According to a statement from the awards website, John-Allan was one of 25 finalists at the Awards ceremony on Saturday evening and was a winner in two categories, the Television News Award and Television Features Award. This is a first in the history of the competition.
One of AfricaNews’ pioneer reporters Fredrick Mugira was adjudged the best in tourism with a story entitled “
Riding Boda Boda in Uganda” published in the Mail and Guardian Online, South Africa. Also
read Mugira's article on Africanews.com about the popularity of English football in Uganda.
The judge's citation read: “On the surface it is a simple story of a man travelling in Uganda to his village. But through Fredrick's fantastic use of language, the reader is brought along on the backseat for the ride.”
Another dreaded AfricaNews journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas from Ghana was given a cash prize and a certificate of commendation at the International Convention Centre, Durban on Saturday.
Other award recipients were:
Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria – Arts and Culture award
Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today Egypt – Economics and Business Award
Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya – Environment Award
Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius – Francophone General News award
Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso – Francophone General News Award (TV/Radio)
Nicaise Kibel'bel Oka, Les Coulisses, The Democratic Republic of the Congo – Free Press Africa Award
There are three journalists in particular that we would like to mention who were murdered in the Eastern DRC fulfilling their professional duties:
Pascal Kabungulu (killed 31st July 2005)
Serge Maheshe (killed 13th June, 2007)
Didace Namujimbo (killed 23rd November 2008)
Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e-News Service for 3rd Degree broadcast on e.tv, South Africa – HIV/AIDS reporting in Africa
Paul McNally, Men's Health Magazine, South Africa – MSD Health and Medical Award
Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa – Mohamed Amin Photographic Award
Ernesto Bartolomeu, Televisao Publica de Angola – Portuguese Language General News
Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa – Print General News Award
Sammy Muraya, Radio Metro FM, Kenya – Radio General News Award
Ayodeji Adeyemi, Tell Magazine, Nigeria – Sport Award
John-Allan Namu and James Moturi Mogaka, Kenya Television Network – Television General News
John Benson Mwangi and John-Allan Namu, Kenya Television Network – TV News Bulletin Award
Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian Online, South Africa – Tourism award