South Africa's TV industry has once again done well to have nominees in the continent's most prestigious competition honouring excellence in journalism.
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2012 - the 17th time this awards ceremony will be taking place - will be taking place in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia this year on Saturday 21 July.
While the SABC, South Africa's public broadcaster doesn't feature, South African print publications did make the cut to help up South Africa's stake in the various categories. Awards will be handed out at the gala ceremony which will have Isha Sesay of CNN International's NewsCenter and Franklin Tembo Jnr., a ZNBC presenter, as hosts.
Joy Summers from Carte Blanche on M-Net is a finalist, as is Megan Small and Clive Mitchell from e.tv's 3rd Degree. Those are the only television contenders from South Africa considered good enough in this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2012.
Print finalists from South Africa include Adriaan Basson and Piet Rampedi from City Press newspaper, Demelza Bush, Craig McKune and Verashni Pillay together as a team for the Mail & Guardian Online, and Antoine de Ras from The Star.
In total the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2012 has 34 finalists in 12 categories.
"The growing quality of the entries we pored over is a reflection of a growing continent claiming its place in the sun," says Ferial Haffajee, judge and editor-in-chief of City Press newspaper. in a statement.
"We were impressed by the enhanced quality and competitiveness of the work before us; by the heart and soul poured onto pages and into pixels; by the adventurist spirit of the entries which came from more countries than ever before. In print, in radio, in television it is clear that African journalism is in a growth spurt, claiming its stake as world-class and globally competitive. A bit like our continent."
"The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards are an investment we truly believe in, as journalists are one of the cornerstones of a nation," says Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa. "We need to continue to recognise them as they tell real stories that reflect the fabric of our diverse societies."
"The standard of entries continues to grow and the quality of submissions is testimony to the great levels of talent our continent holds. We are honoured once again to be a part of these awards which contribute immensely in shaping freedom of speech and a healthy and vibrant media."
"It is very important to us to help Africa not only find its voice but also to make that voice heard around the world," says Collins Khumalo, the CEO of MultiChoice South Africa. "The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards gives a voice to journalists across the continent. We look forward to celebrating their stories and achievements."
