SA's Sam Rogers is CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010

Curse of the Nobody People features on the discrimination and sometimes shocking fate of albinos in Tanzania.

Rogers was one of 27 finalists at the awards ceremony on Saturday evening and was a winner in the Television Features Award category.

The awards, which rotate location each year in tribute to their pan-African credentials, were held at an awards ceremony and gala evening in Kampala, Uganda on Saturday 29 May 2010.

President of the Republic of Uganda, General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Collins Khumalo, president, MultiChoice Africa and Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering for CNN Worldwide presented Sam Rogers with the award.

Astounded, and honoured

Sam Rogers said she was astounded at winning the award and very honoured and "so glad the story has a platform. People can now see what's really going on. The truth has been outed."

Chair of the judging panel, journalist and media consultant Joel Kibazo said: "The journalist told the story with care and sensitivity. She did deep research covering all the angles including the victims, traditional doctors and even the police and the local media. The victims were given a voice and also overcame risks in telling the story. It is a complete piece of work".

Parisa Khosravi, senior vice president of international newsgathering for CNN Worldwide, said: "Each year, the men and women who enter these awards prove that they have the determination, professionalism and courage to showcase Africa's stories to the world. In doing so, they highlight the depth and strength of journalism across the continent."

Collins Khumalo, president MultiChoice Africa, said: "We are very proud to once again partner with CNN International to recognize and encourage excellence in journalism in Africa. The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards have become one of the continent's biggest and most coveted journalism awards and celebrate the hard work, talent, sacrifice and the dedication that the best among our journalists commit to their work. The awards have grown significantly over the years and we have witnessed previous winners become internationally recognized for their talent and hard work - watching their rise to fame as respected reporters on Africa has made our investment in these awards truly rewarding. It is a great honour to be in Kampala hosting these awards for the very first time."

Africa's journalists must be encouraged and supported...

Nico Meyer, CEO, MultiChoice South Africa, said: "As all eyes turn to South Africa this month, it is imperative that journalists are encouraged and supported to tell the African story with passion and excellence. These awards help us to recognise those great stories. This is without a doubt, Africa's year and we look forward to celebrating more great examples of passion and integrity in journalism next year."

The evening also recognised Mustafa Haji Abdinur as this year's recipient of the Free Press Africa Award, for his work in Somalia including the "Peace Journalism" initiative which he launched with the help of fellow Somali journalists. The award is also in recognition of all the journalists in Somalia who have put their lives at risk in telling the story.

Journalists who gave all, remembered

There are nine journalists who died during 2009 whilst fulfilling their professional duties:

• Abdulkhafar Abdulkadir Hasan, freelance;
  
• Mohamed Amin Adan Abdulle, Radio Shabelle;
  
• Hassan Zubeyr Haji Hassan, Al-Arabiya;
  
• Mohamud Mohamed Yusuf, Radio IQK ;
  
• Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, Radio Shabelle;
• Nur Muse Hussein, Radio IQK;
  
• Abdirisak Mohamed Warsame, Radio Shabelle;
• Said Tahlil Ahmed, HornAfrik; and
• Hassan Mayow Hassan, Radio Shabelle.

The CNN MultiChoice competition is now in its 15th year. Sponsors include: Coca-Cola Africa; Ecobank, IPP Media, Tanzania; Kampala Serena Hotel; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); NN24 Nigeria; Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the BlackBerry® solution and A24 Media.

Watch the African Journalist Awards:

Viewers across the continent and across the world will be able to watch the African Journalist Awards in the following ways:

• M-Net will broadcast the Highlights Programme of the Award Ceremony throughout June;
  
• Broadcasters in 44 countries on the African continent will be transmitting the 'Highlights Programme' during June and July;
  
• Internationally, the Highlights Programme will be shown on OBE TV in the UK, The Africa Channel in the United States / UK and on RTP Africa;
  
• CNN International's longest-running feature programme, Inside Africa will report on the Awards on Saturday 5 June at 1600 BST;
  
• BackStory on CNN International will once again provide viewers with a unique, behind-the-scenes insight into how the awards and competition are put together, presented by CNN Africa correspondent David McKenzie.

Winners in the individual competition categories are:

The overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 wins a substantial cash prize, a visit to CNN Centre in Atlanta, to attend the three-week CNN Journalism Fellowship, along with the prize awarded to all category winners, which consists of a laptop computer, printer, a BlackBerry and a cash prize.

• Arts & Culture Award, presented by John-Allan Namu, CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009.
  Winner: Kofi Akpabli, Freelance for Daily Graphic, Ghana
  Title: The Serious Business of Soup in Ghana
  Judge's Citation: The journalist successfully tells the story of the place and importance of soup in Ghanaian culture. Soup, according to the writer, is not just a gastronomic element, but also plays a key role in literature, tradition, art, geography - in short - in the whole culture of Ghana. The story is also told through a delightful, well crafted and engaging writing which compels the reader to taste the soup.
  
