There were several TV reporters across Africa who won in the series of tightly contested categories in the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2013 which took place in Cape Town, South Africa on Saturday evening - with television stories ranging from public toilets in Ghana, to that of an orphaned Sierra Leone girl who is now a ballerina dancer in South Africa.
The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2013 was presented by Isha Sesay of CNN International (DStv 401) for her 5th consecutive time, as well as Macfarlane Moleli who left eNCA (DStv 403) earlier this year for Khaya FM.
Unlike eNCA and e.tv in the past, the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2013 will this year be broadcast on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on 24 October at 21:30 (58 mins.) and on M-Net (DStv 101) on 29 October at 09:30 (24 mins.).
"The media is a central part of any nation," said Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, who encouraged journalist across Africa to keep telling their stories.
Nico Meyer, the CEO of MultiChoice Africa told journalists that "without your hard work and perseverance, the development of the media across Africa would not be possible."
"One of my biggest concerns over the years has been the safety and security of our people," said Parisa Khosravi, who was appointed last month as senior vice president of global relations at CNN International and the 24-hour TV news channel's new global brand ambassador."
"I'm deeply in awe of those who risk their own safety to bring important news to their audiences by giving voice to the voiceless and shedding light on oppression and injustice."
"In my new expanded role as the first ever global ambassador for CNN I have further opportunity to uphold our founder Ted Turner's vision to ensure that our global village has a better understanding of itself," she said.
"We look forward to bringing our award-winning programming to your homes with the help of MultiChoice for many years to come. These awards are one of the ways we help promote the highest form of journalistic standards and press freedom around the world," said Parisa Khosravi.
South Africa's Nicola de Chaud won for her TV story for Carte Blanche on M-Net in the Culture Awards category about Michaela de Prince, a Sierra Leone war orphan who is now a ballerina dancer in South Africa.
Mauritius' Axcel Micael Chenney won for a French Teleplus story in the French general news category about a fallen hero involving drugs, politics, sports and money.
Mozambique's Selma Onocencia won in the Portuguese general news category for a TV story for Rede de Comunicacao Miramar about animal cruelty.
Kenya's Roseline Wangui Wanyiri won in the category for Best Television Feature. Her story which was broadcast on NTV was about "beads women", young women sexually exploited when they're taken by men as "temporary wives".
Ghana's Gifty Andoh Appiah won for her TV story in the Best Television News Bulletin category which was broadcast on Joy News Channel in Ghana over the shocking condition of public toilets in that country.
TV journalists commended for their work include Susan Comrie and Joy Summers for Carte Blanche in South Africa; Robyn Kriel and Orto Sori of eSat and eNCA in Kenya; Judy Jeptum Kosgei and Mauritius Odour of Citizen TV in Kenya; and Amon Ngabo of the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation in Uganda.
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