President
Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete presents to Kenyan photojournalist, Joseph
Mathenge, the top prize at this year’s CNN MultiChoice African
Journalist 2014 Awards Ceremony held on Satuday night at the Mlimani
City Conference hall in Dar es salaam
Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice Africa congratulates Mathenge as President Kikwete, Mathege's son Geoff Kihato and Deborah Rayner, SVP International Newsgathering TV and Digital, CNN International, (partially hidden) look on.
President
Kikwete, Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice Africa, Deborah Rayner, SVP
International Newsgathering TV and Digital, CNN International, share a
group photo with Mathenge and son Geoff Kihato during the ceremony.Mathenge was awarded the overall ‘CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year’ Award for his work ‘Images of Terror’, which appeared in Kenyan daily print newspaper The Standard and was chosen from entries spanning 38 nations across the African continent.
Mathenge said: “It’s a great honor, and I’m
humbled to receive this award. All finalists who are here deserve this
award. I hope it will motivate men, women and children of good will all
over the world to fight terrorism. Memories fade with time, but pictures
don’t. We felt it necessary to capture each and every moment so that
generations to come may see the horror.”
President Kikwete, Nico Meyer, CEO
MultiChoice Africa and Deborah Rayner, SVP International Newsgathering
TV and Digital, CNN International, presented Mathenge with the Award.
Chairperson of the judging panel, Ferial
Haffajee, said: “Joseph Mathenge’s photographs so eloquently captured
one of Africa’s toughest 21st Century moments that they were worth a
thousand words. That said, the quality of all the winners’ works made
the contest a tightly run one.”
Mathenge, winner in the Mohamed Amin
Photography category, was among 28 finalists from 10 countries who
attended the Awards ceremony as the culmination of a four day programme
of workshops, media forums, networking, and sightseeing.
Deborah Rayner, SVP International
Newsgathering TV and Digital, CNN International, said: “This evening’s
journalists represent the very best in African journalism. By entering
these awards, they have proved they have the determination,
professionalism and courage to showcase Africa’s stories to the world. I
congratulate each and every one.”
Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice Africa, said:
“Congratulations to all the 2014 winners, we are proud to recognise your
excellence in journalism and to reward you for your courage in telling
stories that would have otherwise remained untold. We believe the CNN
MultiChoice African Journalist Awards has had a profound effect on the
African media landscape and as MultiChoice Africa we remain committed to
recognising excellence in journalism throughout Africa. We applaud all
the nominees and winners for contributing to Africa’s growth and
success.”
Imtiaz Patel, Group CEO of MultiChoice
South Africa, congratulated all the winners of this year's Awards: “I
would like to thank all of the journalists who have entered this
competition and in doing so have helped further develop this award as a
platform for excellence in journalism. Your dedication and commitment
to tell stories that reflect the reality of our world is very
encouraging. A special congratulation to the winners announced
tonight.
Your work echoes a great future for the
role of the journalists and serves to further strengthen the role of the
media in Africa. You are indeed all winners and an inspiration to us
all – you have made us very proud.”
Now in its 19th year, the Awards are
supported by a range of prestigious sponsors: Coca-Cola; Ecobank; GE
Africa; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and A24
Media.
The overall CNN MultiChoice African
Journalist 2014 wins a substantial cash prize, and a visit to CNN Centre
in Atlanta, to attend the three week CNN Journalism Fellowship. All
finalists receive a cash prize, and iPad Air, with runner-ups receiving
an iPad mini.
(Story credit: CNN)