Category: World Service
Date: 25.07.2006
Printable version
BBC World Service has appointed its popular presenter Vera Kwakofi as Project Manager of the new BBC Africa Radio Awards.
Vera will be leading this major competition to identify and honour the best English-language broadcasters across the continent.
Launching in September, BBC Africa Radio Awards will culminate in a final in May 2007.
The new BBC Africa Radio Awards aims to recognise the continent's fast-moving and ever-expanding radio scene and celebrate the achievements of the best of the stations and individual broadcasters - those providing quality, impartial local news and highlighting the issues which face their listeners.
Head of BBC World Service Africa & Middle East Region, Jerry Timmins, says: "The BBC's programming for Africa is a fundamental part of the media scene across the continent.
"While we employ some great talent for our African output, we are often very well aware of the professionalism and achievements of local broadcasters.
"To highlight these achievements, we are now embarking on a competition to promote the finest African radio talent broadcasting in English.
"I am very pleased that Vera Kwakofi has agreed to lead this project.
"She has a track-record of excellent and dynamic journalism, and her inclusive, warm presentation style has won her popularity among around 21 million BBC listeners across the English-speaking Africa."
Ghanaian-born Vera believes the awards will celebrate the best in African English-language radio journalism.
She says: "Having worked in radio in Ghana, I know how important radio has become to the growth of a democratic culture, as radio has helped make people more aware of their place and role in the development of their country.
"With this competition, the BBC is recognising the vibrant radio scene that has flourished across Africa and the hard work that has gone into the growth of radio in Africa.
"I am honoured and excited to be part of this project."
The BBC Africa Radio Awards honour the following categories: Radio Station of the Year, New Radio Station of the Year (launched since September 2004), News Journalist of the Year, Sports Journalist of the Year, Local On-Air Campaign of the Year, Interactive/Talk Show of the Year and Young Broadcaster of the Year (entrants must be 20 years of age or under on 31 December 2006).
Entries will be judged on a regional basis with the winners selected by an independent panel of judges, chosen for their knowledge of the region and its media.
Three listeners will also take part in the judging process as prize-winners of a competition running on the interactive programme, Network Africa.
The winning regional entries will be put forward for the overall prize which will be announced at an awards ceremony in Africa next year.
