Diageo Announces Winners of 2012 Business reporting Awards

 Winners of the Diageo 2012 Africa Business Reporting Awards have been revealed this past weekend. The award which is hosted by world leading premium food drink company, Diageo, has entries from 27 countries, with two-thirds of entries published in the African media.

The award which is in its 9^thyear, took place at a gala ceremony during the weekend to celebrate Journalists and media outlets who have delivered excellent business journalism from and about Africa.

Winning Journalists chosen from the ten categories came from all over the world showcasing the best business journalism from and about the African continent.Winners were given a bronze statue titled “News” by the sculptor Loni Kreuder and a cheque for £500.

Speaking on the purpose of the award, Chief Executive, Diageo plc and chair of the judging panel, Paul Walsh, said, "Africa is becoming increasingly important as a business and investment destination; this is rightly reflected in the media as it reports on the full spectrum of economic activity in Africa, providing fair and balanced coverage of the opportunities as well as the challenges.”

 He revealed that as a leading pan-African business, the company believes that companies also have a responsibility to help create a more favourable business environment, and our support for these awards is just part of our commitment to building a long-term, sustainable business that benefits the communities and countries within which we operate.”

While presenting the Awards, President, Diageo Africa, Nick Blazquez, also asserted that "While Africa is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic economies and some strong business performances, there remain misperceptions of it as a place to do business… there is a more detailed story to be told about Africa, one of entrepreneurship, cutting-edge technology, sustainability, leadership and commitment to building a better future.”

The 2012 winners of the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards are:

BEST INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) FEATURE: Is Google good for Africa?. Gemma Ware (The Africa Report, France)

BEST FINANCE FEATURE: Mobile Banking Wanjohi Kabukuru (African Banker, Kenya).

BEST INFRASTRUCTURE FEATURE: Releasing the Floodgates of Finance Nicholas Norbrook (The Africa Report, France)

BEST AGRIBUSINESS / ENVIRONMENT FEATURE: Ghana's Gold Anas Aremeyaw Anas (Al Jazeera, Ghana)

BEST TOURISM FEATURE: South African commercial shows Nigeria still in search of global brand identity. By Ella-Marcelle Olamiju (National Mirror, Nigeria)

BEST BUSINESS NEWS STORY: South Sudan: land of opportunity, if you don't mind risk. By Alexander Dziadosz (Reuters, UK)

BEST BUSINESS FEATURE: Rising from the Ashes: Rwanda’s Bold Vision for Development Jonathan Rosen (World Politics Review, USA)

BEST NEWCOMER: Drew Hinshaw (The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic; USA)

MEDIA OF THE YEAR: The Africa Report(France)

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR: Oliver August (Africa Editor of The Economist, UK)