Telkom has sponsored the the 13thth edition of the Highway Africa New Media Awards, which are set to beheld at the 17th Highway Africa Conference, taking place at Rhodes University, South Africa.
The prestigious awards on the continent aim to reward innovative use of Information Communication technologies (ICTs) in journalism that serves Africa and its citizens and were pioneered to highlight the role that ICTs play to enhance journalism and the media, in the process uplifting communities.
Applications for the awards close August 10 2013, Pretoria Time and finalists will be contacted. Entries are welcome into three major categories:
1.Innovative newsroom – newsrooms across Africa can submit nominations based on their innovative use of digital media including online, social and mobile media.
2.Best African ICT Blog – Followers or bloggers may nominate an African-based or diasporic African blog based on its coverage, debate and use of ICTs within the African context.
3.Innovative use of technology for community engagement – members of communities, organisations, or supporters may nominate an organisation (either corporate or non-profit) based on their innovative use of technology within a community in Africa. The organisation does not have to be African based, but the community in which they operate must be.
The judges include Ms Michelle Atagana – Convenor of the Jury, Managing Editor of Memeburn, Ms Ory Okolloh – Director of Investments at Omidyar Network Africa, co-founder Ushahidi and was previously Policy Manager for Africa at Google.
Ms Brenda Zulu, an experienced ICT journalist from Zambia, a prolific blogger and commentator on ICT4D, agriculture and gender issues on the African continent and Mr Ndesanjo Macha, Sub-Saharan Africa editor at Global Voices. He is a blogger, journalist, lawyer, digital activist and new media consultant.
Application can be done here.
Previous winners include Citi 97.3FM from Ghana, Global Voices, Bute from Nigeria, African Women & Child Feature Service from Kenya, Simon Dingle from South Africa and Zoopy.com.
