
AISI/IICD Media Awards
2004
"Local Content" |
Joint Winners:
Bavesh
Baijnath, Digital Dimension
(Mauritius)
http://www.mauritiusportal.com
The portal has a variety of information, and provides feed back
opportunity to the surfers. This portal has a lot of information.
It has everything from world news to currency conversion
information against a non-local currency. The website seems to
have focused more on global issues.
Shina Badaru
Technology Times (Nigeria)
http://www.techtimesnews.net
This is a new Nigerian website with much promise. The editor(s)
obviously takes interaction seriously. Every article has a
prominent sidebar where readers can post their comments. The site
also encourages readers to submit their own ICT related articles.
As a regular writer the site has journalist Shina Badaru, a
well-known ICT commentator who has a large group of loyal readers.
This bodes well for the future of the site. Badaru combines expert
knowledge with an incisive writing style and a great sense of
humour. The layout is clean and simple, with easy-to-read text.
The content is professional.
This portal uses the web technology to exchange ICT related
knowledge among community members and update the community members
on developments in the Nigerian ICT industry. The portal has a
discussion space where local users can discuss about ICT related
issues relevant to their community such as the effect of
Microsoft’s presence in Nigeria, its piracy campaign and its
contribution to the country. This feature encourages the
generation or sharing of local knowledge. It uses the official
language of Nigeria as a medium of communication.
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Runner-Up
EthioMarket
e-Web Technology (Ethiopia)
http://www.ethiomarket.com
This is a very focused and impressive website. It is the only of
its kind in Ethiopia and is a comprehensive guide to
market-related information in the country. The site has a pleasing
layout and is most professionally implemented with clear
navigation. It uses an ICT application (website) to express expert
and detailed knowledge of the Ethiopian market. This website uses
the web technology to provide information about Ethiopian market
to local users as well as foreign investors. It has a lot of
content focusing mainly on the import/export sector. It has a
variety of important information that is helpful to local users,
such as contact information, relevant links and local bids. The
website has a good design and organization.
|

AISI/GTZ Media Awards 2004
- PRINT
"Promoting the Information Society in Africa" |
Winner:
Eteka
Coutchika Cyrille (Benin)
"La revolution technologique de l'espoi"
This article is comprehensive and technically very informative. In
addition, the writer balances a difficult technical analysis of
radio and television diffusion with economic and political issues,
arguing in favour of the open society. This is a well-researched
piece with attention to detail and factual analysis of questions
that should impact not only Africa but also the Planet, and the
developing world in particular.
The writer’s knowledge is indisputable, and his writing is
scholarly and informed. He is a powerful voice for positive ICT
developments in his country and Africa as a whole. The article is
not written for the man in the street, but for the informed reader
interested in telecommunications developments on the continent.
Some considerations he is making are critical to make sure Africa
reaps most benefits from ICTs. |
Runner-Up
Aloyce Menda (Tanzania)
“Controversies over ICT benefits to Africa”
The article breaks ground, providing information that is not
widely known. This report does just this with its focus on the
consequences technology has on the developing world. The story is
well articulated, easy to understand and promotes an understanding
of another aspect of technology – the environmental and human
costs.
The article focuses on the role precious Coltan ore plays in
conflict in DRC. This is the sort of story that is not often found
in western media. Few citizens in the west are aware that much of
the Coltan illegally stolen from Congo is in their laptops, cell
phones and electronic devices. This is an important article,
bringing to the fore an aspect of ICTs that is dealt with all too
seldom in the media. |

AISI/GTZ Media Awards 2004
- RADIO
"Promoting the Information Society in Africa" |
Winner:
Filifing
Diakite (Mali)
“Programme on Telemedicine - Radio Guintan 94.7 FM”
The programme manages to make this rather technical and scientific
topic easily understandable to the non-expert listener. This is
good journalism. Various voices are heard, giving a spectrum of
opinion and ensuring one is not subjected to a monotone. This is
good radio. The programme spreads useful information to citizens,
and helps to give a more nuanced understanding of the potential of
ICTs in assisting social development. |
|

AISI/GTZ Media Awards 2004
- TV
"Promoting the Information Society in Africa" |
Winner:
Adri Joseph
Gnassengbe (Togo)
“Efforts de vulgarisation des TIC au Togo”
The documentary includes on-site reporting, opening with a teacher
demonstrating in an outdoor classroom the potential of technology.
We learn about the benefits and the problems of technology in this
rural part of Togo – including problematic electricity and
illiteracy. Broader community voices would make this a
significantly stronger report.
The documentary is people focused. We see students at a Catholic
school crowded around some computers, which, surprisingly, are on
tables outdoors. The children are clearly very interested, and the
visuals make it quite clear that this is a school with hardly any
resources at all. The viewer is left in no doubt about the
importance contribution that Internet connected computers will
make to their education. The discussion deals partly with problems
of illiteracy in rural areas and the consequent problems related
to providing ICT access, and also looks at cybercafe usage and
possibilities for people to get computer skills training.
|
Runner-Up
Salif Sanogo (Mali)
CyberNTIC "Special Geneve 2003"
This program is extensively reported, professionally produced and
well edited. The story focuses on the potential technology has to
help the people of Mali and all of Africa. And, importantly, the
documentary highlights the ideas of Senegalese president Abdoulaye
Wade relating to the need for digital solidarity. Sanogo is not
only professional, but he also demonstrates insight of the issue.
He has been covering ICTs issues for many years. |

