South African journalism was honoured last night when it won a total of four awards at the prestigious
CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards.
Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e-News Service for
3rd Degree broadcast on e.tv; Paul McNally,
Men’s Health Magazine; Halden Krog,
The Times; and Beauregard Tromp,
The Star, respectively scooped the
HIV/AIDS Reporting in Africa Award;
MSD Health and Medical Award;
Mohamed Amin Photographic Award; and
Print General News Award.
In addition, Nicola de Chaud and Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for
Carte Blanche, and Hazel Friedman of
Special Assignment, SABC, received Commendations.
The South African winners were amongst 25 finalists at the Awards ceremony on Saturday evening, where John-Allan Namu of KTN Kenya was named the overall
CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year.
The Awards, which rotate location each year in tribute to their pan-African credentials, returned to South Africa in 2009 and were held at a Gala ceremony hosted by CNN and MultiChoice at The International Convention Centre, Durban this evening, Saturday 18 July.
Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International, said: “Tonight’s journalists join an ever-increasing number of professionals recognised by their peers over the last fourteen years. They have become part of a community of excellence, representing the very best in African journalism and maintaining the highest standards of journalistic integrity.”
Nolo Letele, CEO MultiChoice South Africa Group, said: “Well done to all the finalists and category winners. Continue to tell the remarkable stories of this wonderful vibrant continent.”
The CNN MultiChoice competition is now in its fourteenth year. Durban-based accommodation is provided by Southern Sun Elangeni. Other prestigious sponsors include: British Airways; Coca-Cola Africa; Ecobank, IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD); Safebond Africa Ltd; South African Tourism; Zain; Global Media Alliance; and A24 Media.
• M-Net will broadcast the ‘Highlights Programme’ of the Award Ceremony:
• M-Net Domestic (IS7) - 29 July at 23:05 CAT.
• AFRICA MAGIC (7) - 22 August at 19:30 CAT.
CNN International, available on DSTV’s Channel 401, offers two opportunities to watch highlights and reports from the Awards:
• Its new feature programme
BackStory, will provide viewers with a unique, behind-the-scenes insight into how the awards and competition are put together, airing Monday, 20 July at 23:00 CAT.
• Its longest-running feature programme,
Inside Africa, will report on the Awards on Saturday, 25 July at 18:30 CAT
• The Highlights Programme will be screened on CNN.com Live.
South Africa’s Winners in the individual competition categories areHIV/AIDS REPORTING IN AFRICA AWARD, presented by Hopewell Rugoho-Chin’ono, CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year 2008Winner: Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e-News Service for 3rd Degree broadcast on e.tv, South Africa
Title: Taking on the Quacks
Judge’s Citation: Africa’s journalists, sadly, know the ravages of the pandemic and through the years, judges have noted a steady improvement as our media has learnt to cover the story of millions infected and affected by Aids. As the death phase has peaked, quackery has followed misery. Across Africa, a series of charlatans, snake-oil salesmen and those out to make a quick buck ply their trade. Anna-Maria Lombard and her team tracked the quacks on the streets of South Africa. We enter a world of ozonators, aloe vera miracles and followed the camera into a ward of desperate people attached to Star Wars-like machines. Apart from the obvious quacks, the producers also show how the natural medicine sector is not immune from the disease of trading in desperation.
MSD HEALTH & MEDICAL AWARD, presented by Peter de Wet, Acting CEO, Merck Sharp and DohmeWinner: Paul McNally, Men’s Health Magazine, South Africa
Title: Throw Away the Bones
Judge’s Citation: A story that deals with traditional medicine in a sensitive and comprehensive way. This is a story looking at how relevant traditional medicine is in South Africa today.
MOHAMED AMIN PHOTOGRAPHIC AWARD, presented by Salim Amin, CEO, A24 MediaWinner: Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa
Title: Is This the New South Africa? Flames of Hate, Tents of Shame
Judge’s Citation: One of the most important examples in 2008 of how a picture can convey so much more than words. These pictures that went around the world summed up the sheer brutality of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
PRINT GENERAL NEWS AWARD, presented by Krobo Edusei Jnr., Group Executive Chairman, Safebond Africa LimitedWinner: Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa
Title: Flaming Man Series
Judge’s Citation: This is a solid piece of reportage. The journalist stayed with a rather grim story and handled it with sensitivity and care. This is the story of the killing of a Mozambique builder in South Africa in the xenophobic riots of 2008.
Again this year the Judges highlighted some excellent work and awarded Commendations in six categories, of which three were South African:.
Nicola De Chaud and Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche
Hazel Friedman, Special Assignment, SABC
These journalists participated in the finalists’ programme in Durban and received a cash prize and Certificates of Commendation.