By Daniel Munslow, Durban

A number of media forums are being held today at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel in Durban, where hundreds of guests are gathered to be part of the events leading up to tomorrow night’s Award Ceremony and Gala Evening at The International Convention Centre, during which the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year 2009 will be announced.

Kicking off the day was a special forum on the 2010 Soccer World Cup and the impact it has on the continent and specifically, the media and its role in covering it. Opening the event was eNews anchor, Jeremy Maggs, who addressed pressing issues ahead of 2010 with Danny Jordaan, CEO: 2010 Local Organising Committee, live on stage.

Jordaan addressed the issue of the civil workers strike that took place in South Africa last week. He noted that everyone has the right to strike, but it is in the interest of the country to ensure that the stadia are constructed and preparations are completed on time. He also said that FIFA did not put any pressure of the striking workers to go back to work.

Listen to Jordaan commenting on this, and about perceptions versus reality in Africa, in our podcast.

“This is an African World Cup”, said Jordaan, noting that without the support of all African countries, we would not be in a position to host the World Cup. He also stressed that 2010 is not just about South Africa, but also about the benefits that it can yield for the continent as a whole.

Listen to Jordaan commenting on tourism and development in Africa, in our podcast.

African fans do not seem to be focused on purchasing tickets for the various games, as Jordaan believes these fans are currently more concerned with their teams qualifying for the World Cup. Once this happens, people will start showing more interest in buying tickets and attending the matches. He says that 12% of tickets are reserved for African spectators.

Listen to Jordaan commenting on this, and what he expects will happen, in our African fan podcast.

Asked about the 7.5 out of 10 that Sepp Blatter gave South Africa as a score for hosting the Confederations Cup, Jordaan said it’s not about what went wrong, but about the principle of ensuring that the final product is still delivered.

The issues that were raised were around accommodation and transport. The realities are that South Africa has a huge number of hotel beds, but official hotels are only endorsed when they are graded by the tourism council. A large number of accommodation places have not been graded, but this does not mean the beds are not there.

Jordaan says they are asking accommodation establishments to ensure pricing parity and fair price practices based on good service and affordable treatment.

Listen to Jordaan commenting on this, and other accommodation issues, in our podcast.

When it comes to transport, Maggs suggested that the taxi industry has 2010 over a barrel. Jordaan says South Africa has the incredible knack of solving all problems in an amicable manner that meets everyone’s expectations. It’s about managing perceptions and attitudes, and ensuring that everyone is able to fulfil their respective roles in society.

Listen to Jordaan commenting on this, in our transport podcast.

The national law of any country is the supreme law of that country, which forms the foundation that ensures FIFA can only implement changes that fit into the country’s best interests.

“They will be as safe as humanly possible”, says Jordaan of the safety and security of the average tourism and 2010 soccer fans when they come to South Africa for the world cup.

Listen to Jordaan commenting on this, in our safety podcast.

Jordaan also commented on the issue of broadcasting stability in South Africa, given the position the SABC finds itself in these days. He suggested that the technological aspects are in place and ready to go, but the political and sociological aspects within the SABC are points that could become concerning should no resolution be reached in the near future.

The finalists

Finalists in the prestigious CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2009 Competition were announced in May by Azubuike Ishiekwene, Chair of the independent judging panel. The competition is now in its 14th year.

This year, the competition received entries from 836 journalists from 38 countries throughout the continent, including French and Portuguese speaking Africa.
There are 25 finalists from 12 countries, and they are:
•Ayodeji Adeyemi, TELL Magazine, Nigeria.
•Biaou Daniel Valérien Adje, ORTB - Parakou, Benin.
•Anas Aremeyaw Anas, The Crusading Guide, Ghana.
•Rajen Bablee, Samedi Plus, Mauritius.
•Ernesto Bartolomeu, TPA, Angola.
•Nicola De Chaud, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa.
•Ethar El-Katatney, Business Today Egypt.
•Hazel Friedman, Special Assignment, SABC, South Africa.
•Halden Krog, The Times, South Africa.
•Anna-Maria Lombard, Health-e News Service for 3rd Degree e.tv, South Africa.
•Paul McNally, Men"s Health Magazine, South Africa.
•James Moturi Mogaka, KTN, Kenya.
•Fredrick Mugira, Freelance for Mail & Guardian online www.mg.co.za, Uganda.
•Sammy Muraya, Metro FM, Kenya.
•Boniface Mwangi, Expression Today, Kenya.
•John Benson Mwangi, KTN, Kenya.
•John-Allan Namu, KTN, Kenya.
•Elshadai Negash, Freelance for Fortune Newspaper, Ethiopia.
•Luís Nhachote, Zambeze, Mozambique.
•Tolu Ogunlesi, Contributing Editor for Glide Magazine, Nigeria.
•Violet Otindo, K24 Television, Kenya.
•Odette Schwegler, Backyard Productions for Carte Blanche, South Africa.
•Viviane Tiendrébéogo, Radiodiffusion Télévision du Burkina Faso.
•Beauregard Tromp, The Star, South Africa.
•Alain Zongo, L"Observateur Paalga, Burkina Faso.

This year the recipient of the Free Press Africa Award is Nicaise Kibel"bel Oka, of Les Coulisses in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is awarded this prize, for his work in the DRC, and also in recognition of all the journalists in the DRC who have put their lives at risk in telling the story. There are three journalists in particular that were noted – all of whom were murdered fulfilling their professional duties. They are:
• Pascal Kabungulu (killed 31st July 2005)
• Serge Maheshe (killed 13th June, 2007)
• Didace Namujimbo (killed 23rd November 2008)

The Awards

CNN founded the African Journalist Awards in 1995, and since that time the competition has grown to be the most prestigious and respected Award for journalists across the African continent.

The CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards aim to reinforce the importance of the journalists’ role in Africa’s development and to reward and recognise journalistic talent across all media disciplines.

To enter the competition, the journalist must be an African national and work on the continent for African owned, or headquartered, media organisations that produce a printed publication or broadcast through an electronic medium (television broadcaster; radio station or website) primarily targeted at and received by an African audience.