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For release: 14 September 2015

CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST 2015 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 Competition were announced today by
Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel. The competition is now in a landmark 20th year.
This year the competition received entries from 39 countries across the continent, including French and
Portuguese speaking Africa.
There are 31 finalists from 15 countries:

Fiifi Essilfie Anaman, Freelance for zonalsports.com, Ghana


Benedicta Asiimwe, Freelance for Daily Monitor, Uganda
Femi Asu, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
Domingos Bento, redeangola.info, Angola
Thomas Naadi Bitlegma, Viasat1, Ghana
Sheriff Bojang Jnr, Freelance for West Africa Democracy Radio, Senegal
Ruth Butaumocho, The Herald, Zimbabwe
Ibrahima Diallo, Radiodiffusion Tlvision Sngalaise (RTS), Senegal
Adewale Olugbenga Emosu, tribuneonlineng.com, Nigeria
Chahinaz Samir Gheith, Freelance for Al-Ahram Hebdo, Egypt
Carla Gonalves, A Nao, Cape Verde
Boldwill Hungwe, Zimbabwe Independent, Zimbabwe
Ibanga Isine, Premium Times Newspaper, Nigeria
Paul Kelemba, Freelance for The Standard on Saturday, Kenya
Deo Gratias Tchd Kindoho, Radio Bnin, Benin
Julie Laurenz & Jacqueline Jayamaha, Freelance for e.tv, South Africa
Petride Mudoola, Freelance for Sunday Vision, Uganda
Abubakari Akida Mussa, Mtanzania Newspaper, Tanzania
Pedro Paxi Pereira Ndoma, TV Zimbo, Angola

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George Oduor Otieno, Baraka FM, Kenya


Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou, L'Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso
Enock Sikolia & Charles Kariuki, NTV, Kenya
Arison Tamfu, Cameroon Journal, Cameroon
Kla Tubsun, Blogger at ktravula.com, Nigeria
Arukaino Umukoro, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria
Bento Venncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique
Herman Verwey, Beeld, South Africa
Kiundu Waweru, The Standard on Saturday, Kenya
Sarah Wild, Mail & Guardian, South Africa

The independent judging panel, chaired by Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa,
includes: Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, Guardian Newspapers, Nigeria; Nima Elbagir, Senior International
Correspondent, CNN; Jean-Paul Grouard, Editor-in-Chief, France Tlvisions ; Fernando Gonalves,
Editor, Savana, Mozambique; Anton Harber, Caxton Professor of Journalism, University of the
Witwatersrand; Joel Kibazo, Director of Communications and External Relations, African Development
Bank Group; Amadou Mahtar Ba, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman, AllAfrica Global Media; Wanja
Njuguna, Senior Lecturer, Polytechnic of Namibia & CNN Journalist of the year 2000; Jos Sebastio
Paulo, Professor of Journalism, University Agostinho Neto, Angola; and, David Ohito, Digital Editor, The
Standard Media Group, Kenya.
The competition is once again supported by the following sponsors, who continue to lend their valuable
support to the awards: A24 Media, African Development Bank, Dow, Ecobank, GE, IPP Media and MSD
(MSD is known as Merck in the U.S. and Canada) .
The finalists will enjoy an all-expense paid four day programme of workshops, media forums
and networking in Nairobi, Kenya, culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony in October 2015. In addition,
winners from previous years will join this years finalists for a special evening to celebrate 20 years of the
awards.
Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: The quality and
breadth of entries in this, its 20th, year is testament to the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards
position as the most prestigious recognition for journalism across the continent. CNN is privileged to be
involved in this important initiative to honor the outstanding work across multiple platforms, topics and
journalistic disciplines. I salute the finalists for the great work that they have done and look forward to
seeing their future achievements.

Greg Beitchman, Vice President, Content Sales and Partnerships, CNN International: This years
ceremony promises to be a stellar moment in the long history of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist
Awards. A combination of the strong body of work to be showcased at the 2015 awards, the presence of a
number of former winners, and the backdrop of the vibrant city of Nairobi will make for an evening that
celebrates the very best of African journalism.
Tim Jacobs, CEO MultiChoice Africa: We continue to be amazed by the resourcefulness and growth of
journalists in the complexity and immediacy of the digital and online age of news and information. That is
why we remain committed to nurturing and growing African journalists who have a huge responsibility and
role to play and where tech-savvy readers have the ability to follow breaking stories and are not shy to
engage in dialogue on a number of different platforms. The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year
Awards have for the past 20 years provided a voice for credible journalism. As we celebrate this
remarkable milestone, we can only commend the journalists for leaving no stone unturned in telling the
important stories.
Imtiaz Patel, Group CEO, MultiChoice: "MultiChoice is delighted to once again be associated with these
prestigious awards that give respect to the work done by journalists across the African continent. We
congratulate all the finalists on their achievements and look forward to celebrating with the winners in
Nairobi in October.
Note to Editors: Competition Criteria
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 competition is open to African professional journalists,
whether directly employed or freelancers, working in the continent of Africa who have produced a story
which has been made available as a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium
(television; radio or digital platform) whose primary audience are based in Africa.
Entries were published or broadcast in 2014 for the following awards:
Culture Award; Ecobank Economics & Business Award; Mohamed Amin Photo Award; African Development
Bank Environment Award; Press Freedom Award; MSD Health & Medical Award; Sport Reporting Award;
News Impact Award; Francophone general news awards; Portuguese language general news awards; GE
Energy & Infrastructure Award; Features Award; and Dow Technology & Innovation Award.

Keep up-to-date with the awards at: www.africa.cnnjournalistaward.com and via social media on:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/CNNMultichoiceAfricanJournalistOfTheYearAwards

@Africanjourno

@cnn_multichoice_aja

#AfricanJournoAwards

Issued: 14 September 2014

For further information please contact:


CNN International: Joel Brown + 44 20 7693 0967 joel.brown@turner.com or Dan Faulks + 44 20 7693
1362 / + 44 7554 439100 dan.faulks@turner.com
MultiChoice Africa: Nonye Mpho Omotola Nonye.Omotola@multichoice.co.za + 27 11 289 3524 / + 27
605 598024
MultiChoice South Africa: Marietjie Groenewald + 27 11 289 3067 / + 27 79 501 1758
Marietjie.Groenewald@multichoice.co.za

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