Anas Aremeyaw Anas Highly Commended

AT 2009 CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The 14th CNN African Journalist of the Year Awards has been successfully held in Durban, South Africa over the weekend. The event brought together Africa’s top journalists in a three-day event which was culminated with a gala awards night at the International Convention Centre, Durban. John-Allan Namu, from Kenya, took the top prize at this year's Awards Ceremony. This year the Judges highlighted some excellent work and awarded Commendations in six categories. These journalists received a cash prize and Certificates of Commendation. Below are the journalists including Ghanaian journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas, The Crusading Guide, Ghana

Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje, ORTB, - Parakou, Benin

Nicola De Chaud and Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa

Hazel Friedman, Special Assignment, SABC South Africa

Boniface Mwangi, Expression Today, Kenya

Elshadai Negash, Freelance for Fortune Newspaper, Ethiopia

Luìs Nhachote, Zambeze, Mozambique

Alain Zongo, L'Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso

The overall winner, John-Allan, reporter for Kenya Television Network, won for his stories 'In the shadow of the Mungiki' and 'Inside Story: Scars and Sufurias', which were chosen from among 1665 entries from 38 nations across the African continent. John-Allan was also a winner in two categories, the Television News Award and Television Features Award. This is a first in the history of the competition. 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 on, Saturday 18th July.

Tony Maddox, Managing Director, CNN International and Nolo Letele, CEO, MultiChoice South Africa, presented John-Allan with the Award. Chairperson of the judging panel, Azubuike Ishiekwene, Executive Director, Punch Nigeria Limited said: "The reporter went beyond the surface, stripped the stereotype and combined sound, images and research to bring new insight and meaning to the story. It's an excellent example of the kind of journalism that the continent badly needs".

The overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 wins a cash prize, a visit to CNN Centre in Atlanta, to attend the three-week CNN Journalism Fellowship, along with the prize awarded to all category winners, which consists of a laptop computer, printer and a cash prize.

Winners in the individual competition categories are:

ARTS AND CULTURE AWARD, presented by Nkepile Mabuse of CNN on behalf of CNN and MultiChoice,

Winner: Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria

Title: What the Truck?

ECONOMICS & BUSINESS AWARD,

Winner: Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today Egypt

Title: The Business of Islam

ENVIRONMENT AWARD, presented by Richard Uku, Group Head, Brand and Communications, Ecobank Winner: Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya

Title: Nairobi Matters - Embakasi Pt 1 & 2

FRANCOPHONE GENERAL NEWS AWARD: PRINT, presented by Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, France 3

Winner: Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius

Title: Allégation de corruption contre Siddick Chady

FRANCOPHONE GENERAL NEWS AWARD: TV / RADIO, presented by Jean-Paul Gérouard, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, France 3

Winner: Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso Title: De l'or à tout prix

FREE PRESS AFRICA AWARD, presented by Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant Winner: Nicaise Kibel'bel Oka, Les Coulisses, The Democratic Republic of the Congo

HIV/AIDS REPORTING IN AFRICA AWARD, presented by Hopewell Rugoho-Chin'ono, CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year 2008

Winner: Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e-News Service for 3rd Degree broadcast on e.tv, South Africa Title: Taking on the Quacks

MSD HEALTH & MEDICAL AWARD, presented by Peter de Wet, Acting CEO, Merck Sharp and Dohme

Winner: Paul McNally, Men's Health Magazine, South Africa Title: Throw Away the Bones

MOHAMED AMIN PHOTOGRAPHIC AWARD, presented by Salim Amin, CEO, A24 Media Winner: Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa Title: Is This the New South Africa? Flames of Hate, Tents of Shame

PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE GENERAL NEWS AWARD, presented by Arlindo Lopes, Secretary General, Southern African Broadcasting Association Winner: Ernesto Bartolomeu, Televisao Publica de Angola Title: Battle of Cuito Cuanavale

PRINT GENERAL NEWS AWARD, presented by Krobo Edusei Jnr., Group Executive Chairman, Safebond Africa Limited Winner: Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa Title: Flaming Man Series

RADIO GENERAL NEWS AWARD, presented by Jeff Kupsky, President, Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited Winner: Sammy Muraya, Radio Metro FM, Kenya Title: Peace or Calm in Mathare

SPORT AWARD, presented by Edward Boateng, Executive Chairman, Global Media Alliance Winner: Ayodeji Adeyemi, Tell Magazine, Nigeria Title: Game of Gold

TELEVISION - GENERAL NEWS - FEATURE/CURRENT AFFAIRS AWARD, presented by Joyce Mhaville, Managing Director, IPP Media, Tanzania Winner: John-Allan Namu and James Moturi Mogaka, Kenya Television Network Title: In the Shadow of the Mungiki

TELEVISION - GENERAL NEWS - NEWS BULLETIN AWARD, presented by Ian Petrie, British Airways, Area Commercial Manager for Africa Winner: John Benson Mwangi and John-Allan Namu, Kenya Television Network Title: Inside Story: Scars and Sufurias

TOURISM AWARD, presented by Jabu Mabuza, Chairperson of the South African Tourism Board Winner: Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa Title: Riding Boda Boda in Uganda

About the award: The CNN African Journalist of the Year Award was founded in 1995 by Edward Boateng (formerly African Regional Director for Turner Broadcasting System Inc., CNN's parent company) and the late Mohamed Amin, to recognise and encourage excellence in journalism throughout Africa.

Press Contact: Brooke Nuwati +233 244 987 121 - bnuwati@gmaworld.com