CNN, MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2009 Entry Opens

Cable News Network (CNN) International and MultiChoice have opened entry for this year’s African Journalist schedule to hold in July. 
Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International, said that the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards, now in its fourteenth year, represents the very best in journalism from across the African continent.
“It is an annual privilege to pay tribute to such a wide range of talented individuals, all of whom have unique and compelling stories to tell, and to join in the celebration of their abilities,” he said.
Nolo Letele, chief executive officer, MultiChoice South Africa, explained that a thriving, independent and authentic media continues to play a major role in building democracies on the African continent. “We are therefore delighted to once again partner with CNN, in recognizing and celebrating media excellence with the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year 2009 Awards,” he added.
According to Eben Greyling, president of MultiChoice Africa, the award recognizes and encourages excellence in journalism in Africa as well as celebrates the hard work, the talent, the sacrifice and the dedication that the finest African journalists deliver. “As a company committed to the growth of media on the continent we strongly believe in supporting the development of African journalists,” she noted.
Over the past fourteen years, the competition has grown in size and status to become a prestigious African media event. In 2008, it attracted a record-number of entries from 44 African countries and a ‘Highlights Programme’ of the ceremony, held in Accra, Ghana, was broadcast in 41 African countries, on the Africa Channel in the US, OBE TV in the UK and RTP Africa.
This year, the competition will recognize excellence in such categories as Tourism, Arts and Culture, Economics and Business, Environment, Free Press Africa, MSD Health and Medical Award, HIV/AIDS Reporting in Africa, Mohamed Amin Photographic Award, Print General News, Radio General News, Sports, Television - Features Award, Television - News Bulletin Award, Francophone General News Awards (Print and TV/Radio), and Portuguese Language General News Award.
From these category winners, the judges will choose the overall winner - The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009.
Finalists in the 2009 competition will participate in a four-day finalists’ programme that will include a media forum and networking opportunities with senior journalists, editors, business leaders and media owners from across the continent, culminating in a gala awards ceremony in July, 2009.
Each category winner receives a cash prize, plus laptop and printer, while the overall winner will receive an additional cash prize and a trip to CNN Centre in Atlanta.
The competition is open to African nationals who are professional journalists including freelancers across print, television, internet, photographic and radio.
The closing date for entries is 16th February, 2009 and the judging will take place in April.