Young journalists to be honoured in CNN Award

An award in memory of CNN executive Maggie Eales has been introduced as one of the categories in this year's CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2016 Awards to inspire and reward young journalists for their work.

The award will recognise upcoming journalists in honor of the CNN executive and former journalist, who succumbed to cancer last year.

Eales had a 20-year career at CNN and was the driving force behind the development and growth of the African Journalist Awards that started in 1995.  

"This award reflects Maggie's enduring passion for nurturing young talent and will recognise the work of journalists starting out in their career, who demonstrate exceptional storytelling and the ability to identify a story and tell it with conviction. 

Maggie Eales

There are no restrictions on subject matter for this category and entrants must be born after 1 Jan 1990," reads a press statement from CNN about the new award, which increases the awarded categories to 14.

"Africa is an increasingly important part of the global story, and CNN reflects that.  We are committed to the African story, not just editorially, but also in terms of supporting its own journalistic enterprise through the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards. We're particularly proud this year to honour the incredible contribution Maggie Eales made in shaping the Awards into the continent's finest celebration of its journalism. It's fitting that young journalists who symbolise the next generation for journalism in Africa now have an award to aspire to," said Tony Maddox, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of CNN International.

Burkinabé journalist Hyacinthe Boowurosigue Sanou was awarded the top prize at the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2015 Awards ceremony while New Vision's Petride Mudoola was a runner up in the Features category of the same award.