CNN MultiChoice African Journalist finalists

The competition, held in association with South African Airways and in collaboration with The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for HIV/AIDS Journalism, and sponsored by a number of leading African companies, received a record 1670 entries from 40 countries throughout the continent, including French-and Portuguese-speaking Africa.

The finalists are:

• Toyin Akinosho, Africa Oil + Gas Report, Nigeria
  
• Nicola de Chaud, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  
• Mary Corrigall, The Sunday Independent, South Africa
  
• Irène Ndzana Fouda, Cameroon Radio Télévision, Cameroon
  
• Albert Gachiri, Nation TV, Kenya
  
• Adri Kotzé, A² Media Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  
• Anna-Maria Lombard, A² Media Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  
• Diana Lucas, Diana Lucas Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  
• Esther Mbondo, Medeva, Media Development in Africa for Kenyan Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
  
• Charity Mutinta Mboozi, Catholic Media Services TV Studios for Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Zambia
  
• Selma Mhaoud, 2M TV, Morocco
  
• Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, Freelance, thezimbabwetimes.com, Zimbabwe
  
• Richard M. Kavuma, The Weekly Observer, Uganda
  
• Wamunyima Muwana, Zambia News and Information Services for Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Zambia
  
• Steve Mwei, Nation TV, Kenya
  
• Kaizer Ngwenya, DRUM, South Africa
  
• Justus Nwakanma, Sunday Champion, Nigeria
  
• Boni Odinga, Kenyan Television Network, Kenya
  
• Jessica Pitchford, Special Assignment, SABC, South Africa
  
• Reginald Richardson, Botswana Television, Botswana
  
• Musa Saidykhan, The Independent, Gambia
  
• Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, M-Net, South Africa
  
• Arão Valoi, Meianoite, Mozambique
  
• Mandy Wiener, Talk Radio 702, South Africa
  
• James Wokabi, The Sunday Standard, Kenya
  
• Alain Zongo, L'Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso

The winners of the competition will be announced at a gala awards ceremony at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Saturday, 21 July.

The co-hosts for the evening will be Nothemba Madumo, one of SA's seasoned media journalists, and Jeff Koinange, CNN's Africa correspondent.

Depth of talent

Announcing the finalists, Kibazo said: “The CNN awards highlight the depth of talent we have on the African continent. What lies at the heart of this competition is to nurture good journalism and have the African story told well. This year we were particularly pleased to receive even more entries from across the continent, a sign of how the competition has continued to grow.”

The independent judging panel, chaired by Kibazo, journalist and media consultant, includes Azubuike Ishiekwene, executive director, Punch Nigeria Limited, Jeff Koinange, CNN Africa correspondent, Arlindo Lopes, secretary general of the Southern African Broadcasting Association, Lizeka Mda, managing editor, City Press of South Africa, Sophie Ly Sow, regional communications Officer for Oxfam/West Africa, Anna Umbima, journalist and broadcaster. Filipe Correia de Sá, senior producer at BBC World Service, was brought in to help judge the Portuguese-speaking category.

The competition is held in partnership with MultiChoice, in association with South African Airways and in collaboration with The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation for HIV/AIDS reporting. Other sponsors include Celtel (mobile operators), Coca-Cola Africa, Ecobank, IPP Media, Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD), Safebond Africa Limited (SAL), The Table Bay Hotel/A Sun International Resort, Global Media Alliance and Camerapix.

This year a new sponsor for the Print Media Award “best feature in a magazine” is MIH Print, the international print business of the multinational media company, Naspers.

Khaya Ngqula, SAA CEO, said: “As the airline enters its 10th year of support for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award, we would like to encourage media representatives to continue enlightening and informing the world with ethical and responsible reporting. We also look forward to again presenting SAA's own award to an individual who is found to have excelled in the coverage of tourism issues.”