CNN MULTICHOICE AFRICAN JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR GOES WEB2.0!!

CNN and MultiChoice are proud to announce the inclusion of Web2.0. and live blogging to this years’ CNN MultiChoice Journalist of the Year Awards. This year will mark the first time that live blogging has taken place from the event, providing continual updates to registered users throughout the three-day programme.
This year the competition received entries from 836 journalists from 38 countries throughout the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.
Eben Greyling, President of MultiChoice Africa, says: “We continuously strive to deliver leading technology and content to Africa to stimulate growth and innovation. We see our move to include new media at this awards ceremony as an indication of that commitment to innovation while giving journalists in Africa another platform to generate discussion and debate within the ever-changing technological and media landscapes.”
Tony Maddox, MD CNN International said: "New technology has always been at the heart of CNN’s DNA. Through live blogging of these awards CNN and Multichoice again bring an innovative and welcome new dimension to the Awards. "
Corporate blogging is a trend that many corporates around the world have increasingly begun to include as part of their interactive communications initiatives. The move to build a micro-site dedicated specifically to the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year awards aims to create an interactive environment which delivers the event live on the internet while building a base of followers and user-generated content. The site includes profile pages of each of the finalists, a hosted blog, Twitter feeds for individuals, as well as the ability to upload pictures via Flickr to the site.
The site will go live from Wednesday 15th July 2009. Followers of the CNN MultiChoice Journalist of the Year awards can register at: http://www.africanjournalistawards.com/
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.
Note to Editors: Competition Criteria
To enter the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 competition the journalist must be an African national and work on the continent for African owned, or headquartered, media organisations that produce a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television broadcaster, radio station or website) primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.
www.cnn.com/africanawards
Issued: 13 July 2009
For further information please contact:
CNN International: Joel Brown + 44 20 7693 0967 joel.brown@turner.com
MultiChoice Africa: Caroline Creasy + 27 11 289 3081 ccreasy@multichoice.co.za
MultiChoice South Africa: Marilyn Watson +27 11 289 3062 mwatson@multichoice.co.za