CNN Multichoice African Journalist 2008 finalists
There are 23 finalists from 14 countries:
Lucas Ajanaku, TELL Magazine, Nigeria
Barbara Angopa, NTV, Uganda
Deji Badmus, Channels Television, Nigeria
Marjorie Copeland, Freelance for Marie Claire, South Africa
Kennedy Gondwe, Freelance for Hone FM, Zambia
John Grobler, Freelance for The Namibian, Namibia
Israel Laryea, Joy FM, Ghana
Fernando Lima, Jornal Savana, Mozambique
Emmanuel Mayah, Sun Newspaper, Nigeria
Mwondoshah Mfanga, The Guardian, Tanzania
Richard Mgamba, Sunday Citizen Newspaper, Tanzania
Peter Moyo, e.tv, South Africa
Bamuturaki Musinguzi, The EastAfrican Newspaper, Uganda
Mutwiri Mutuota, Kenya Times, Kenya
Boniface Mwangi, The Standard , Kenya
Koumouréoua Issa Napon, Radio Télévision du Burkina, Burkina Faso
Evaline Ngono, Cameroun Radio Télévision, Cameroun
Daniel Nkrumah, Daily Graphic, Ghana
Godwin Nnanna, BusinessDay, Nigeria
Nassima Oulebsir, Le Jeune Indépendant, Algeria
Hopewell Rugoho-Chin'ono, Television International, for Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Zimbabwe
Seyoum Tsehaye, Eritrea
Sasha Wales-Smith, Special Assignment, SABC, South Africa
The winners of the competition will be announced at a gala awards ceremony in The State Banquet Hall, Osu, Accra, Ghana on Saturday, 19 July.
The hosts for the evening will be CNN correspondent Zain Verjee, joined on stage by popular Nigerian TV personality and talk show host, Soni Irabor.
Announcing the finalists, Azubuike Ishiekwene said: ""I have followed the CNN MultiChoice Awards for the past four years and watched them grow steadily to become the gold standard of excellence in journalism awards on the African continent, especially for young professionals who want to make a difference. Increasingly, the entries are speaking to the continent's needs, and the echoes are far-reaching."
The independent judging panel, chaired by Azubuike Ishiekwene, Executive Director, Punch Nigeria Limited, includes:
Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, Mail & Guardian, South Africa;
Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant;
Arlindo Lopes, Secretary General of SABA - Southern African Broadcasting Association;
Sophie Ly Sow, Regional Communications Officer for Oxfam / West Africa;
Kim Norgaard, CNN's Johannesburg Bureau Chief;
Brahima Ouedraogo, Senior Radio Reporter/Producer, Radio Nationale du Burkina;
Anna Umbima, journalist and broadcaster, and;
Filipe Correia de Sá, Senior Producer at BBC World Service - brought in to help judge the Portuguese-speaking category.
The competition is held in partnership with MultiChoice, and in collaboration with The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Official sponsors include: Celtel; Coca-Cola Africa; Ecobank; Ghana Tourist Board; Holiday Inn Accra; IPP Media, Tanzania; MIH Print Africa; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); Safebond Africa Ltd; Global Media Alliance and Camerapix.
Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International said: "Each year we see a healthy increase in entries for the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards from a diverse array of countries across the continent. The quality and excellence of the work submitted continues to rise year on year, ensuring that the 2008 competition maintains its place as the most prestigious Pan African Awards for journalists".
Nolo Letele, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa said: "MultiChoice is once again proud to be partnering with CNN, to host this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards. We believe the media is a catalyst in building democracies and has played a critical role in various challenges faced by nations in Africa. The quality of the entries to this year's awards has been very encouraging. We congratulate all the finalists and look forward to attending the event to be held in Ghana this year."
For more information, visit: http://www.cnn.com/africanawards