Rewarding reporting that impacts on Africa

“It is our firm belief that science and technology reporting needs to be continuously accelerated and improved on the continent in order to demystify these very important topics that have the potential to impact massively on the lives of all Africa's people,” says Proebstl.

Recognition and reward

“The recognition and reward of those writers, broadcasters and producers who effectively do this, therefore, is a vitally important task.”

Supporting this view, Kerry Swift, executive director: development at Rhodes University and the convener of the judging panel composed of senior journalists from English, French and Arabic media, technology writers, academics and technologists, says that overall, the trend was up in terms of the number of entries received, countries participating and in the depth of knowledge displayed.

“Of particular importance was this year was the quality and quantity of entries from the north of Africa, indicating a wide spread from countries across the continent such as Nigeria, Egypt and Burkina Faso, as well as from Francophone Africa,” comments Swift.

“Of the winning entries, what stood out clearly was the depth of research, the ability to unbundle complex technology, individual writing styles and a broad interest in the technology arena, with several entries considered to be world-class.”

Overall winner

Jennifer Stastny of Popular Mechanics was named as the Overall Profile Award winner for 2006 with her piece ‘Unseen Ally', which also won a Profile Award in the Medical Solutions category.

Commenting on the overall winning entry, Swift says it takes on the powerfully evocative subject of cancer, and looks at iTemba LABS, a Cape-based hospital that uses two types of sub-atomic particles to attack the disease.

“‘iTemba' is Xhosa for ‘hope' and LABS stands for ‘Laboratory for Accelerator-Based Sciences'. The writer explains the nature of cancer and how mainstream medicine conventionally handles it through surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and combinations of these treatments, which are not always effective,” says Swift.

“This is why the proton and neutron therapies used at iThemba are so innovative. She unravels the technology in simple-to-understand language, explains its application and impact and suggests how this innovative technology can offer cancer sufferers new hope.”

According to Swift, entries were examined for reporting that was accurate, informed and balanced, and that communicated science and technology reporting in an easily understood manner, with strong emphasis placed on context.

Easy to grasp

“The Category and Merit Awards went to those journalists who unbundled technology so audiences could easily grasp the nature and benefits of new technologies, and who did so in a clear and concise manner,” he adds.

Proebstl says that as developments in science and technology continue apace, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the leading edge of innovation, which is why Siemens sees the reporting of science and technology in an easily understandable format as a priority for Africa.

“We believe that science and innovation can help us create a safer and healthier society, a cleaner environment and a prosperous knowledge-driven economy for this entire continent's people,” says Proebstl.

Greg Gibbons, director of corporate communications at Siemens Southern Africa, confirms that the Profile Awards is a long term investment in the partnership between Siemens and the media and efforts to accelerate participation are on the cards.

“To date, almost R4 million has been invested in the programme since its inception in 2001,” he concludes.

CATEGORY WINNERS AND MERIT AWARDS

Research and Development

Category winner:

Alan Duggan, Popular Mechanics(SA), “Going ballistic”

Communications (Carriers & Enterprise)

Category winner:

Ramata Soré, L'EVÉNEMENT (Burkina Faso), “The eye of the parents: better than a school report”

Merit awards:

1. Elvis Eromosele, Financial Standard (Nigeria), “What hopes for cyber cafes?”
2. Samir Mahmoud, Itesalat El Mostakbal (Egypt), “An archive in a capsule”

Energy

Category winner:

Adel El Bahnasawi, Al Masry Al Youm (Egypt), “Egyptian government's nightmare of a single bidder in electricity sector”

Merit awards:

1. Terry FitzPatrick, Public Radio International “Living Earth” (SA), “Pebble Bed Technology: Nuclear Promise or Peril”
2. Ashraf Fekry, El Mal (Egypt), “Gas subsidies fuel industrial profits”
3. Irma Venter, Mining Weekly (SA), “Coal Crunch” OR “Sun Power”
4. Helene le Roux, Engineering News (SA), “Energy Harvest” OR “Hype vs Reality

Business Solutions (IT)

Category winner:

Haitham Dardeeri, El Mal (Egypt), “Preparations to start TV broadcast over the Internet”

Merit awards:

1. Oluwaseun Temitope Igbalode, IT & Telecom Digest (Nigeria), “Much ado about remote trading”
2. Abeer Saady, Community Times (Egypt), “Offshore outsourcing: a goldmine for Egyptian industry”
3. Oluwaseun Temitope Igbalode (‘Seun Igbalode'), IT & Telecom Digest (Nigeria), “Much Ado About Remote Trading”

Transport

Category winner:

Samir Mahmoud, Al Ahram (Egypt), “Road rage and hundreds of victims”

Merit award:

Kheir Ragheb Kheir, Al Masry Al Youm (Egypt), “No covering for Mahmud Ismail”

Policy & Investment

Category winner:
Duncan McLeod, Financial Mail (SA), “Mashile's Mess”

Merit awards:

1. Haitham Dardeeri, El Mal (Egypt), “Contact ventres hold the key to investment attraction”
2. Antonio Ruffini, WattNow (SA), “SKA - There can only be one”
3. Atef Abdel Sattar, Itesalat Al Mostaqbal (Egypt), “Electronic sports seeking a legitimate father”

Corporate Responsibility

Category winner:

Rowan Watt-Pringle, FOCUS on Transport and Logistics (SA), “Blasting the heart out of crime”

Industry Solutions (Basic)

Category winner:

Adetokunbo Abiola, Weekend Hope (Nigeria), “Building machines on shoestring budget”

Medical Solutions

Category winner:

Jennifer Stastny, Popular Mechanics (SA), “Unseen ally”

Merit awards:

1. Gillian Warren-Brown, Popular Mechanics (SA), “Ti-Bone”
2. Anthony Doman, Popular Mechanics (SA), “High Anxiety”

OVERALL 2006 PROFILE AWARD WINNER

Jennifer Stastny, Popular Mechanics (SA), “Unseen ally”