JOHANNESBURG – It’s all set for the 2016 Multichoice CNN African journalists awards finals here in South Africa, with finalists and delegates dropping in from various parts of the world ahead of the grand ceremony on Saturday October 15th 2016.
Five Kenyan journalists are among the finalists and are hoping to bag awards on Saturday. Out of the five, three are from Standard Group – two from KTN and one from the Standard newspaper. Kenyans are Asha Ahmed Mwilu & Rashid Idi of KTN, Daily Nation’s Cheboite Kigen, Dominic Omondi of The Standard, and Isaac Otidi Amuke of Commonwealth Writers. The Kenyans will battle it out with over 30 journalists from across Africa for the coveted CNN MultiChoice Africa Journalist of the Year and other category recognitions.
Talking to Business Today earlier today on arriving in Johannesburg, Asha, who was shortlisted for her investigative story on Al Shabaab attacks in Mandera, said she is hopeful to clinch the category and overall Journalist of the year Award. “It was a great investigative story and hope it touched the hearts and minds of judges,” she said.
FULL LIST OF FINALISTS
Adedayo Eriye Oketola, Saturday Punch, Nigeria
Aderonke Bello, naij.com, Nigeria
Ancillar Mangena, Forbes Africa, South Africa
Asha Ahmed Mwilu & Rashid Idi, Kenya Television Network, Kenya
Ati Metwaly, Al Ahram Weekly, Egypt
Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique
Bidossèssi Appolinaire Agoïnon, Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin, Benin
Cheboite Kigen, Daily Nation Newspaper, Kenya
Chika Oduah, Nigeria, Freelancer at African Story Challenge, Media Initiative, Kenya
Cleófas Viagem, STV, Mozambique
Conan Daniel Businge & Gerald Tenywa, New Vision, Uganda
Coulibaly Zoumana, Le Patriote, Ivory Coast
Diana Neille, Richard Poplak, Shaun Swingler and Sumeya Gasa, Daily Maverick Chronicle, South Africa
Dominic Omondi, The Standard, Kenya
Eromo Egbejule, Freelancer at Ventures Africa, Nigeria
Faten Hayed, El Watan, Algeria
Fidelto Emidio Bata, STV, Mozambique
Folashade Adebayo, The Punch, Nigeria
Garreth van Niekerk, City Press, South Africa
Isaac Otidi Amuke, Commonwealth Writers, Kenya
James Oatway, The Sunday Times, South Africa
Jay Caboz, Forbes Africa, South Africa
Jean-Luc Emile, Teleplus, Mauritius
John Grobler, Namibia, and Fiona Macleod, Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism, South Africa
Lawrence Seretse, The Botswana Gazette, Botswana
Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, South Africa
Teresa Fuquiadi, Jornal Nova Gazeta, Angola
Veronica Narkwor Kwabla, Tv3 Network, Ghana
Veronica Onuchi, TVC News Africa, Nigeria
Yemisi Akinbobola, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu & Paul Bradshaw, IQ4News for Premium Times, Nigeria
The finalists enjoyed an all-expense paid four day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Johannesburg, South Africa, culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony.
The competition is supported by African Development Bank, Dow, Ecobank, GE, IPP Media and MSD (MSD is known as Merck in the U.S. and Canada).
Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said this year saw a record number of entries, from a diverse array of countries across the continent. “The passion which African journalists display for telling compelling and top class stories knows no bounds. Once more, CNN proudly continues its commitment to encouraging inspired journalistic excellence with these awards,” he said.
NEXT READ >> Inside the CNN Multichoice journalism awards
Greg Beitchman, Vice President, Content Sales and Partnerships, CNN International added: “The African Journalist Awards continues to maintain its place as the most prestigious Pan African journalist competition. CNN encourages, promotes and recognises excellence in journalism across all platforms, so we are particularly pleased to be able to support journalists who represent the continent’s thriving news industry in all its forms. With our MultiChoice partners, we look forward to yet another thrilling Awards ceremony celebrating the very best journalism Africa has to offer.”
Mark Rayner, CEO MultiChoice South Africa said: “We’re excited to host the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards in South Africa this year and looking forward to see all the good work done by our journalists celebrated and recognised through these awards. Congratulations to all the finalists.”
Tim Jacobs, CEO MultiChoice Africa: “It is evident from this year’s entries that Africa has a vibrant media landscape which continues to develop in leaps and bounds. The finalists are to be applauded for their courage in covering some of the stories, many of which were in difficult circumstances. We are committed to increasing excellence in journalism and this initiative is close to our hearts, as it has helped unearth some of Africa’s greatest story tellers. Congratulations to all the finalists, we look forward to celebrating you at the awards.”
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