CNN MULTI-CHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALISTS AWARDS 2009, OPENED

CNN and MultiChoice have announced the opening of entries for the 2009 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Awards. Stories and photographs of good journalistic quality are invited to enter the competition. CNN founded the African Journalist Awards in 1995 and since that time the competition has grown to be the most prestigious and respected Award for journalists across the African Continent. The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards aim to reinforce the importance of the Journalists’ role in Africa’s development and to reward and recognise journalistic talent across all media disciplines.
To enter the competition, the journalist must be an African national, of at least 18 years of age, and work on the continent for African owned, or headquartered, media organisations that produce a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television broadcaster; radio station or website) targeted at and received by an African audience.
Judging Criteria:

The judges will be looking for work which:
Tells the story in a balanced, comprehensive and objective manner
Demonstrates journalistic ability and integrity
Has made the topic accessible and relevant to their audience
Displays well organised research and insight
Was broadcast or published between January and December 2008, with proof supplied

The prizes
The finalists selected will enjoy an all expenses paid programme of networking activities and workshops in Durban, South Africa, culminating in the Gala Awards ceremony. In addition to this each category winner will receive a cash prize and a state-of-the-art laptop computer and printer. The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Award winner will be selected from the category winners and will receive a further cash prize and will be invited to participate in the CNN Journalism Fellowship Programme at CNN headquarters in Atlanta.

The Categories
The categories for this year include: Arts & Culture Award presented by Zain, Economics and Business Award, Environment Award presented by Ecobank, Free Press Africa Award, The HIV/AIDS Award, Mohamed Amin Photographic Award presented by Camerapix, MSD Health & Medical Award, Print General News Award presented by Safebond Africa Ltd., Radio General News Award, Sport Award presented by Global Media Alliance, Television Features Award presented by IPP Media, Tanzania, Television News Bulletin Award, Tourism Award, Francophone General News Awards, Portuguese Language General News Award
Please go through your 2008 stories and ensure you send us the work that best demonstrates your story telling abilities. With the exception of Television, Print and Radio General News categories and the Mohamed Amin Photographic Award - all categories are open to print, radio, television and internet journalists. Entrants are strictly limited to TWO entries per category and a maximum of FOUR entries across all the categories listed above. Each entry must have been published or broadcast in 2009 and proof supplied. No entry fee is payable.
Entries should be made in accordance with the instructions given in the entry form and must be received on, or before, February 16th 2009 at one of the collection point addresses provided below.

ACCRA
CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009
C/o Ms Stella Adams
Global Media Alliance
129 Osu badu Street, PO Box CT 5976
Accra, Ghana
Tel: 233-21-912072/3/4
E-mail: cnnafrica.competition@turner.com

LONDON
CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009
C/o Mr. Kevin Talbot, CNN, PO Box 2537, London W1A 3HT, UK.
Tel: + 44 20 7693 0846 Fax: + 44 20 7693 0847
E-mail: cnnafrica.competition@turner.com
Entries can be sent to London or to Global Media Alliance, Accra or to any MultiChoice DStv office. The deadline for receipt of entries is February 16th 2009.
For more information, please contact:
Brooke Nuwati
Global Media Alliance
Media Relations
Tel: +233244987121/+233264987121