Accra, July 10, GNA - As the world's attention is tuned to honour journalistic talent and excellence in Africa at the CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the Year Awards ceremony, media professionals who attend the event in Maputo, would, however, be challenged to examine the state of their practice and their impact on the Continent's progress. At a forum to be held on Thursday, July 13 at Joachim Chissano Conference Centre in the Mozambican capital, media experts with diverse backgrounds would lead the stocktaking process using topics such as "What Defines Excellence in African Journalism and How do we Get There?" as their checklist.
"The Role Of The Tabloid Media; Good Or Bad?" "Pan-African Standards for Freedom of the Media" are other topics that would help to best address the concerns of critics, who assert that journalism in Africa is being jeopardised by unlimited freedom and other constraints. Mr Joel Kibazo, Chairman of the Awards' Judging Panel and Mr Souleymane Diallo, President of the West African Editors Forum Director of Communications and Public Affairs Division, Commonwealth Secretariat, are among the experts.
Hundreds of media practitioners from across the Continent, who would participate in the forum, would also discuss media technology development and how they would change the collection and delivery of news into the future.
Participants are expected to continue the debate and share their new experiences when they return to their respective newsrooms and at other relevant forums towards ensuring the highest standards. The founder of the Awards, Mr Edward Boating, whose company, Global Media Alliance, is sponsoring five Ghanaian journalists to the event, told the GNA that the forum was very important considering the role and influence of journalists in the society.
"The perceptions and views of people are largely shaped by what they hear and see in the media," he stated. "Experience from Rwanda and elsewhere has proven that good journalism builds nations while bad practice destroys them."
The ultimate objective of this event is to highlight the importance of journalism to development and encourage journalists wherever they are on the Continent to give of their best.
Another pertinent issue that would engage the attention of participants is HIV/AIDS because of its devastating effect on the human resource and progress of the Continent.
Dr Gracia Machel, wife of Former South African President Nelson Mandela; Dr Ernest Darkoh, Former Co-ordinator of the National Aids Control Programme of Botswana, are among the resource persons. Beyond looking at the alarming statistics of the deadly disease, participants would on Friday pay field visits to some of the people behind the figures to see at first hand how they are coping with life and the frightening imminent threat of death.
The US-based Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, which is sponsoring an award for HIV/AIDS Journalism, said it was hopeful that the exposure would make journalists to better appreciate the enormity of the pandemic and thereby become tactful and sensitive in their reportage. The prevalent rate of the disease in Ghana is 2.7 per cent but it is higher than 30 per cent in some Southern African countries. The highlight of the event would be the granting of awards to the winners with one distinguishing winner coming up as the overall best at a ceremony expected to attract more than 500 guests. DSTV and other media would broadcast the event live to over 40 countries.
This year's competition, the 11th since its inception in 1995, received 1,530 entries from countries throughout the Continent. Twenty-one finalists have been announced to receive cash and other prizes in 15 categories.
