By Ogova Ondego
Published January 20, 2015
BBC, the London (United Kingdom)-based multimedia broadcaster, has on January 19, 2015 launched an award for ‘Future Stars of African Journalism’.
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The competitive prize, named BBC World News Komla Dumor Award in honour of the late Ghanaian broadcast journalist Komla Dumor whom BBC says “made an extraordinary impact—in Ghana, in Africa and across the world—on Joy FM and at the BBC”, is open for application till February 2, 2015; it “will be given to an outstanding individual living and working in Africa, who combines strong journalism skills and an exceptional talent in telling African stories, with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.”
The winner will be invited to England for three months to “broadcast on TV, Radio and Online to the BBC’s audiences of 265 million across the world,” BBC says in a media statement.
Saying they “are searching for a rising star who displays exceptional talent,” Solomon Mugera, BBC Africa Editor says, “Komla epitomised a new Africa; youthful, dynamic and enterprising. With his infectious enthusiasm, beaming smile and engaging personality he made the stories of a new Africa, good and bad, difficult to ignore. The BBC is committed to continuing Komla’s dedication to this continent with this award.”
Application information, entry criteria, and terms and conditions are available on bbc.com/komladumor.
The Jury of the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award comprises Charles Onyango-Obbo (Author and Editor, Mail & Guardian Africa. Formerly Executive Editor for Africa at the Nation Media Group); Vera Kwakofi (Current Affairs Editor, BBC Africa); and Andrew Roy (World Editor, BBC News. Formerly Head of News for BBC World News).
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In case you want to know who the Komla Dumor that BBC has named its world news award after, the multi-media broadcaster has provided the late Dumor’s biography right here.
“Komla Dumor was the presenter of Focus on Africa, BBC’s first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News. He was also one of the lead presenters for BBC World News’ European morning segment.
Komla joined the BBC in 2007 after a decade of broadcast journalism in his native Ghana where he won the Ghana Journalist of the Year award. Between 2007 and 2009 he hosted Network Africa for BBC World Service, before joining The World Today programme.
In 2009 Komla became the first host of the African business news programme on BBC World News, Africa Business Report. Komla travelled across Africa, meeting Africa’s top entrepreneurs and reporting on the latest business trends around the continent. He interviewed a number of high-profile guests including Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair and Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote.
He anchored live coverage of major events including the death of Nelson Mandela, which included exclusive interviews with the Mandela family, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the funeral of Kim Jong Il, the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the Norway shootings and the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
In 2013 the respected publication New African named Komla in its list of 100 most influential Africans.
Komla held a BA in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Ghana, and an MPA from Harvard University.”
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And that is the annotated biography of Ghana’s Komla Dumor. May it inspire African journalists to soar and soar ever so high in the sky of media and information.
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