AMB radio journalists in the running for major African media awards

Two radio journalists participating in the Thomson Foundation's Africa Means Business (AMB) project have joined some of Africa's hottest journalism talent on the shortlist for two awards.

Nana Boakye-Yiadom from Ghana's Citi FM has been selected as a finalist in African Story Challenge, while Thomas Otieno Bwire from Kenya's Pamoja FM is one of 27 journalists in the running for CNN's African Journalist Awards 2013.

Story Challenge Boakye-Yiadom's entry to the story challenges relates to mobile market information and the potential to change the lives of rural farmers in Ghana and improve food security.

After their broadcast or publication, an international panel of editors and media experts will judge the shortlisted twenty stories to select the competition winners.

The Story Challenge is a project of the African Media Initiative (AMI), the continent's largest association of media owners and operators, in partnership with the International Center for Journalists.

"I have been monitoring how rural farmers produce the nations food under the baking sun, but remain in poverty and are constantly being short-changed by buyers, said Boakye-Yiadom.

I thought if they are introduced to the simple technology of text messages and provided market information they will be exposed to options and empowered to find their own buyers.

Nobody will give them the short end of the stick.

African Journalist Awards Bwire's submission to the African Journalist Awards, which is now in its 18th year, was a story about Talking Box, a program run by a non-governmental organization based in Kibera to get young girls talk more about the issues affecting their lives.

The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday 12 October.

His story covered how wooden boxes were mounted in 30 schools and written messages were dropped into the box and collected weekly to check what issues were written down.

Some of the issues raised included access to sanitary products, relationships with boys, family life and sexual gender based violence perpetrated by relatives or neighbours.

Bwire said his AMB training had a direct impact on the story, especially in understanding the needs of his audience and getting the experts involved in telling a story beyond he said she said' .

Developing talents Mark Webster, the lead trainer on the AMB project, said having two alumni of the Thomson Foundation Africa Means Business programme up for major awards is a great tribute to the quality of people who have been taking part .

He added: Many of those who have participated in AMB have told the Thomson Foundation how much it has built their confidence and helped them to develop their talents.

Both the excellent submissions for the awards are also very much in line with the principles first set out in agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Many congratulations and good luck to both those who have been shortlisted.

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LINK:	http://www.thomsonfoundation.org/news-and-features/2013/08/01/amb-radi...
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