Only one Ghanaian makes the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Finals

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

CNN 2011 finalists

Just one Ghanaian journalist – Joshua Anny of Joy FM, Ghana, made it to the finals of the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 awards, when finalists were announced Friday.

In all, 34 finalists were announced by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel in the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 Competition, which this year enters its 17th milestone.

According to a release issued on Friday, this year the competition received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa, out of which journalists from 12 countries made the mark.

The finalists were named as Tunde Akingbade, Freelance, The Guardian on Sunday,  Ahaoma Kanu, National Daily Newspaper,  and Peter Nkanga, Elor Nkereuwem, Musikilu Mojeed & Idris Akinbajo, NEXT on Sunday, all from Nigeria, Joshua Anny, Joy FM, Ghana and Manar Attiya, Ahram Hebdo, Egypt.

Others are Adriaan Basson & Piet Rampedi, City Press and  Demelza Bush, Craig McKune & Verashni Pillay, Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa; Najlae Benmbarek, 2M TV, Morocco; Ramusel Graça, Televisão Santomense, São Tomé e Príncipe; Arsénio Henriques, Soico - STV, Moçambique; Edward Echwalu, Freelance for The Observer, Uganda and Stephen Ssenkaaba, New Vision, Gerald Tenywa, Saturday Vision, Nelson Wesonga, Daily Monitor, all from Uganda.

The rest are Teresa Sofia Fortes, A Semana, Cape Verde; Isabel João, Novo Jornal, Angola;
Tom Mboya & Evanson Nyaga, Citizen TV, Nimrod Taabu Mwagamoyo & Charles Kinyua Kariuki, NTV, Waihiga Mwaura & Jephitha Mwai Mwangi, Citizen TV and John Muchangi Njiru, The Star, all from Kenya; Andrew Mulenga, The Post Newspaper, Zambia; Antoine de Ras, The Star, Megan Small & Clive Mtshali, 3rd Degree, e.tv and Joy Summers, Carte Blanche, all of South Africa.

The press release said the winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday 21 July, 2012, with Isha Sesay, host of CNN International's NewsCenter and Franklin Tembo Jnr, ZNBC presenter as hosts for the evening. An all expenses paid five day programme of workshops, media forums, networking has also been set up for the finalists, during the run up to the award ceremony on 21 July 2012.

Announcing the finalists, Ferial Haffajee said: "The growing quality of the entries we pored over is a reflection of a growing continent claiming its place in the sun. We were impressed by the enhanced quality and competitiveness of the work before us; by the heart and soul poured onto pages and into pixels; by the adventurist spirit of the entries which came from more countries than ever before. In print, in radio, in television it is clear that African journalism is in a growth spurt, claiming its stake as world-class and globally competitive. A bit like our continent."

Also commenting, Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: "This year has seen a record number of entries for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards from a diverse array of countries across the continent. The quality and excellence of the work submitted continues to rise year on year, ensuring that the 2012 competition maintains its place as the most prestigious Pan African Awards for journalists".

Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa however stated; "The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards are an investment we truly believe in, as journalists are one of the cornerstones of a nation. We need to continue to recognise them as they tell real stories that reflect the fabric of our diverse societies. The standard of entries continues to grow and the quality of submissions is testimony to the great levels of talent our continent holds. We are honoured once again to be a part of these awards which contribute immensely in shaping freedom of speech and a healthy and vibrant media."

Also sharing his thoughts, Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, said: "It is very important to us to help Africa not only find its voice but also to make that voice heard around the world. The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards gives a voice to journalists across the continent. We look forward to celebrating their stories and achievements."

Meanwhile, the independent judging panel, chaired by Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa, included: Ikechukwu Amaechi, Editor, Daily Independent, Nigeria; Amadou Mahtar Ba, CEO, African Media Initiative; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions; Joel Kibazo, journalist and media consultant; Arlindo Lopes, General Manager, Regulatory & Corporate, Angola and Mozambique, MultiChoice Africa Ltd.

The rest were Judge Arlindo lopes, General Manager, Regulatory & Corporate, Angola and Mozambique, MultiChoice Africa Ltd, Zipporah Musau, former Managing Editor, Magazines, The Standard Group Ltd, Kenya and Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa.

Bruno Manteigas, UK Correspondent, Agência Lusa, on the other hand, assisted in the judging of the Portuguese General News Category while freelance journalist and winner of the Health and Medical Category at the 2009 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards as well as runner-up in the HIV / AIDS Reporting category of the same year, Paul McNally, assisted the judging panel and carried out the first round of pre-selection, removing the entries that didn't meet the required journalistic standards to be put forward to the judging panel for the next stage of judging.

This year, Nokia joins the every growing list of sponsors made up of  the African Development Bank (AfDB); The Coca-Cola Company; Ecobank; Ericsson; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), UNICEF and A24 Media, offering sponsorship for the Digital Journalism Award.

To enter the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 competition the journalists were required to be African nationals who have worked on the continent for African owned, or headquartered media organisations that produced 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 2011 for the following awards: Arts & Culture: Digital Journalism Award; The Coca-Cola Company Economics and Business Award: 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 Awards (Print and Electronic Media); Portuguese Language General News.