Finalists for CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2014

11 Aug 2014

Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel and Editor-in-Chief of City Press, announced the finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2014 Competition late last week. The competition, now in its 19th year, received entries from 38 countries, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa. There are 28 finalists from 10 countries.

Said Haffajee: "2013 was a huge news year, and the stories from our continent set a global agenda. The judges were pleased with the quality of entries, and were impressed by the depth of specialist beat reporting. In addition, they noted the growing sophistication of the use of images and pictures across all platforms."

Finalists

Daniel Biaou Adje, ORTB, Benin
Safia Berkouk, El Watan, Algeria
Vinayak Bhardwaj & Tabelo Timse, M&G Centre for Investigative Journalism, Mail & Guardian, South Africa
Romão Brandão, Jornal OPAÍS, Angola
Sean Christie, Freelance for Landbouweekblad and The Mail & Guardian, South Africa
Obinna Emelike, Business Day, Nigeria
Ben Ezeamalu & Emmanuel Ogala, Premium Times, Nigeria
Bob Koigi, Farmbizafrica.com, Kenya
Joseph Mathenge, Freelance for The Saturday Nation, Kenya
Anne Mawathe & Rashid Ibrahim, Citizen TV, Kenya
Patrick Mayoyo, Daily Nation, Kenya
Christine Muthee & Oliver Oscar Ochanda, Media Development in Africa (MEDEVA), Kenya
Dickson Ng'hily, The Guardian, Tanzania
John Muchangi Njiru, The Star Newspaper, Kenya
Olatunji Ololade, The Nation Newspaper, Nigeria
Bayo Olupohunda, Columnist, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
Ossène Ouattara, Infoduzanzan.com, Côte d'Ivoire
Brito Simango, Televisão de Moçambique, Moçambique
Joy Summers & Susan Comrie, Mnet Carte Blanche, South Africa
Suy Kahofi, Freelance for West Africa Democracy Radio, Senegal
Paballo Thekiso, Saturday Star, South Africa
Bento Venancio, Jornal Domingo, Moçambique
Evelyn Watta, Sportsnewsarena.com, Kenya

The finalists will enjoy an all-expenses paid four day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony on Saturday, 18 October 2014.

Judging panel

The independent judging panel includes:

Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa
Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria
Betty Dindi, Managing Editor of QTV, Nation Media Group, Kenya
Jean-Paul Gérouard, Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions
Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Joel Kibazo, Director of Communications, Africa Development Bank
Arlindo Lopes, Regional Regulatory GM, MultiChoice Angola
Amadou Mahtar Ba, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, AllAfrica Global Media
Kim Norgaard, CNN Africa Bureau Chief
Aires Walter dos Santos, Account Executive, iSenta Comunicação & Imagem SA, Angola.

The competition is once again supported by the following sponsors: The Coca-Cola Company; Ecobank; GE Africa; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and A24 Media.

The host for the evening is CNN International anchor and correspondent Isha Sesay, host of CNN NewsCenter.

Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: "I have witnessed the quality and excellence of work in this competition strengthen year on year, and am proud that it continues to maintain its place as the most prestigious Pan African journalist awards. Just as CNN encourages, promotes and recognises excellence in journalism at all levels, we are particularly pleased to be able to support journalists who represent our future."