CNN International and MultiChoice have officially launched the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Awards.
The winners of the annual Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held in Durban in July.
Now in its fourteenth year, the competition attracted entries from 44 countries last year and was won by Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono, from Zimbabwe.
Founder and film director for Television International, Zimbabwe, Hopewell won for his story Pain in My Heart, which was chosen from among 1912 entries.
His reflection on his win: “Winning the CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the Year award was the highlight of my career. I work in a very difficult country which is not comfortable with free speech. The award gave me protection from harassment, since it raised my profile.
"Professionally it opened new doors and has turned me into an international correspondent with offers coming from major international broadcasters. The recognition has also given me the faith and the zeal to encourage my fellow journalists in Zimbabwe, who have told me countless times that they felt hopeless but now feel that they can also compete on the international journalistic platform.
"Personally, I felt humbled meeting respected international broadcasting journalists and to hear them say they admire my work. It gave me the impetus to carry on with my work each time I felt low, due to the working conditions in my country.”
This year, the competition will recognise excellence in various categories through the following awards:
- Tourism Award
- Arts and Culture Award
- Economics & Business Award
- Environment Award
- Free Press Africa Award
- MSD Health & Medical Award
- HIV/AIDS Reporting in Africa
- Mohamed Amin Photographic Award
- Print General News Award
- Radio General News Award
- Sport Award
- Television - Features Award
- Television - News Bulletin Award
- Francophone General News Awards (Print and TV/Radio)
- Portuguese Language General News Award
From these category winners, the judges will choose the overall winner: The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009.
Finalists will participate in a four day finalists’ programme that includes a media forum and networking opportunities with senior journalists, editors, business leaders and media owners from across the continent, culminating in the award ceremony in July.
Each category winner receives a cash prize, plus laptop and printer.
The overall winner will receive an additional cash prize and a trip to CNN Center in Atlanta.
The competition is open to African nationals who are professional journalists including freelancers across print, television, internet, photographic and radio.
All the details on how to enter can be found at
www.cnn.com/africanawards.
The closing date for entries is 16th February, 2009 and the judging will take place in April.
All entries should have been broadcast or published during January - December 2008.