Charles Okoh
10 November 2009
CABLE News Network (CNN) International and MultiChoice have officially launched the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 Awards. The winners of these annual awards will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held in Kampala, Uganda in May 2010.
A statement by the Executive President and Managing Director (CNN) International, Mr. Tony Maddox, said: "It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2010 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards are returning to East Africa. And it is fitting that now in its 15th year, the awards are being held in Uganda, a country that has produced so many success stories and winners in the competition's history. "
President MultiChoice Africa, Mr. Collins Khumalo said May 2010 marks the 15th anniversary of these prestigious awards, which represent the premier journalistic event on the continent.
"It is extremely exciting for us to see the growth of the media in Africa and we will continue to invest in developing and inspiring young journalists whose voices play a critical role in telling the African story. We are proud of our continued association with CNN International and these awards," he said.
John-Allan Namu, from Kenya, was awarded the top prize at the 2009 Awards ceremony. John-Allan, reporter for Kenya Television Network, won for his stories 'In the shadow of the Mungiki' and 'Inside Story: Scars and Sufurias', which were chosen from among 1665 entries from 38 nations across the African continent.
John-Allan said: "When I was announced as the 2009 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the year, I knew that my career would change almost overnight, and it did. I now have a lot more access to the newsmakers and opinion leaders in my country because they all understand the prestige and importance of winning such an award. To the audience who follow my work back home, it was an especially important award, because it showed them that excellence can be attained no matter what profession one practices, also that Kenya can be counted as a nation filled with talent worthy of being celebrated on a continental scale.
Our country Kenya is at a point in its history when it badly needs good examples, and a strong media. I feel that because of the award, in my own way, I have met this need. This award inspired not just me, but a generation of Kenyans who will lead the country's march into the future. I now feel better armed to take on the challenges of reporting in my country and on the continent, at a most crucial period of change in Kenya and Africa."
Over the past fifteen years, the competition has grown in size and status to become Africa's most prestigious media event. In 2009, it attracted entries from 38 African countries and a 'Highlights Programme' of the ceremony, held in Durban, South Africa, was broadcast in 44 African countries, on the Africa Channel in the US, OBE TV and Southern Africa Direct in the UK and RTP Africa.
This year, the competition will recognise excellence in the following categories:
Arts & Culture Award, Digital Journalism Award, Economics & Business Award, Environment Award, Free Press Africa Award, The HIV/AIDS Reporting Award, Mohamed Amin Photographic Award, MSD Health & Medical Award and the Print General News Award.
Others are; Radio General News Award, Sport Award, Television Features Award, Television News Bulletin Award, Tourism Award, Francophone General News Awards as well as Portuguese Language General News Award
From these category winners, the judges choose the overall winner - The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010.
Finalists in the 2010 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 May, 2010.
All finalists receive a cash prize and each category winner also receives a laptop and printer. The winner will also receive an additional cash prize and a trip to CNN Center in Atlanta.
The competition is open to African nationals who are professional journalists including freelancers across print, television, internet, photographic and radio. Full details on how to enter can be found by logging on at www.cnn.com/africanawards. The closing date for entries is 28th January 2010.
The organizers also said there will NOT be any extensions of this closing date, and entries received after this date may be disqualified.
The judging will take place in March 2010. All entries should be broadcast or published during January 2009 - December 2009.
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