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CNN disqualifies African journo
19/06/2003 22:21 - (SA)
Marida FitzPatrick, Beeld
Johannesburg - Controversy surrounded the CNN African Journalist of the Year competition after a Kenyan journalist was disqualified when the truthfulness of his reports was questioned.
Joseph Karimi, a journalist with the Sunday Standard and East Africa Standard in Kenya, was taken out of the running after "uncertainties" over the authenticity of a Mau Mau general called Mathenge in his articles. "Judges consulted several reliable sources in Kenya before the decision was taken," CNN said.
The overall prize at the ceremony in Sandton went instead of Ibiba DonPedro, a journalist with The Guardian of Nigeria for her article "The travails of the swamp in a bleak landscape".
DonPedro's piece was selected from about a thousand entries from 32 different countries.
Dr Doyinsola Abiola, chairperson of the judging panel, described DonPedro as a "fantastic" writer. He said she had the ability to tell any story in a "beautiful, poetic" way.
DonPedro not only walked away with the coveted title of CNN African Journalist of the Year, but also won a free trip to CNN head office in Atlanta, America.
All 13 finalists, including DonPedro, were winners in their categories and each won a laptop computer, printer and modem.
Five of the finalists were South Africans.
Anna-Maria Lombard, Alpheus Sibane and Mpho Moago of the SABC actuality programme, Special Assignment, were the winners in the current affairs, television programmes and arts and culture categories.
Jill Gifford and Siphiwe Sibeko of The Star won categories in print media.
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