Five South African journalists have made the finals of the annual CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2013 competition, now in its 18th year. The finalists were announced by chair of the judging panel, City Press editor Ferial Haffajee.
Nicola de Chaud, freelance for Carte Blanche, South Africa; Adrian de Kock, The Star; South Africa, Msindisi Fengu and Yandisa Monakali, Daily Dispatch, South Africa; Thanduxolo Jika and Media 24 Investigations Team, Media 24, South Africa; and Lucas Ledwaba, City Press, South Africa are the South African finalists.
This year the competition received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.
“A tough table of judges was often visibly impressed by the range of stories presented to us. African journalists, as represented by our entries, have risen to the challenge of 2012. The big stories were well-covered,” said Haffajee.
“The small stories were not forgotten. We commend the dedication of journalists who are very much part of a rising Africa with rising professionalism, increased appetite for tough and investigative journalism, an eye on those left behind and a deep commitment to telling good stories across many mediums.”
An all-expenses paid four day programme of workshops, media forums, networking has been set up for the finalists during the run up to the award ceremony on 12 October 2013, which will take place in Cape Town this year.
“Now in its 18th year, the quality and excellence of the work submitted to the African Journalist Awards continues to rise year on year, ensuring that the 2013 competition maintains its place as the most prestigious Pan African Awards for journalists. CNN is proud to continue its commitment to fostering inspired journalistic excellence in African reporting,” said Tony Maddox, executive vice-resident and managing director of CNN International.
There are 27 finalists from 11 countries:
Gifty Andoh Appiah, Joy News TV, Ghana
Rebekah Awuah, GBC 24, Ghana
Domingos Bento, Seminário Novo Jornal, Angola
Thomas Otieno Bwire, Pamoja FM, Kibera, Kenya
Axcel Micael Chenney, Le Défi Média Group, Mauritius
Florence Dallu, Freelance for Koch FM, Kenya
Nicola de Chaud, Freelance for Carte Blanche, South Africa
Adrian de Kock, The Star, South Africa
Ibrahima-Benjamin Diagne, Radio Futurs Médias (RFM), Senegal
Msindisi Fengu & Yandisa Monakali, Daily Dispatch, South Africa
Selma Inocência, Rede de Comunicação Miramar, Mozambique
Geoff Iyatse, The Guardian, Nigeria
Thanduxolo Jika & Media 24 Investigations Team, Media 24, South Africa
Judy Jeptum Kosgei & Mauritius Oduor, Citizen TV, Kenya
Lucas Ledwaba, City Press, South Africa
Lázaro Mabunda, O País, Mozambique
Carol Natukunda, New Vision, Uganda
Amon Ngabo, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Uganda
Tolu Ogunlesi, Freelance for Ventures Africa, Nigeria
Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, Sunday Punch, Nigeria
Brenda Okoth, The Star, Kenya
Nassima Oulebsir, El Watan, Algeria
Passant Rabie, Egypt Today, Egypt
Roseline Wangui & Wambui Kurema, NTV, Kenya
“MultiChoice South Africa is proud to play a role in amplifying the voice of journalists across the African continent. We congratulate the finalists for telling the stories of Africa and its people to the world,” said Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa.
Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa said he believes the awards play a key role in encouraging excellence in media “while sharing the great stories of the continent”.
Twitter: @africanjourno
