SA on shortlist for Africa Business Reporting Awards

14 Jun 2006

LONDON: International premium drinks company Diageo announced the short-listed entries for the third annual Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards on Tuesday, 13 June 2006 - and once again, South African journalists and websites feature prominently.

Comments Nick Blazquez, MD of Diageo Africa, "We are delighted by the response to this year's competition, which saw entries from Europe, North America, Australia and Africa.

"In the two years since we established these awards, coverage of business in Africa has improved - in terms of both quality and quantity. This is testimony to Africa's thriving business environment and a growing recognition that there is another African story to be told. With these awards we are delighted to be recognising those who have gone the extra mile to promote awareness and understanding of business in Africa."

The finalists, in no particular order but with South Africans highlighted in red, are:

Best Journalist
Richard Cockett, The Economist
David Christianson, Business in Africa

James Knight and Katrina Manson, freelancers

Best Publication
African Business, IC Publications
The Africa Report, Jeune Afrique
Business in Africa, Business in Africa Group
Best Published Feature
'Chinese influence in Africa', Reuters
'On the wing: how capital flight is cheating Africa', Patrick Smith, The Africa Report
'How telecentres connect rural Africa to global markets', John Mireny, Financial Times Tanzania
'Assurance industry's annus horribilis', Renee Bonorchis, Business Report
Best Website
MBendi Information Services, www.mbendi.com
Reuters South Africa, www.reuters.co.za
African News Dimension, www.andnetwork.com
BusinessDay Online, www.businessdayonline.com
Best Television Feature
'Ethiopia's flower industry', Okwudinlo Okoh, Africa Journal, Reuters
'Africa's Chinese investment', Jon Snow/Lindsey Hilsum, Channel 4 News/ITN
'Cat fish farming in Nigeria' - Jeff Koinange, Inside Africa, CNN International
'Escaping the debt trap' - Egon Cossou/Neil Drake, BBC World
Best Radio Feature
'Global Business Africa Season', Richard Berenger/Peter Day, BBC World Service
'US based company opens call centre in Accra', William Eagle, Voice of America Radio News
'Aid and debt in Africa' - James Whittington, BBC World Service
Diageo congratulates the entrants on making it through to the final judging stage. and thanks all the journalists and editors who entered the 2006 competition.
Winners will now be selected by a panel chaired by Diageo's chief executive officer, Paul Walsh, and comprised of Peter Woicke (former executive vice president, International Finance Corporation); Louis Michel (European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Development); Zeinab Badawi (broadcaster); Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu (former CEO, New Partnership for Africa's Development); Dr Alhaji Bamanga Tukur (executive president, African Business Roundtable); and Dr Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke (director general, Nigerian Stock Exchange).
The winners, who will each receive a bronze statue and cheque for £500, will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on Thursday, 29 June.