CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2011 Launched

BY EDMUND SMITH-ASANTE

Last Year's Awards Logo

CNN International and MultiChoice have officially launched the annual CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2011 Awards, for which winners will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held in Johannesburg , South Africa in June 2011.

The competition is open to African nationals who are professional journalists, including freelancers across print, television, internet, photographic and radio media, while entries that qualify should have been broadcast or published from January 2010 to December 2010.

Commenting on the Awards which have been held over the past 16 years, Tony Maddox, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of CNN International, said: “The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards have been encouraging excellence in journalism across the continent for 16 years and are truly a highlight in CNN's editorial calendar. I’m delighted that they continue to grow in stature and prestige, and it’s a humbling experience each year to see and experience such dedication, passion and talent,” adding, “2011 promises to be another year of stellar African journalism.”

For his part, Collins Khumalo, President, MultiChoice Africa, said: “MultiChoice Africa is delighted to once again participate in Africa’s largest and most coveted journalism awards. Each year we are proud of the talent showcased at the awards and excited about the great progress made in African journalists telling the African story,” stating, “We believe as an African company that our participation makes a significant contribution towards the development of media in Africa .”

The top prize for last year’s awards held in the Ugandan capital Kampala, was won by Sam Rogers, from e.tv South Africa. He won with his story, ‘The Curse of the Nobody People’, which was chosen from among 2,074 entries from 44 nations across the African continent.

Making a statement on the award, Sam Rogers said: “Winning the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year was possibly the highlight of my career. What an honour to be chosen a winner among so many brilliant African journalists, to be listed alongside the very best who have won this prestigious accolade over the years.”

“What a wonderful platform the CNN MultiChoice award is. It has allowed us to broadcast to a wider audience, to highlight the plight of persecuted Tanzanian albinos and has begun changing perceptions in that region. Their voices were finally heard,” Sam added.

Over the past 16 years, the competition has grown in size and status to become Africa ’s most prestigious media event. In 2010, a ‘Highlights Programme’ of the ceremony held in Kampala, Uganda , was broadcast in 47 African countries, on the Africa Channel in the US , UK and the Caribbean , OBE TV and RTP Africa.

This year, the competition will award African journalists whose entries show excellence in Arts & Culture reporting, Digital Journalism, Economics & Business, Environment and HIV/AIDS Reporting.

Also to be given are a Free Press Africa Award, Mohamed Amin Photographic Award, MSD Health & Medical Award, Print General News Award, Radio General News Award and Sport Award.

The rest are a Television Features Award, Television News Bulletin Award, Tourism Award, Francophone General News Award and Portuguese Language General News Award.

From these category winners, the independent judging panel, which is made up of Ikechukwu Amaechi, Editor, Daily Independent, Nigeria; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, France 3 TV; Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa; Joel Kibazo, journalist and media consultant; Arlindo Lopes, Secretary General, Southern African Broadcasting Association; José Luís Mendonça, Press Counsellor, Angolan Permanent Delegation to UNESCO; Zipporah Musau, Managing Editor, Magazines, The Standard Group Ltd, Kenya; Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa, will choose the overall winner - The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2011.

A statement announcing the awards said finalists in the 2011 competition will participate in a four day finalists’ programme that will include a media forum and networking opportunities with senior journalists, editors, business leaders and media owners from across the continent, culminating in a gala awards ceremony in June, 2011.

It said by way of prizes, all finalists will receive a cash prize and each category winner will also receive a laptop and printer. However, the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2011 will receive an additional cash prize and a trip to the CNN Center in Atlanta .

Organisers of the awards have warned that the closing date for entries is 27 January 2011 and that, “There will NOT be any extensions of this closing date, and entries received after this date may be disqualified”.

Meanwhile, judging will take place in April, 2011.