Three Nigerian journalists, Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, Editor of Sunday Punch and Tolu Ogunlesi, Freelance for Ventures Africa and Geoff Iyatse, The Guardian, are on the final list of nominees for the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2013 Competition.
They are among 27 finalists from 11 countries announced on Monday by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel of the competition now in its 18th year.
This year the competition according to the organizers received entries from 42 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.
Other nominees are: Gifty Andoh Appiah, Joy News TV, Ghana, Rebekah Awuah, GBC 24, Ghana, Domingos Bento, Seminário Novo Jornal, Angola, Thomas Otieno Bwire, Pamoja FM, Kibera, Kenya, Axcel Micael Chenney, Le Défi Média Group, Mauritius and Florence Dallu, Freelance for Koch FM, Kenya.
Others are Nicola de Chaud, Freelance for Carte Blanche, South Africa, Adrian de Kock, The Star, South Africa, Ibrahima-Benjamin Diagne, Radio Futurs Médias (RFM), Senegal, Msindisi Fengu & Yandisa Monakali, Daily Dispatch, South Africa, Selma Inocência, Rede de Comunicação Miramar, Mozambique, Thanduxolo Jika & Media 24 Investigations Team, Media 24, South Africa and Judy Jeptum Kosgei & Mauritius Oduor, Citizen TV, Kenya.
Also on the list are Lucas Ledwaba, City Press, South Africa, Lázaro Mabunda, O País, Mozambique, Carol Natukunda, New Vision, Uganda, Amon Ngabo, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Uganda, Brenda Okoth, The Star, Kenya, Nassima Oulebsir, El Watan, Algeria, Passant Rabie, Egypt Today, Egypt and Roseline Wangui & Wambui Kurema, NTV, Kenya.
The winners of the competition will be announced at an award ceremony and Gala Evening in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday 12 October.
Announcing the finalists, chairperson of the independent judging panel Ferial Haffajee said the judges were impressed by the range of stories entered for the completion.
“African journalists, as represented by our entries, have risen to the challenge of 2012. The big stories were well-covered. The small stories were not forgotten. We commend the dedication of journalists who are very much part of a rising Africa with rising professionalism, increased appetite for tough and investigative journalism, an eye on those left behind and a deep commitment to telling good stories across many mediums, ” Haffajee said.
The independent judging panel, chaired by Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa includes: Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria; Betty Dindi, Managing Editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya; Jean-Paul Gérouard, Editor-in-Chief, France Télévisions ; Anton Harber, Professor of journalism & media studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant; Arlindo Lopes, General Manager, Regulatory and Corporate, Angola and Mozambique, MultiChoice Africa Ltd; Arlindo Macedo, Journalist Rádio Nacional de Angola, (RNA); Amadou Mahtar Ba, CEO, African Media Initiative and Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa
The competition is supported by The Coca-Cola Company; Ecobank; Ericsson; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), UNICEF and A24 Media.
An all-expenses paid four day programme of workshops, media forums, networking has been set up for the finalists during the run up to the award ceremony on 12 October 2013.
