2006 CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards

M-Net will broadcast the 2006 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards ceremony on Friday 28 July at 17:00. Nigerian Shola Oshunkeye was awarded the top prize at the awards ceremony, held at the Polana Serena Hotel in Mozambique on 15 July.

Shola, who was working for TELL Magazine at the time, won for his story, a€˜Niger’s graveyard of the living’, which was chosen from among 1530 entries from 43 nations across the African continent. His prize package comprises a substantial cash prize, a visit to CNN Centre, Atlanta, with complimentary flights courtesy of South African Airways; along with a laptop computer, modem and printer.

Producers Victoria Cullinan and Angus Begg, from M-Net’s Carte Blanche, were winners in the Arts & Culture and Sports categories, respectively, for their inserts “Ashley’s Story”, and “Night Cricket”.

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.

The partnership with MultiChoice has helped expand the competition to ensure its truly pan-African nature. 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 1530 entries from countries throughout the continent, including Francophone and Portuguese speaking Africa.

The co-hosts for the evening were Femi Oke, anchor and reporter for CNN’s a€˜Inside Africa’, and Jeff Koinange, CNN’s Africa Correspondent.
The independent judging panel, chaired by Joel Kibazo, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the Commonwealth Secretariat, includes Dr Doyinsola Abiola, Executive Director, The Daily Times Newspaper Group, Souleymane Diallo, President of West African Editors’ Forum, CNN’s Africa correspondent Jeff Koinange, Arlindo Lopes, Secretary General designate of SABA – Southern African Broadcasting Association, Jacqui O’Sullivan, Head of Corporate Communications and CSI, South African Airways and 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.

DStv Channel 37 will be devoted to the Awards, which will include programming from behind the scenes at the most prestigious journalism awards in Africa, including exclusive interviews with Finalists, Winners, Judges and CEO’s from Africa’s leading companies who support the competition. This will be broadcast on Saturday 29 July and Sunday 30 July from 08:00-22:00.