• Digital Journalism Award, presented by presented by Christa Botha, Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the BlackBerry solution.
  Winner: The Dispatch Online Team on behalf of 'The Daily Dispatch' in South Africa
  Title: Slumlords
  Judge's Citation: The Daily Dispatch reporter team did a thorough investigative report on slumlords and slum dwellings in King Williams Town. But it is the enriching of the story with creative tools from the internet that earns them this award. For example, the viewer can take a tour of the slum house, can look at their own neighbourhood to see there are slum houses on your street and can even report suspected slum lords. All of this enables the viewer to continue on a journey of discovery.
  
• Economics & Business Award, presented by Norah Odwesso, public affairs and communications director for the Coca-Cola East & Central Africa.
  Winner: Kaari Wainaina and Francis Mugo Mwangi, NTV Nation Broadcasting Division, Kenya
  Title: Granny's Bank
  Judge's Citation: The journalist took what appears to be a simple story and painted a beautiful picture. He told the story of women's friendship and also highlighted the business aspects, without labouring the point. This story shows business and finance.
  
• Environment Award, presented by Anthony Okpanachi, Ecobank, MD of Kenya and Cluster head of the EAC region.
  Winner: Halima Abdallah Kisule, EastAfrican (Nation Media Group), Uganda
  Title: Cry, the Faithful Crane
  Judge's Citation: The environment category had some very strong entries. And although a lot of the time environmental stories are very technical, Hamila managed to blend the issue of conservation, culture, nationalism, and everyday life into a beautiful story that is also easy to read.
  
• Francophone General News Award: Print, presented by Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, France 3
  Winner: Alexandre Lebel Ilboudo, Le Patriote, Cote D'Ivoire
  Title: Les Terres Toujours Refusées aux Planteurs Burkinabès
  Judge's Citation: This series of articles, in a direct and neutral manner, tackles two contemporary issues that are often at the roots of conflict in Africa: property and ethnicity. The story explores cultural and political identity in a continent moulded by its colonial past and constant migration. It shows an example of misuse of ethnicity by politicians, as is common in many other parts of the World. Ethnicity serves as a scapegoat for political division and exclusion, sometimes exploited by extremists with dramatic human consequences. It also explores the vital problem of land, traditionally seen as owned by those who are working on it.
  
• Francophone General News Award: TV / Radio, presented by Jean-Paul Gérouard, deputy editor-in-chief, France 3.
  Winner: Najlae Benmbarek, 2M TV (Programme Grand Angle), Morocco
  Title: Les Oubliés de San Nicola
  Judge's Citation: This is a great TV piece, extremely well crafted. Investigative journalism with a very human outlook. Najlae Bembarek takes us in a slum occupied by Moroccan migrants in the south of Italy. Misery, precariousness, desillusion: Najlae and her crew make us share the everyday life and the moods of these men(people) who had dreamed about an European Eldorado.
  
• Free Press Africa Award, presented by Joel Kibazo, chair of the judging panel.
  Winner: Mustafa Haji Abdinur, Radio Simba, Somalia
  Plus nine journalists killed in 2009: Abdulkhafar Abdulkadir Hasan, freelance; Mohamed Amin Adan Abdulle, Radio Shabelle; Hassan Zubeyr Haji Hassan, Al-Arabiya; Mohamud Mohamed Yusuf, Radio IQK; Mukhtar Mohamed Hirabe, Radio Shabelle; Nur Muse Hussein, Radio IQK; Abdirisak Mohamed Warsame, Radio Shabelle; Said Tahlil Ahmed, HornAfrik; Hassan Mayow Hassan, Radio Shabelle.
  
• HIV/AIDS Reporting In Africa Award, presented by Hopewell Chin'ono, CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2008
  Winner: Lucas Ledwaba, Freelance for DRUM, South Africa
  Title: Body of Work:
  • Free State's ARV Shame
  • Dying to Get Better
  • We Want Answers
  • Working Together
  Judge's Citation: It's journalism at its best. The stories won because they are comprehensive, objective and balanced.
  
• MSD Health & Medical Award, presented by Donald de Korte, executive director institutional business, Eastern Europe, Middle East Africa MSD (Merck & Co., Inc) Merck Sharp & Dohme.
  Winner: Teresa Chirwa, Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Malawi
  Title: Medical Doctor Risks Lives of HIV Positive People by Putting them on Illegal Cancer Trial
  Judge's Citation A brilliant radio piece that highlights the plight of HIV positive patients in Africa. It is well-researched. The reporter talked to different people and managed to tell a complicated story through people.
  
• Mohamed Amin Photographic Award, presented by Salim Amin, Chairman, A24 Media
  Winner: Boniface Mwangi, Freelance for The Star, Kenya
  Title: Body of work The Boy Child in Sub Saharan Africa
  Judge's Citation: The set of pictures bring us directly to the life of the African child. It is a piece of Artwork achieved by the quality of the photos, the angles of contrasts between colourful light and shadows, which suddenly capture a particular moment of Africa's future. To get this result, the photographer has undertaken a patient search of such magic moments in life, where he could find some light next to the face of a particular child with a particular secret in his life revealed by the camera. These particular pictures tell us what cannot be said by any written article: despite the uncertainty towards the future, African children are forging their self-protection and safety, so they are clever in search of a light in the social darkness.
  
