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Deadline: 22 February 2012

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Competition is the most prestigious and respected Award for journalists across the African Continent. Its objective is to reinforce the importance of the role of journalists in Africa's development and to reward, recognise and encourage journalistic talent across all media disciplines.

Who can enter

You must be an African National, working on the continent for African owned, or headquartered, media organisations. Your work must have appeared in printed publications or electronic media that is primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.
What the judges are looking for

Our panel of independent, highly respected and experienced judges are in pursuit of excellence. They will be looking for entries which:

• Tell the story in a balanced, comprehensive and objective manner
• Demonstrate journalistic integrity and resourcefulness
• Communicate the story in a way that makes the topic accessible and relevant to their audience
• Display well organised research and insight
• Was broadcast or published, in English, French or Portuguese only, between January and December 2011 with proof supplied

The Prizes

The journalists selected by our panel of judges will enjoy an all expenses paid finalists' programme of networking activities and workshops, culminating in the Gala Awards Ceremony. Each finalist will receive a cash prize, with each category winner also receiving a laptop computer and printer.

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 Award winner will be selected from the category winners and will receive an additional cash prize and will have the opportunity to participate in the CNN Journalism Fellowship at CNN Headquarters in Atlanta.

How to enter

You can only enter a maximum of 2 stories across all categories. Please carefully review your work of 2011 and enter your best story/stories in the most suitable category. You may enter a maximum of 2 stories, either both into a single category or 1 each into different categories. Please send your entry/entries in one envelope.

Fill in all the details requested on the form (copies accepted), please print clearly and provide all requested information.

Ensure you include a copy of your up-to-date Curriculum Vitae and any background information on your entry/entries, that you feel relevant.

Send 2 copies of your work - Print journalists & cartoonists send the original article and a clean, legible photocopy of the entry; Online please send full URL details (No print outs will be accepted); TV & Radio - please send 2 disks/tapes (DVD/VHS or CD); Photojournalist - please send original photo(s) and CD containing your picture(s).

Get your entry to the collection point nearest to you by February 22nd - NO EXTENSION WILL BE MADE TO THIS DATE.

Rules of Entry

The Competition is open to African professional journalists, whether directly employed or freelancers, working in the continent of Africa for African owned media organisations or media organisations headquartered in the continent of Africa and who have produced a story which has been made available as a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television; radio or website) primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.
The judges, at their discretion, may also consider entries from African journalists filing stories from African countries for media who, for political reasons, are headquartered outside Africa but continue to produce media primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.
All entrants must be an African National and be at least eighteen years of age.

• No entry fee is payable.
• To continue the development of journalism on the continent, journalists that have been winners in this competition on three or more occasions will be ineligible to enter.
• Employees and their immediate families of Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd., (TBSEL), and their respective parent companies, group companies, subsidiary companies and agencies are not eligible to participate in the competition.
• Each entry must have been first published or broadcast in African media in 2011. Proof of publication must be submitted with your entry. Images that are available for download on agency websites and have not appeared in African media will not be eligible.
• The Competition is held in English, French and Portuguese languages, translations from other languages will not be accepted.
• Applicants are strictly limited to a maximum of two entries across all categories of the Competition.
• Entries should be made in accordance with the instructions given on this entry form and must be received on, or before, January 26th 2012 at one of the collection point addresses provided on this form. No extensions will be made to this closing date.
• Late or lost entries, illegible or fraudulent entries or acts or any other entries or acts which bring or would be likely to bring the reputation of TBSEL and/or MultiChoice into disrepute shall render the entrant ineligible to participate in the Competition and will be disqualified.
• You will grant TBSEL and MultiChoice unrestricted, unfettered and irrevocable non-exclusive rights in all works submitted for entry into the Competition (or where such rights are owned by a third party, you shall procure that such third party grants such rights) for TBSEL and/or MultiChoice to use such works in any way it determines in its sole discretion.
• The Competition will be judged by a panel of distinguished, independent judges with appropriate knowledge and experience of journalistic practices in Africa. The panel of judges will be determined by TBSEL and/or MultiChoice in its/their sole discretion and will meet in April 2012. Panel members cannot vote on work entered by their organisation, employees or family members.
• Should the quality of entries fall below the standard required, the judges reserve the right not to select a finalist.
• The judges reserve the right to transfer entries for consideration in other categories at their discretion.
• The judges uphold the integrity and reputation of the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 competition and, as such, reserve the right to disqualify any piece of work and/or finalist if, in the judges’ opinion, there exists reasonable doubt about the authenticity and/or accuracy of the submitted entry and/or the integrity of the finalists.
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• Categories and sponsors of the awards may be subject to change.
• Some categories may be sponsored; however there is absolutely no connection between any sponsor and the judging process. The winners remain confidential from everyone, including sponsors, until the Gala Awards ceremony.
• Finalists will be required to sign affidavits of eligibility, confirming amongst other things copyright clearance of all material used in the story and identifying TBSEL and MultiChoice accordingly, and containing releases granting TBSEL, MultiChoice and all sponsors of the Competition, the right to use their names, voices, pictures and work submitted, without compensation, in any media for the purposes of advertising/public relations, media training in journalist workshops and publicizing all matters related to the competition.
• You hereby consent that TBSEL may share the information you provide with the distinguished organisations that support the competition.
• Journalists selected by the panel of judges will be taken to a finalists’ programme. TBSEL shall pay for and arrange all flights, transportation accommodation and scheduled meals. TBSEL shall also reimburse the finalists for the costs of applying for Visas and any other documentation required for travel, however, all other costs (apart from those highlighted herein and unless advised by TBSEL shall be each finalist’s sole responsibility. Finalists will be expected to be available for the duration of the programme and participate fully in the calendar of events which are expected to take place on those dates as advised by TBSEL.
• Depending on the quality of entries, 17 prizes will be awarded in the categories listed in this entry form. TBSEL and MultiChoice reserve the right to substitute any prizes, of reasonably comparable value, in the event that the award prizes for any reason are unavailable. Prizes are non transferable.
• One of the category winners will be selected as the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012. Subject to compliance with any legal or immigration requirement as necessary, the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2012 Award winner will be offered a return flight and accommodation at CNN Headquarters in Atlanta, USA. No cash alternative is available.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For inquiries: cnnafrica.competition@turner.com

For submissions: click here

Website: http://www.cnnmcaja.cnn.com/