19 January 2015
Komla Dumor received a posthumous AIB Founders award last year
The BBC has today launched the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award in honour of presenter Komla Dumor, who passed away a year ago, aged 41.
Komla was an exceptional Ghanaian broadcaster who in his short life made an extraordinary impact – in Ghana, in Africa and across the world – on Joy FM and at the BBC. He worked tirelessly to bring a more sophisticated African narrative to the world. In June 2012, he was named the presenter of Focus on Africa, the BBC’s first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News. He also 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 global events including the death of Nelson Mandela and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In 2013, the respected publication, New African, listed Dumor in its list of 100 most influential Africans.
Komla Dumor was the recipient of an AIB Founders award at the 2014 AIB Awards. The award was accepted by his widow, Kwansema Dumor at the AIB Awards ceremony in November of last year.
The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award is now open for applications and 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 awarded the opportunity to gain skills and experience, working with teams across BBC News during a three month placement in London. They will have the chance to broadcast on TV, Radio and Online to the BBC’s audiences of 265 million across the world.
Solomon Mugera, BBC Africa Editor said: “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. We are searching for a rising star who displays exceptional talent, someone who embodies the spirit of Komla.”
Applications close on Monday 2nd February 2015 at 23.59GMT. For more information on how to apply, entry criteria, and terms and conditions visit bbc.com/komladumor.
The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award is supported by Standard Chartered.
23 October 2014
AIB, the Association for International Broadcasting, will present a special posthumous Founders Award to the family of gifted BBC journalist, Komla Dumor, who died suddenly in January at the age of 41. The award will be given at the 10th annual AIB Awards on November 5 in London.
Born in Ghana in 1972, during his short career, Dumor had an extraordinary impact, epitomising a new Africa, one of success and hope. Through his compelling story telling he worked tirelessly to bring this narrative to the world.
In 1998, during a break in his studies, Dumor answered an ad for a job as a part-time reporter for Ghanaian local radio station Joy FM and quickly moved on to become presenter of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show. He was named Journalist of the Year by the Ghana Journalist Association.
In 2007, Dumor joined the BBC as host of Network Africa for the BBC World Service, moving on to The World Today programme, then Africa Business Report for BBC World News television.
In June 2012, he was named the presenter of Focus on Africa, the BBC’s first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News. He also 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 global events including the death of Nelson Mandela and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In 2013, the respected publication, New African, listed Dumor in its list of 100 most influential Africans.
Peter Horrocks, Director of the BBC World Service, said at the time of Dumor’s death, “Komla was a leading light of African journalism – committed to telling the story of Africa as it really is. Africa’s energy and enthusiasm seemed to shine through every story Komla told.”
And Dumor said on the launch of Focus on Africa in June 2012: “After decades of turmoil and uncertainty, a new Africa is emerging. The old stereotypes are being challenged and a new, compelling narrative is being written. I am incredibly excited to be part of a new programme that will provide solid coverage and analysis of Africa’s challenges and prospects.”
“AIB is delighted to be able to commemorate the life and work of this accomplished and respected journalist,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “Komla was an inspiration to his BBC colleagues and respected by viewers and listeners across Africa. He is sorely missed across the media industry.”
The AIB Awards, taking place on November 5 at London’s LSO St. Luke’s, honor the highest achievements in factual content for TV, radio and online. Komla Dumor’s legacy of high-quality journalism and knowledge-sharing across borders represent the ideals AIB aims to foster as the world’s leading knowledge network for the global broadcast industry.
A limited number of tickets to the AIB Awards are still available. Guests are travelling from all over the world to share ideas and knowledge and reward the very best in factual programme making globally.
2 June 2014
Africa24 is the leading international news channel for Africa. It is committed to embodying the voice, the vision and the views of Africa throughout the world. Africa24’s mission is to give a voice to Africans, their news, their expertise and their ideas; to help the continent’s development by increasing links internally and with the outside world; and to enhance the image of Africa in the world by presenting a fresh look at the political, economic, cultural and sports news from the continent.
30 May 2014
AIB organised a high-level, invitation-only conference in London on 15 May 2014 that debated and discussed strategies for the move to digital broadcasting across Africa.
This one-day event, in partnership with Channels TV, was attended by DGs and CEOs of state and commercial broadcasters across the continent, along with regulators, parliamentarians and others involved in Africa’s ICT and media sectors.
Download the day’s agenda here.
Click on the images to see more on Flickr.
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9 May 2014
Download a pdf of this press release here
Africa’s Digital Media Future – benefits for social and economic growth
London, 09 May 2014
The Africa Digital Media Future conference (#AfricaDMF), to be held in London on 15 May 2014, is drawing together DGs and CEOs from major broadcasters across Africa, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Swaziland and South Africa. The event, organised by the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) in partnership with Channels TV from Nigeria, will address practical steps to ensure that Africa can harness the extensive potential of digital media developments for social and economic growth across the continent.
It will also launch an innovative free-to-view TV platform for Africa and ambitious plans for a new pan-African news channel.
Among those leading the conversations at the conference are Suvi Linden, Commissioner of the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development, and January Makamba, Deputy Minister of Communications, Tanzania.
‘Digital migration represents a major opportunity for Africa to provide a richer, more informative and more local range of broadcasting to serve the needs of the continent ‘ said Simon Spanswick, CEO of the AIB. ‘But it is vital that it is implemented so that information is accessible and affordable to all. Bringing together senior media figures from across Africa provides a powerful platform for sharing insights and co-operating in delivering relevant solutions to each country’
‘Africa’s talent is creating exciting innovation in countries across the continent and digital media is a vital tool to harness this talent and help it build the future of Africa.’ said John Momoh, chairman and CEO of Channels TV. ‘We have the opportunity to work together to provide national and international media that helps to strengthen our social structures and build strong economic growth.’
The invitation-only conference will include sessions on Africa’s digital dividend, creative transformation and digital migration.
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For more information and to request press accreditation, contact Roger Stone at the AIB in the United Kingdom on +44 (0) 20 7993 2557, e-mail roger.stone@aib.org.uk.
About Channels TV
Channels TV has operated since 1993 as an independent television station broadcasting in Nigeria and now has an audience of over 20 million. Its mission is: to produce and broadcast television programmes of quality and integrity that recognize and challenge, the intelligence and curiosity of our viewers; to provide community oriented programmes that will enrich local and international viewers; to give an alternative medium of communication to the government-controlled media in Nigeria; and to perform the role of a true watch-dog of the government and its policies, and hold public officers accountable to the people. It has been named “Best Television Station of the Year” by the Nigerian Media Merit Award Trust 8 times in the last 13 years.
For more information, visit www.channelstv.com
About AIB
Established in 1993, the Association for International Broadcasting | AIB is a non-profit, non-government, industry association founded in 1993 to represent, promote and assist its members. It currently has a membership of over 50 companies in around 30 countries, including major broadcasters serving audiences of hundreds of millions of people each week.
With a reach of over 26,000 communicators and media professionals, AIB is a unique centre of information about international broadcasting, covering TV, radio, online and mobile. AIB researches regular market intelligence briefings for its members and provides client-specific consultancy and project support. Members receive an extensive package of services throughout the year. AIB publishes the comprehensive AIB Global Broadcasting Sourcebook and the international media magazine, The Channel. AIB hosts the annual AIB International Media Excellence Awards – the “AIBs”. For more information, visit www.aib.org.uk and theaibs.tv or call +44 (0) 20 7993 2557
AIB | PO Box 141 | Cranbrook | TN17 9AJ | United Kingdom
T +44 20 7993 2557 F +44 20 7993 8043
www.aib.org.uk