AISI/IDRC Media Awards 2004
"Reporting on ICT Research and Innovation"
|
Winner:
Arthur Okwemba
(Kenya)
‘’African women virtually excluded’’
It is well known that many ICT projects in Africa that focus on
women fail to meet the expectations of their initiators. This
article points to one of the causes - implementers have failed to
take cognizance of key cultural factors such as power relations
between men and women.
The paper is very informative, entertaining for some and provide
in-depth Africa trends as well as challenges. It is a model of
what should be done. The paper summarises some important research
into Internet usage by men and women in six African countries.
Despite presenting a lot of relative statistics, the author
manages to keep the reader interested and attentive. Media need to
bring to the forefront information that can assist in planning
more realistic ICT projects, and this article does just this.
It is well documented; it addresses the issue of women access to
ICT in small communities in a comprehensive manner.
|
Runner-Up
Wanjohi Kabukuru (Kenya)
"ICTs: key to Africa’s rapid rural progress”
The article provides good facts about some of the activities of
the Arid Lands Information Network Eastern Africa ALIN-EA. The NGO
has more than 1000 community development worker members in Eastern
Africa. It has established more than 30 community information
centres in the region. It is collaborating with NGOs in an Open
Knowledge project to disseminate health information. |

AISI/IDRC Media Awards 2004
"Reporting on ICT Policy" |
Winner:
John Patrick
Mireny (Tanzania)
”Why harmonizing ICT policies could catalyse Africa”
This is a piece that brings out memories of extreme frustration
lived by anyone who has gone through this kind of situation
before. It demonstrates the daily limitations to which
professionals in the developing world are exposed. Government
policies can actually bar individuals from developing to their
full potential.
From a sad experience, after an event close to what we are doing,
he exposed calmly but very powerfully the need to harmonize policy
in the regions. His paper renders a great deal of tribute to the
various researches led in the sector with the help of various
organizations. He demonstrates that African researchers bring
useful contribution to the understanding and ultimately policy
making in ICTs in Africa.
The story presents a clear deficiency in technology potential
throughout all of Africa. The reporter takes a complex topic and
makes it relatively understandable.
Mireny uses the clever device of introducing a complex topic – the
harmonisation of regional ICT policies – with the simple
easy-to-understand story of an award-winning journalist who has
his computer prize impounded by customs officials. He then
proceeds to deal quite thoroughly with the problematic of policy
harmonisation.
This story focuses on a vital aspect of ICT policy that impacts on
regional integration: the fiscal leverage system and how it
hampers the development of ICTs in Africa. It is informative and
keeps in mind the broader picture of integration.
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Runner-Up
Emmanuel Onyango (Tanzania)
"Towards a community-driven information”
The story is clearly written and explains what technology has been
and should be used for in improving quality of living. This is a
well-back grounded piece that shows sensitivity to issues of
accountability, good governance, the roles of the State and civil
society in the exchange and dissemination of information. The
article implies that low cost and pro-IT government policies have
led the country towards IT-oriented education policies.
The article is well written, nicely mixes analysis and the
reporter’s own knowledge, and presents an extremely easy
explanation of what ICT is. It clearly explains the potential of
technology for businesses in a developing environment. It takes a
local approach while also mentioning the potential throughout
sub-Saharan Africa.
|

OSIWA
AISI/OSIWA Media Awards
2004
"Reporting ICTs and Rural Communities" |
Winner:
Baba Thiam
(Senegal)
"NTICs en milieu rural – Ngoundiane veut souder la fracture
numérique entre les villes et les Campagnes’’
A
technology story that isn’t all boosterism and industry jargon!
The story presents a clear problem with balance and thorough
reporting. The reporter uses a single community, Ngoundiane, to
demonstrate national problems – and potential.
The author places his erudite discussion in a historical
perspective, reminding us of the north/south debates around the
New World Information Order, the more recent concepts of the
digital divide and the 'global village', and the need for
technological transfer. His article considers the 'timid'
penetration of ICTs into rural areas, focusing on a somewhat
failed project in rural Ngoundiane in Senegal. He reminds us of
the problems of inadequate telecom infrastructure, of rural
illiteracy, and of the important need to conceive rural ICT
projects on a realistic basis.
|
Runner-Up
Adetokunbo
Abiola (Nigeria)
" Taking Internet to the Grassroots’’
This well written story clearly explains what benefits rural
communities could get from the use of the Internet in their daily
lives. It deals with some of the clichés (reminding the reader
that rural people are not necessarily illiterate) and also
presents community-based projects to give access to these
communities to the Internet. |

OSIWA
AISI/OSIWA Media Awards
2004
"Best Female Reporter on ICT Issues" |
Winner:
Rosemary
Okello (Kenya)
“Yes to ICTs, but fit them to our practical needs"
This opinion/analysis piece points to the development of a
coherent ICT policy that takes into account cultural precepts as
central to any country that is serious about education, and by
extension democratisation.
The story takes a pertinent topic that blends social, education
and technology issues. The reporter raises good issues and gives
the story continent-wide pertinence. The article is professionally
crafted, articulate and well-informed. The author pulls together
important concepts and convincingly presents her argument. It
links ICTs with socio-economic development. There is analytical
depth based on knowledge of ICTs. The story articulates the needs
of women in emerging info society. The article is educative, and
promotes understanding, and it is clear, well-articulated and
convincing. |
Runner-Up
Ellen Muleya Chikale (Zambia)
"Zambia Keen to be part of global IT”
The author provides a clear, comprehensive of Zambia’s efforts to
keep up with the global information society. It is quite
narrative, but very comprehensive. Could do with more factual
information.
Ellen Chikale's journalism has a refreshing enthusiasm that keeps
the reader attentive to the end. Zambians are well served by her
articles in the Daily Mail, which explicate aspects of ICTs in
that country |