(JollofNews) – A Gambian journalist, Sheriff Bojang Jnr, who works at the Dakar-based West Africa Democracy Radio, has been named among the finalists of the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 Competition.
Sheriff Bojang Jnr started his journalism career at the Daily Observer in The Gambia before he moved to Senegal where he now works at WAD radio.
The competition is 20 years this year since its start and the names of the 31 finalists from 15 countries were announced on Monday by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel.
This year the competition received entries from 39 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.
The people who made it to the finalists are: Sheriff Bojang Jnr, Freelance for West Africa Democracy Radio, Senegal; Fiifi Essilfie Anaman, Freelance for zonalsports.com, Ghana; Benedicta Asiimwe, Freelance for Daily Monitor, Uganda; Femi Asu, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria; Domingos Bento, redeangola.info, Angola; Thomas Naadi Bitlegma, Viasat1, Ghana; Ruth Butaumocho, The Herald, Zimbabwe; Ibrahima Diallo, Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS), Senegal; Adewale Olugbenga Emosu, tribuneonlineng.com, Nigeria; Chahinaz Samir Gheith, Freelance for Al-Ahram Hebdo, Egypt; Carla Gonçalves, A Nação, Cape Verde; Boldwill Hungwe, Zimbabwe Independent, Zimbabwe; Ibanga Isine, Premium Times Newspaper, Nigeria; Paul Kelemba, Freelance for The Standard on Saturday, Kenya; Deo Gratias Tchédé Kindoho, Radio Bénin, Benin; Julie Laurenz & Jacqueline Jayamaha, Freelance for e.tv, South Africa; Petride Mudoola, Freelance for Sunday Vision, Uganda; Abubakari Akida Mussa, Mtanzania Newspaper, Tanzania; Pedro Paxi Pereira Ndoma, TV Zimbo, Angola; George Oduor Otieno, Baraka FM, Kenya; Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou, L’Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso; Enock Sikolia & Charles Kariuki, NTV, Kenya; Arison Tamfu, Cameroon Journal, Cameroon; Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún, Blogger at ktravula.com, Nigeria; Arukaino Umukoro, Punch Newspaper, Nigeria; Bento Venâncio, Jornal Domingo, Mozambique; Herman Verwey, Beeld, South Africa; Kiundu Waweru, The Standard on Saturday, Kenya and Sarah Wild, Mail & Guardian, South Africa.
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 competition is open to African professional journalists, whether directly employed or freelancers, working in the continent of Africa who have produced a story which has been made available as a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television; radio or digital platform) whose primary audience are based in Africa.
Entries were published or broadcast in 2014 for the following awards:
Culture Award; Ecobank Economics & Business Award; Mohamed Amin Photo Award; African Development Bank Environment Award; Press Freedom Award; MSD Health & Medical Award; Sport Reporting Award; News Impact Award; Francophone general news awards; Portuguese language general news awards; GE Energy & Infrastructure Award; Features Award; and Dow Technology & Innovation Award.
The finalists will enjoy an all-expense paid four-day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Nairobi, Kenya, culminating in a Gala Award Ceremony in October 2015.
In addition, winners from previous years will join this year’s finalists for a special evening to celebrate 20 years of the awards.
