Finalists from nine countries have been announced in the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards following a record number of entries. A shortlist of outstanding African business journalism will go through to the final of the eighth annual awards, to be assessed in 11 different categories before winners are announced at a gala ceremony in London on 30 June 2011. South Africa’s Robin Curnow, reporting for CNN, is a finalist in the Best Tourism story category.
“These finalists represent those who are leading the way in business reporting on Africa. The shortlisted entrants have gone the extra mile in reporting the opportunities and challenges of doing business in Africa,” said Nick Blazquez, President of Diageo Africa.
“The record-breaking number of entries from across the globe reflects a continued increase in business reporting on Africa, but the type of reports has also indicated a shift in the way that news is being delivered to audiences with many more entrants being online citizen journalists and bloggers making use of new media. With over 1220 entries this year, those shortlisted in their category should be proud of their achievements and contribution to promoting a more accurate understanding of the business environment in Africa,” he added.
Initiated by Diageo in 2004, the Awards recognise excellence in business journalism about Africa with a view to strengthening and encouraging more coverage within Africa and to increase the continent’s share of voice in the international media.
More than 1220 entries were received from 21 countries across Africa and the rest of the world. A panel of eminent judges will now select the winners of each category, who will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 30 June 2011.
The judging panel brings together global experts from the field of media, business, as well as pan-African initiatives and organisations.
The finalists are (in no particular order):
Best business news story
Spending Spree at Presidency Anthony Osae Brown (BusinessDay, Nigeria)
Business Behind Nigeria Fashion Industry Keisha Gitari (CNBC Africa, Nigeria)
Conflict between technology and labour poses job security headache David Mugwe (Business Daily, Kenya)
Best finance feature
Money Transfer Series Boniface Mutakha (Citizen Television, Kenya)
The real cost of owning a car Lizz Gakii Ntonjira (NTV, Kenya)
Why CEOs need to come clean on their pay Emmanuel Were, Nick Wachira and Cosmas Butunyi (The East African, Kenya)
Best newcomer
Lee Mwiti Mugambi (Africa Review.com, Kenya)
Clair MacDougall (The Huffington Post, Crikey.com: USA , Australia)
Cynthia Musenya Nyamai (KTN, Kenya)
Best use of new media
Oil city Takoradi Rob Walker (BBC World Service, UK)
Uprising in Tunisia and Egypt–Lessons for Subsaharan Youth Jackson Mvunganyi (Voice of America, USA)
On Location: Ishunga, Congo – Market Walk Tim Freccia (Global Post, USA)
Best ICT feature
Digital Africa J.M. Ledgard (Intelligent Life, UK
Internet, business et amour Anne Mireille Mbiacob (Le blog de Nzouankeu, Cameroon
Carbon Free Calling Mohammed Khan (African Telecoms, South Africa)
Best agribusiness or environment
Is there a Revolution in African Farming?, Charlotte Ashton (BBC, The World Tonight, UK)
If there is Sunshine, There will be Water, Jonathan Kalan (The Star, Kenya)
Turning agriculture into big business, Isaac Masingati (Daily Times, Malawi)
Best tourism
Marrakech, the new star of the Maghreb, Leïla Slimani (Africa Report, France
Kenya tour resorts miss out on niche global ecosphere sustainability awards, Wycliffe Muga (Kenya Star, Kenya
Inside Africa from Zanzibar Robyn Curnow (CNN SA)
Best infrastructure feature
Senegal Airport Drew Hinshaw (Christian Science Monitor, USA)
South African mining Edward Cropley (Reuters , South Africa
Hyacinth problem & Tourism Potential in Nyanza region James Karani (KTN, Kenya)
Best business feature
In Africa, Brazil takes a different track David Lewis (Reuters, Global
Killing a mosquito with a bazooka Isaac Masingati (Daily Times, Malawi
A sleeping giant stirs Eleanor Whitehead (This is Africa, UK)
Journalist of the year
Peter Guest (This is Africa, UK)
Xan Rice (Guardian Observer, UK)
Nicholas Norbrook (The Africa Report, France)
Erin Conway-Smith (The Global Post, SA)
Media of the year
Reuters
The Africa Report
The 2011 judges included:
Ms. Zeinab Badawi, International news broadcaster
Dr. Shantayanan Devarajan, Chief Economist of the World Bank’s Africa Division
Mr. Stephen King, Investments Director at The Omidyar Foundation
Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, former CEO of New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
Dr Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group and Executive President of the African Business Roundtable
Mr. Paul Walsh (Chair), CEO of Diageo
Baroness Shriti Vadera, G20 Advisor and former Minister for Business and Competitiveness in Gordon Brown’s Government
