Finalists in the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Competition were announced today by Azubuike Ishiekwene, Chair of the independent judging panel.
Now in it's 14th year, the competition received entries from 836 journalists from 38 countries throughout the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.
There are 25 finalists from 12 countries. Here's who they are:
• Ayodeji Adeyemi, TELL Magazine, Nigeria
• Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje, ORTB - Parakou, Benin
• Anas Aremeyaw Anas, The Crusading Guide, Ghana
• Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius
• Ernesto Bartolomeu, TPA, Angola
• Nicola De Chaud, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa
• Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today Egypt
• Hazel Friedman, Special Assignment, SABC, South Africa
• Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa
• Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e News Service for 3rd Degree e.tv, South Africa
• Paul McNally, Men's Health Magazine, South Africa
• James Moturi Mogaka, KTN, Kenya
• Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian online www.mg.co.za, Uganda
• Sammy Muraya, Metro FM, Kenya
• Boniface Mwangi, Expression Today, Kenya
• John Benson Mwangi, KTN, Kenya
• John-Allan Namu, KTN, Kenya
• Elshadai Negash, Freelance for Fortune Newspaper, Ethiopia
• Luís Nhachote, Zambeze, Mozambique
• Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria
• Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya
• Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa
• Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso
• Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa
• Alain Zongo, L'Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso
All their entries were published or broadcast in 2008.
This year the recipient of the Free Press Africa Award is Nicaise Kibel’bel Oka, of Les Coulisses in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is awarded this prize, for his work in the DRC, and also in recognition of all the journalists in the DRC who have put their lives at risk in telling the story
The awards are also giving special mention to three journalists who were murdered fulfilling their professional duties:
Pascal Kabungulu (killed 31st July 2005)
Serge Maheshe (killed 13th June, 2007)
Didace Namujimbo (killed 23rd November 2008)
The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening at The International Convention Centre, Durban, South Africa on Saturday 18th July.
The hosts for the evening will be Isha Sesay, presenter of CNN weekly programme ‘Inside Africa’, joined on stage by South African eNews Channel presenter Macfarlane Molele.
There's no news yet as to when and where the awards will be broadcast - we'll keep you posted.