Africa Business Reporting Awards
Applications are invited for the Diageo group’s Africa Business Reporting Awards 2010 for journalists from around the world who excel in reporting accurate and unbiased information about the region and have helped shape opinions and create an enabling environment for business in Africa to succeed.
The drinks company launched the awards in 2004 to encourage more prolific business journalism within Africa in a drive to increase the continent’s share of voice in the international media.
The closing date for entry is 26 March. Entries can be submitted online at: www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com. The awards ceremony will be held in London on 1 July.
A Diageo news release said Africa is now home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies. Against this backdrop, the Awards continue to seek out, recognise and reward excellence in business journalism. They recognise that more and better business journalism plays an important role in Africa’s investment flows. “We believe that better and more accurate reporting generates more business interest on the continent,” the release said.
To qualify for the awards, submissions must have been published or broadcast between 15 April 2009 ad 25 March 2010.
Entries should demonstrate:
- Groundbreaking journalism that provides excellent insight, analysis and clarity of the business climate
- Content supported by investigative research that has ‘gone the extra mile’
- A clear and balanced presentation of the issue/s involved
- Journalistic flair – a style that is engaging, though-provoking and accessible to its audience
The number of categories has been extended this year with sector-specific categories to reflect the important role that various industries play in economic development. African media is increasingly influencing perceptions of the continent globally and shaping investor sentiment. This is why the best journalistic talent and influential media outlets from Africa, as well as international sources, are being encouraged to enter the Awards and be seen by the assessment panels.
Nick Blazquez, Africa Managing Director, Diageo plc, commented: ‘The world has been impacted by the global recession and so has Africa. However, the dynamism of doing business across Africa and the opportunities available to investors, continue. We recognise that the media has a key role across the world in shaping business sentiment and Diageo will continue to support initiatives that encourage balanced reporting on Africa’s business environment.
‘Looking ahead, 2010 is a very important year for African business. As 16 African countries celebrate their 50th Year of Independence and South Africa hosts the 2010 World Cup, there is a greater sense of optimism and excitement than there was last year,’ added Blazquez.
It is with this positive outlook that Diageo is launching the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards 2010, which will once again recognise journalists from around the world who have excelled in reporting accurate and unbiased information about the region and have helped shape opinions and create an enabling environment for business in Africa to succeed.
The awards ceremony will be held on 1 July, 2010 in Central London. The closing date for entry is 26 March, 2010. Entries can be submitted online at: www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com.There is no entry fee.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Award categories are as follows (entries can be on any platform - online, print, broadcast):
The Award categories are as follows (entries can be on any platform - online, print, broadcast):
Best ICT feature
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the ICT sector in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, telecommunications infrastructure, mobile, networking, security, cyber crime, e-learning, hardware, software, Internet.
Best Finance feature
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the finance/banking sector in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, investment opportunities, retail banking, credit cards, corporate finance, mobile money, payment systems.
Best Infrastructure feature
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of infrastructure (physical or otherwise) in a thoughtful and engaging way. Features addressing issues of energy and transport can enter this category. This might include, but is not limited to, infrastructure development projects, aviation, oil, roads, rail, energy.
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the ICT sector in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, telecommunications infrastructure, mobile, networking, security, cyber crime, e-learning, hardware, software, Internet.
Best Finance feature
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the finance/banking sector in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, investment opportunities, retail banking, credit cards, corporate finance, mobile money, payment systems.
Best Infrastructure feature
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of infrastructure (physical or otherwise) in a thoughtful and engaging way. Features addressing issues of energy and transport can enter this category. This might include, but is not limited to, infrastructure development projects, aviation, oil, roads, rail, energy.
Best Agribusiness / Environment feature
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of agribusiness or environmental issues in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, climate change, agriculture, food security, water management, farming, resource management.
Best Tourism feature
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that examines any aspect of the tourism industry in a thoughtful and engaging way. This might include, but is not limited to, hotels, eco-tourism, travel, 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™.
Best use of New Media in a story
A piece developed using new media (online digital photography, blogs, vodcasts, videos, podcasts or a mixture of these) that effectively supports a story about business or the economy in an African context. The topic is open, but use of new media must help deliver a fresh perspective that helps the audience engage with a story in a way not possible through traditional media alone. Entry must include a live URL.
Best Business News story
A news story or series of related stories delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that:
· Addresses a breaking news story from the time period of the awards
· Answers all basic questions in a clear and balanced fashion
· Demonstrates journalistic flair – a style that is engaging, though-provoking and accessible to its audience
Best Business Feature story
A feature or series of related features delivered on any media platform (print, broadcast, online) that:
· Examines business or the economy in an African context
· Provides useful background material for readers to understand relevance
· Gives bigger picture and importance to Africa, as well as specific issues it might be
addressing
· Brings the business and economy to life, while answering the serious questions
Best Newcomer
A portfolio of three features (can be across different platforms) by a journalist who has been working as a reporter for less than five years. Proof of first date of accreditation will be required. Judges will be looking for overall quality of reporting, understanding of business issues and personal insights, as well as a commitment to sustained coverage of the business and economic climate in Africa, which serves to highlight opportunities as well as challenges
Media of the Year
A print publication, broadcast programme/channel , website or blog that is a comprehensive resource for its audience providing sustained coverage of Africa’s business and economic news, issues and analysis (sector-specific or otherwise).Please submit a portfolio of five articles of no more than 5,000 words each, or five broadcast programmes, of no more than 3 hours in total. In addition to quality of reporting, balanced perspective, insight and analysis, judges will be looking for style and presentation, as well as outlets that are building a reputation amongst business and investor communities as a valued source of information about Africa.
Journalist of the Year
A portfolio of three features (on any one or a mixture of media platforms) of no more than 5,000 words or 1 hour each. Submitted pieces can cover different topics, industries or people, or be part of a series of reportage. As well as quality, style, presentation and a way of engaging the audience, judges will be looking for a commitment to sustained coverage of the business and economic climate in Africa which serves to highlight opportunities as well as challenges.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Jo Crawshaw Natasha Vromen
africapractice, Awards Secretariat Diageo Africa
+44 (0)20 7209 7507 +44 (0)20 8978 2734
jcrawshaw@africapractice.com natasha.vromen@diageo.com
About Diageo
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
Diageo Africa
Diageo Africa is active, particularly in brewing, but also in distilling, in the majority of the sub-Saharan African countries. For Guinness, in particular, the connection with Africa is a long one; the first recorded exports of Guinness to Africa were to Sierra Leone in 1827. Now Guinness is brewed in over 20 countries throughout Africa and is exported to many others. The popularity of the brand is going from strength to strength in Africa - Nigeria is the second largest Guinness market in the world. Diageo brands are enjoyed in more than 40 African countries.
Diageo Africa region is responsible for nearly a third of Diageo's net sales of beer globally, and with over 4,500 employees accounts for around 15 per cent of Diageo's workforce worldwide.
Several of the larger Diageo companies in Africa are quoted on local stock exchanges. Guinness Nigeria, for example, has over 60,000 shareholders. All of these companies have active corporate social responsibility programmes, covering initiatives in water, health, education and other areas of value to the communities in which we operate.
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