemba Madumo, one of South Africa's seasoned media journalists, and Jeff Koinange, CNN's Africa Correspondent.

Announcing the finalists, Joel Kibazo said: "The CNN awards highlight the depth of talent we have on the African continent. What lies at the heart of this competition is to nurture good journalism and have the African story told well. This year we were particularly pleased to receive even more entries from across the continent, a sign of how the competition has continued to grow."

The independent judging panel, chaired by Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant, includes Azubuike Ishiekwene, Executive Director, Punch Nigeria Limited, Jeff Koinange, CNN Africa Correspondent, Arlindo Lopes, Secretary General of SABA - Southern African Broadcasting Association, Lizeka Mda, Managing Editor, City Press of South Africa, Sophie Ly Sow, Regional Communications Officer for Oxfam/West Africa, Anna Umbima, journalist and broadcaster. Filipe Correia de Sá, Senior Producer at BBC World Service, was brought in to help judge the Portuguese speaking category.

The competition is held in partnership with MultiChoice, in association with South African Airways and in collaboration with The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for HIV/AIDS reporting. Other prestigious sponsors include Celtel (mobile operators), Coca-Cola Africa, Ecobank, IPP Media, Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD), Safebond Africa Limited (SAL), The Table Bay Hotel/A Sun International Resort, Global Media Alliance and Camerapix.

This year a new sponsor for the Print Media Award "best feature in a magazine" is MIH Print, the international print business of the multinational media company, Naspers.

Khaya Ngqula, SAA CEO, said: "South African Airways (SAA) is honoured to be part of an event which recognises and rewards journalists around Africa for the valuable contribution they have made in highlighting Africa to the rest of the world. They have helped place the continent and its people under the spotlight so others can better understand and acknowledge its achievements and potential. We highly commend this.

He added: "As the airline enters its 10th year of support for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award, we would like to encourage media representatives to continue enlightening and informing the world with ethical and responsible reporting. We also look forward to again presenting SAA's own award to an individual who is found to have excelled in the coverage of tourism issues,"

Says Nolo Letele CEO MultiChoice South Africa "MultiChoice's association with the CNN awards is an expression of our commitment and acknowledgement of the critical role the media play on the African continent. We congratulate all the finalists and look forward to the seeing them at the awards."

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
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2007 competition is open to African professional journalists (including, but not limited to, African freelancers), working on the continent for African media organisation that are headquartered within the continent of Africa and produce a printed publication or electronic medium (television; radio or website) primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.

Entries were published or broadcast in 2006 for the following awards: South African Airways Tourism Award; Arts & Culture, Economics and Business, Environment, Free Press Africa Award; MSD Health & Medical Award; The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation Award for HIV/AIDS Journalism; MIH Print Media Award - Best Feature in a Magazine; Mohamed Amin Photographic Award; M.K.O. Abiola Print Journalist Award; Radio - General News; Sport; Television - General News - Feature/Current Affairs; Television - General News - News Bulletin; Francophone General News - Print and Television and/or Radio and Portuguese Language General News - Print/ Photographic/Radio and TV

cnn.com/world/Africa/africanawards

Issued Wednesday 16 May, 2007

For further information please contact:

CNN International: +44 207 693 0967 joel.brown@turner.com

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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