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Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2013 Competition have been announced by Ferial Haffajee, Chair of the independent judging panel. The competition is now in its 18th year. The nominees include Ghanaian journalists Gifty Andoh Appiah of Joy News TV and Rebekah Awuah of GBC 24. This year the competition received entries from 42countries across the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa. There are 27 finalists from 11 countries: Gifty Andoh Appiah, Joy News TV, Ghana Rebekah Awuah, GBC 24, Ghana Domingos Bento, Semin�rio Novo Jornal, Angola Thomas Otieno Bwire, Pamoja FM, Kibera, Kenya Axcel Micael Chenney, Le D�fi M�dia Group, Mauritius Florence Dallu, Freelance for Koch FM, Kenya Nicola de Chaud, Freelance for Carte Blanche, South Africa Adrian de Kock, The Star, South Africa Ibrahima-Benjamin Diagne, Radio Futurs M�dias (RFM), Senegal Msindisi Fengu & Yandisa Monakali, Daily Dispatch, South Africa Selma Inoc�ncia, Rede de Comunica��o Miramar, Mozambique Geoff Iyatse, The Guardian, Nigeria Thanduxolo Jika & Media 24 Investigations Team, Media 24, South Africa Judy Jeptum Kosgei & Mauritius Oduor, Citizen TV, Kenya Lucas Ledwaba, City Press, South Africa L�zaro Mabunda, O Pa�s, Mozambique Carol Natukunda, New Vision, Uganda Amon Ngabo, Uganda Broadcasting Corporation, Uganda Tolu Ogunlesi, Freelance for Ventures Africa, Nigeria Oluwatoyosi Ogunseye, Sunday Punch, Nigeria Brenda Okoth, The Star, Kenya Nassima Oulebsir, El Watan, Algeria Passant Rabie, Egypt Today, Egypt Roseline Wangui & Wambui Kurema, NTV, Kenya The winners of the competition will be announced at an Award Ceremony and Gala Evening in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday 12 October. The host for the evening is Isha Sesay, host of CNN International�s �NewsCenter�. Announcing the finalists, chairperson of the independent judging panel Ferial Haffajee said: �A tough table of judges was often visibly impressed by the range of stories presented to us. African journalists, as represented by our entries, have risen to the challenge of 2012. The big stories were well-covered. The small stories were not forgotten. We commend the dedication of journalists who are very much part of a rising Africa with rising professionalism, increased appetite for tough and investigative journalism, an eye on those left behind and a deep commitment to telling good stories across many mediums.� The independent judging panel, chaired by Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, City Press, South Africa includes: Debo Adesina, Editor-in-Chief, The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria; Betty Dindi, Managing Editor, Nation Media Group, Kenya; Jean-Paul G�rouard, Editor-in-Chief, France T�l�visions ; Anton Harber, Professor of journalism & media studies, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Joel Kibazo, Journalist and Media Consultant; Arlindo Lopes, General Manager, Regulatory and Corporate, Angola and Mozambique, MultiChoice Africa Ltd; Arlindo Macedo, Journalist R�dio Nacional de Angola, (RNA); Amadou Mahtar Ba, CEO, African Media Initiative and Kim Norgaard, CNN Bureau Chief, South Africa. The competition is once again supported by the following sponsors, who continue to lend their valuable support to the awards: The Coca-Cola Company; Ecobank; Ericsson; IPP Media, Tanzania; Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), UNICEF and A24 Media. An all-expenses paid four day programme of workshops, media forums, networking has been set up for the finalists during the run up to the award ceremony on 12 October 2013. Tony Maddox, Executive Vice-President and Managing Director of CNN International said: �Now in its 18th year, the quality and excellence of the work submitted to the African Journalist Awards continues to rise year on year, ensuring that the 2013 competition maintains its place as the most prestigious Pan African Awards for journalists. CNN is proud to continue its commitment to fostering inspired journalistic excellence in African reporting.� Collins Khumalo, CEO of MultiChoice South Africa, said: �MultiChoice South Africa is proud to play a role in amplifying the voice of journalists across the African continent. We congratulate the finalists for telling the stories of Africa and its people to the world. We look forward to welcoming you to Cape Town for the awards.� Nico Meyer, CEO of MultiChoice Africa said: MultiChoice Africa is especially proud to once again partner with CNN in hosting these prestigious Awards. We believe that these awards play a key role in encouraging excellence in media while sharing the great stories of the continent. Congratulations to the finalists of 2013, we look forward to hosting you in Cape Town in October to celebrate the best journalism Africa has to offer.