CNN MULTICHOICE AJA 2010

Entry forms for the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards are out for the year 2010.
Journalists interested in submitting their work for consideration should pick up entry forms at Global Media Alliance, Airport Residential Area, Accra or visit www.cnn.com/africanawards to download the forms. Completed forms should be submitted to Global Media Alliance or MultiChoice Ghana offices by January 28, 2010. Entries received after this date will be disqualified with no exceptions.

Co-founder of the Awards and Executive Chairman of Global Media Alliance, Edward Boateng says it is his hope that many more Ghanaian journalists will make it to the finals in next year’s awards and possibly bring home the title prize.

“It is disheartening that Ghana’s journalistic works have not received much of recognition in the awards. It means there is something we are not doing right. I encourage all journalists to be guided by professionalism and quality in their work, this is what the awards is all about … rewarding excellence” Boateng says.

This year’s awards held in Durban, South Africa had 26 finalists from 38 countries including Anas Aremeyaw Anas of Crusading Guide as the only Ghanaian finalist.

The thirteenth edition of the awards was held in Accra, Ghana in 2008 receiving 1912 entries from a record 44 countries throughout the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa. Daniel Nkrumah of Daily Graphic and Israel Laryea of Joy FM were among the finalists with Israel picking up an award in the Radio General News Reporting category.

The journalists selected by the panel of judges will enjoy paid finalists’ programme of networking activities and workshops in Kampala, Uganda in May 2010, culminating in a Gala Awards Ceremony. Each finalist will receive a cash prize with each category winner also receiving a laptop computer and printer.

The overall winner of AJA 2010 will receive an additional cash prize and will have the opportunity to participate in the CNN Journalist Fellowship at CNN Headquarters in Atlanta.


About the Awards

The 'CNN African Journalist of the Year Competition' was established in August 1995 to encourage, promote and recognise excellence in African journalism. In the early nineties Edward Boateng, then Regional Director of Turner Broadcasting (CNN's parent company), was travelling around the African continent on business. During his travels he became concerned about the lack of respect journalists received and he decided to try and help them gain recognition for their hard work and commitment.

Working with Edward to launch the first competition were Gary Streiker, then CNN Nairobi Bureau Chief, the late esteemed photographer Mohamed Amin and the late Esom Alintah, then Secretary General of the African Business Roundtable. The first Awards Ceremony took place in Ghana on August 11, 1995. 2009 awards was the fourteenth year of the awards which were held in Durban, South Africa with Kenya’s John-Allan Namu emerging as the biggest winner.