2012 CNN Multichoice Africa Journalist of the Year Awards to be held in Zambia

The 2012 CNN Mulitchoice Africa Journalist of the Year awards have drawn a step closer as the judging panel completed its decision this past week on the large number of entries received.

For the first time in its 17 year history, the awards will be held in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, with the Multi-choice general manager Simon Bota saying the awards this year would consist of 16 categories which include an Art and Culture Award, Digital Journalism Award, the Coca-cola Company Economic and Business Awards.

Other recognitions to be given out, among others, include the Environmental Awards, Free Press Africa Award and the HIV and AIDS Reporting Award, Radio general news, and Television News Award.

The judging panel, which consisted of industry greats such as South Africa City Press Editor in Chief Ferial Haffajee and media consultant Joel Kibazo, met in London over the last week of April 2012 to sift through the extensive list of entries to come up with nominees for this year’s edition.

Most of the judges felt that there was an increasing confidence in journalist entries, as well as a clearer African story that was being told in fresh and diverse ways.

The previous winner of the CNN Multichoice Africa Award was Kenya’s Fatuma Noor of the Star Newspaper, as entries received were close to 2.000 from over 44 countries across the continent.