• Portuguese Language General News Award, presented by Arlindo Lopes, secretary general, SABA.
  Winner: Sebastião Vemba, Novo Jornal, Angola
  Title: Body of work:
  • Demolição do Bairro Benfica: Adeus Ilha
  • Ilhéus no Zango: Vida ao Relento
  • Histórias do Zango: E o Tempo Passou, Mas Nada Mudou!
  Judge's Citation: Resettlement of people is always a relevant topic which only becomes an interesting story when told in a comprehensive, compelling and professional way. That's what Sebastião does in this account about people who are moved from Ilha de Luanda to Zango in the outskirts of Luanda.
  
• Print General News Award, presented by Richard Kavuma, CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2007.
  Winner: Emmanuel Mayah, Daily Sun, Nigeria
  Title: Tears of African Migrants
  Judge's Citation: With a group of forty migrants, Emmanuel takes the dangerous road that starts in Lagos. From Nigeria to Libya, across seven countries; the tale of an amazing trip and is an exceptional piece of investigative journalism.
  
• Radio General News Award, presented by Nolo Letele, Group CEO, MultiChoice South Africa.
  Winner: Kassim Mohamed, Star FM, Kenya
  Title: I am Married to a Pirate
  Judge's Citation: Piracy in the Indian Ocean is a global story often told from the vantage point of security and naval experts. While not being sympathetic to the pirates, Kassim Mohamed escorts us into their world by escorting the listener into Puntland, Somalia, and the homes of two pirates. They're not home, so he interviews their wives. The first wife shows listeners her and her husband's twin Prado's - a fancy sports utility vehicle - he sits on their luxurious couches and is shown the family AK-47 which is used to protect the ill-gotten gains. It's a fascinating insider account.
  
• Sport Award, presented by Anthony Dara, CEO, NN24, Nigeria
  Winner: Leon Ssenyange, NTV Uganda, Uganda
  Title: Punching in the Dark
  Judge's Citation: This report is a winner because it is a lovely tale of how one man, despite being poor and blind, has kept his spirit alive and continues to conquer. It is one of those lovely stories that leave the viewer with a smile on their face and with hope for the future. By doing so, it reminds us that we all have the amazing ability to turn what some might see as negatives into positives.
  
• Television - General News - Feature/Current Affairs Award, presented by Reginald Mengi, executive chairman, IPP Media, Tanzania
  Winner: Sam Rogers, e.TV, South Africa
  Title: Curse of the Nobody People
  Judge's Citation: The journalist told the story with care and sensitivity. She did deep research covering all the angles including the victims, traditional doctors and even the police and the local media. The victims were given a voice and also overcame risks in telling the story. It is a complete piece of work.
  Television - General News - News Bulletin Award, presented by Jeff Kupsky, President, Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd.
  Winner: Roseline Wangui, NTV Kenya; and Charles Kariuki, World Vision Kenya for NTV
  Title: Undying Quest for Education
  Judge's Citation: The story is balanced and comprehensive. It is a compelling piece of journalism, a simple story told in such a gripping manner.
  
• Tourism Award, presented by Mr Mahmoud JanMohamed, Managing Director Serena Hotels.
  Winner: Pelu Awofeso, Freelance for Next on Sunday, Nigeria
  Title: Body of work :
  • City of God
  • The Biafra of Bunkers
  Judge's Citation: Pelu Awofeso is a lyrical and beautiful writer who takes you along on a journey instead of telling you about it. You feel as if you have been with him into the Biafra Bunkers at the National War Museum and that you have visited Calabar in Cross River State. He satisfies that first rule of travel journalism: you must want to go there. I certainly did after reading his work.

  Again this year the Judges highlighted some excellent work and awarded Commendations in eight categories. These journalists participated in the finalists' programme in Kampala and received a cash prize and Certificates of Commendation:
  Tsitsi Matope, Public Eye, Lesotho
  Lamia Tagzout, El Watan, Algeria
  Njaka Andriamahery, TV Plus Madagascar
  Zipporah Karani, Kenya Television Network (KTN), Kenya
  Sergio José Sitoe, Rede de Comuniação de Miramar, Mozambique
  Thanduxolo Jika, Daily Dispatch, South Africa
  Oarabile Mosikare, Botswana for Mail & Guardian, South Africa
  Rose Ramsay, eNews, South Africa

  About the awards

  The CNN African Journalist of the Year Award was founded in 1995 by Edward Boateng (formerly African Regional Director for Turner Broadcasting System Inc., CNN's parent company) and the late Mohamed Amin, to recognise and encourage excellence in journalism throughout Africa.

  e.tv is broadcasting the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 Awards Ceremony on Saturday, 12 June at 1pm.

  For more go to www.cnn.com/africanawards.

  Last updated at 5.32pm on 31 May 2010.