Pretoria - Communications Minister Faith Muthambi has encouraged journalists to raise the bar when it comes to reporting African stories.
The Minister was speaking ahead of the CNN Multi-Choice African Journalist Awards, which will be held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand on Saturday, October 15.
“Our view is that these awards serve as encouragement to our African journalists to play up Africa's positive image in their respective media houses to counter international news coverage long dominated by wars, coups, famine, depressed people and happy animals.
“This is not an attempt to pressure journalists to shape news coverage in the name of patriotism and unity… All we are saying is that African media houses should stop depending on Western-based international wires to tell our own Africa’s story.
“For many decades, the African continent has not been able to tell an undistorted history of its nations. We believe that through these awards, we will see, read and hear more African stories told by Africans journalists for Africans,” she said.
CNN Multi-Choice African Journalist of the Year Awards
The CNN African Journalist of the Year Competition was established in August 1995 to encourage, promote and recognise excellence in African journalism.
The competition is for African nationals based on the continent and welcomes entries from journalists who have produced a story whose primary audience are based in Africa.
The first awards ceremony took place in Ghana on 11 August 1995 with only six winners from Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda.
Since then, 19 more award ceremonies have been held across the continent and the competition has grown into 14 categories, which includes a newly added category - The Maggie Eales Young Journalist Award.
This is named in honour of the late Maggie Eales, the CNN executive and former journalist, who during her 20-year career at CNN was the driving force behind the development and growth of the African Journalist Awards.
Now in its 21st year, the awards are still going from strength to strength and building on their legacy. This year, the competition received over 1 600 entries - a record number - from 38 countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese-speaking Africa. - SAnews.gov.za
