CNN African journalist award shortlist revealed

By Kemo Cham

The CNN African Journalist award list has been revealed.

A statement unveiled last week by the organizers indicates that South Africans and Nigerians continue their dominance over the coveted yearly contest organized by the US-based television network, CNN and the South Africa-based Multi Choice company.

The competition honors the best the journalism profession on the continent.

The independent panel of judges worked through about 1600 entries submitted for the 2016 edition from 38 countries.

South Africa and Nigeria has each seven names in the shortlist that also include journalists from Ghana, Mozambiqu, and Kenya.

The organizers say the award is aimed at encouraging excellence in journalism while rewarding the hard working members of the profession.

Every year an overall winner is selected from the shortlisted candidates. Last year Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou, a Burkinabe journalist, was crowned the overall winner.

“Its objective is to reinforce the importance of the role of journalists in Africa’s development and to reward, recognise and encourage journalistic talent across all media disciplines,” said the statement released on Monday July 18.

Below is the full detail of the shortlist.

• Adedayo Eriye Oketola, Saturday Punch, Nigeria
• Aderonke Bello, naij.com, Nigeria
• Ancillar Mangena, Forbes Africa, South Africa
• Asha Ahmed Mwilu & Rashid Idi, Kenya Television Network, Kenya
• Ati Metwaly, Al Ahram Weekly, Egypt
• Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique
• Bidossèssi Appolinaire Agoïnon, Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin, Benin
• Cheboite Kigen, Daily Nation, Kenya
• Chika Oduah, Nigeria, Freelancer at African Story Challenge, Media Initiative, Kenya
• Cleófas Viagem, STV, Mozambique
• Conan Daniel Businge & Gerald Tenywa, New Vision, Uganda
• Coulibaly Zoumana, Le Patriote, Cote d’Ivoire
• Diana Neille, Richard Poplak, Shaun Swingler and Sumeya Gasa, Daily Maverick Chronicle, South Africa
• Dominic Omondi, The Standard, Kenya
• Eromo Egbejule, Freelancer at Ventures Africa, Nigeria
• Faten Hayed, El Watan, Algeria
• Fidelto Emidio Bata, STV, Mozambique
• Folashade Adebayo, The Punch, Nigeria
• Garreth van Niekerk, City Press, South Africa
• Isaac Otidi Amuke, Commonwealth Writers, Kenya
• James Oatway, The Sunday Times, South Africa
• Jay Caboz, Forbes Africa, South Africa
• Jean-Luc Emile, Teleplus, Mauritius
• John Grobler, Namibia, and Fiona Macleod, Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism, South Africa
• Lawrence Seretse, The Botswana Gazette, Botswana
• Mia Malan, Mail & Guardian, South Africa
• Teresa Fuquiadi, Jornal Nova Gazeta, Angola
• Veronica Narkwor Kwabla, Tv3 Network, Ghana
• Veronica Onuchi, TVC News Africa, Nigeria
• Yemisi Akinbobola, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu & Paul Bradshaw, IQ4News for Premium Times, Nigeria

• © Politico 27/07/16