CNN and Multichoice to join forces for the 10th African Journalist of the Year Awards

To further broaden the overall reach of the competition, CNN will now team up with the Pan-African broadcaster and platform operator, MultiChoice Africa for the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards.

To mark the 10th anniversary of the CNN African Journalist of the Year competition, CNN has also announced the addition of a general news Lusophone category thereby expanding the competition further to include entries in Portuguese from Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and Sao Tome and Principe.

"The competition has grown over the last 9 years, and today is recognized as the most prestigious journalist award in Africa. We are delighted to join forces with MultiChoice who have a strong presence throughout Africa. They will provide the logistical support needed to sustain the continued growth and visibility of the event on the continent", said Chris Cramer, Managing Director, CNN International.

"MultiChoice Africa Pty Ltd is exceptionally proud to be co-sponsoring the awards. Our partnership with CNN began nearly a decade ago, when we first launched DStv in 1995. CNN was one of our initial channels, and they have grown with us and remained a key news and information component of our DStv offering. MultiChoice is available in just under 50 countries on the African continent and adjacent Indian Ocean islands, and CNN continues to provide our subscribers in both South Africa and Africa with cutting-edge and incisive news from around the world. Partnering on the CNN Journalist Awards in 2005 is therefore a natural progression of the relationship, and will give recognition to outstanding African journalists whose tireless work and search for the truth may otherwise not receive the recognition it deserves." Nolo Letele - CEO MultiChoice South Africa

The CNN African Journalist of the Year launched in 1995, stemmed from an idea by then Turner Broadcasting (parent company of CNN) employee, Edward Boateng to principally encourage, promote and recognize excellence in African journalism. Working alongside him to launch the first competition were Gary Streiker, then CNN Nairobi Bureau Chief and esteemed photographer, the late Mohamed Amin.

CNN has a strong newsgathering presence throughout the continent. CNN International's service for Africa/Middle East/Europe is available to 15 million households in Africa and features over 50 hours of new programming specifically produced for the region.

More information about the CNN African Journalist of the Year Competition can be found at www.cnn.com/africa/africanawards