Lagos — Yearly, thousands of African journalists file entries to compete for the Cable News Network (CNN)/Multichoice African Journalists Awards, the most prestigious award for media practitioners on the African continent.

Out of the large number only 26 emerge finalists. From them, 17 will emerge as winners of different categories while one person, whose work is considered most best, becomes overall winner.

They will all be rewarded for their well done jobs at an elaborate party, known as award ceremony in a chosen country on the continent. The host country is on rotational basis.

While each category winner receives a cash prize plus one lap top and one printer, the overall winner gets additional robust gift.

Besides, he or she will attend a three-month free training programme at headquarters of CNN in Atlanta, United States, and will also have opportunity of meeting the president of this world leading media outlet.

The categories to compete for include but not limited to Economic/Business, Sports, HIV/AIDS, Tourism and Culture, MSD Health and Medical, Environment, Print General news, Free Press Africa and Mohammed Amin Photographic.

Journalists from Nigeria from both print and electronics are not faring well in this yearly competition, which recognises works, published or broadcast, between January 1 and December 31 each year. Only two print Nigerian journalists made the list last year.

The expectation is that each year, up to four or more Nigerians should be among the winners.

So, the problem is not about not getting many to enter for the competition. Most times, it is the low qualities of their works that denying them chances of winning.

To tackle this, a two-day free workshop was organised recently in Lagos for practicing journalists. It was organised by CNN/Multichoice Nigeria, the organisers of the award.

Over 80 journalists drawn from across both print and broadcast media, the only two popular media units in the country were in attendance.

They were taken to classroom for both theory and practical works by some seasoned and accomplished journalists, who are also Nigerians.

They include Dr Isah Momoh and Richard Ikiebe, both from Pan Africa University, Lagos.

Others were Azubikwe Ishiekwene, Chairman, panel of judges for the awards, who is also an executive director of Punch Newspapers; Ayo Akinkuotu and Ikechukwu Amaechi of Tell Magazine and Daily Independent respectively. Shola Oshunkeye, the 2006 overall winner of the award was also around.

Only foreigner among them was Thomas Evans, a broadcaster and producer from CNN International. Thomas even knows much about Africa as he is based in South Africa.

Nevertheless, at the forum, journalists were told of the in- things that could qualify their works to win awards particularly of CNN/Multichoice's.

Mr. Joseph Hundah, Managing Director, Multichoice Nigeria, says the workshop would enable journalists to do the job of writing, reporting and producing news stories more effectively and for the betterment of the society.

It would also prepare them for the challenges of the media industry in the 21st century and spur them to action in doing stories that could win them importantly the CNN/Multichoice African Journalists Awards in future.

"We want to see many of you not only as nominees but as potential category winners at the 15th edition of the award coming up in May in Uganda and the subsequent editions," Hundah says, noting that, the plan of Multichoice Nigeria is to make the training programme yearly affairs.

On his part, Isah Momoh from Pan African University asks journalists to improve on their performances so as to become more useful and relevant to themselves and to the society.

He says it is necessary for every journalist to have a vision for life and approach it within the law guiding the profession.

Speaking on the topic, "Financial analysis for media practitioners in developing economies", Momoh says even though media is no longer a social service but a business, the practice is that as journalists pursue personal life improvement, they also seek societal advancement.

He then tasks them to be striving for the development of new skills that will enable them stand tallest among colleagues, while warning them not to allow people particularly politicians to use them for their personal gains.

Many politicians, he says, are not true friends of journalists; they only pretend to be one only when they see journalists as instrument to achieve their selfish interest.

Once you are no longer practicing, you become a burden and irrelevant and consequently they dump you.

"So, every journalist should see him/herself as a mirror and hope for the society and should therefore not compromise integrity for whatever reason," he counsels.

Journalists, he emphasises, must always consider integrity of both him/herself and involved parties before making their stories of public consumption.

Thomas Evans, from CNN International supports the argument and adds that such a virtue must be held sacred by every journalist.

"When you write a story, look at it as you would look at yourself in a mirror, and allow your conscience to be the judge," he advises.

Agreeing with them, Ayo Akinkuotu, Executive Editor, Tell magazine adds that a media practitioner, who wants to stand out and remains relevant on the profession must add value to the society, adding that the process goes beyond routine reporting.

He says a journalist, who doesn't want to dig below the surface to unearth and reveal to the public the cover -up information by the so-called powerful interests in the society, be it in government, corporate or individual is not fit for the job.

"Uncovering the covered matters is the core for every visionist journalists," he quips. "Even though the process is painstaking."

He says journalists must understand the subject writing or reporting on, tell the story in clear and balanced manner, and also write in a simple language that ordinary man on the street will understand.

Corroborating him, chairman, Panel of Judges, CNN/Multichoice African Journalists Awards, Azubikwe Ishikwene, says for journalists works to earn him or her credit, it must contain details.

That is not all, he says, adding that, the use of vocabulary and long sentences particularly by print journalists often times confuse readers.

He therefore asks those fond of the practice to desist forthwith.

He also says poorly researched articles and those wordy and with insufficient quotations will never make award winning materials.

"Keep your story tight, avoid dormant sentences, and don't write too lengthy, particularly when you don't make fresh information," Azubikwe counsels. "And if need be, illustrate your stories with statistics."

For Nigerian photo journalists, he names captivation and exclusive photographs as the hallmarks, and not the open copy pipeline stuffs many of them usually enter with for the competition.