Komla Dumor

Komla Dumor was a Ghanaian journalist who worked for BBC World News and was the main presenter of the programme Focus on Africa. He passed away a year ago after a heart attack. The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award has been launched in his honour.

The award will be made to an outstanding individual living and working in Africa, who combines strong journalism skills, on air flair, and an exceptional talent in telling African stories with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.

The winner of the BBC World News Komla Dumor award will receive a once-in-a-lifetime training and development opportunity with the BBC in London, starting in early September 2015 and running for three months.  Working with teams from across BBC News, the winner will produce an African story for the BBC and have their story and their voice shared across the continent and the world.  They will be supported by a high-level BBC mentor and attend courses run by the BBC’s world-class training department, the BBC Academy.

The BBC will pay for the winner’s flights to and from the UK and for their visa and also arrange and pay for the winner’s accommodation in London during their placement.  The winner will receive £2,000 per month for the three month placement to cover their living expenses and a one-off payment of £5,000 as a contribution towards loss of salary in their home country.

To apply for this prestigious award, you must be currently living and working as a journalist in Africa with 3 to 10 years’ experience as a professional journalist in Africa. You must also have the following skills and experience:

  • Excellent journalism skills, including in digital and social media.
  • Broadcasting experience is preferable.
  • An excellent broadcasting voice and strong presenting skills with the ability to perform at the microphone with flair.
  • The ability to identify and pitch a strong original African story idea, aligned to the BBC editorial guidelines.
  • Wide and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the African continent, including politics, business, culture, history and sport.
  • Fluency in English as a first or equivalent language.

The deadline for receiving entries is GMT 23.59 hours on Monday 2nd February 2015. No entries received after this date will be considered.

The award entries will be judged and the winner decided by:

Andrew Roy – World Editor, BBC News. Formerly Head of News for BBC World News

Vera Kwakofi – Current Affairs Editor, BBC Africa

Charles Onyango-Obbo – Author and Editor, Mail & Guardian Africa. Formerly Executive Editor for Africa at the Nation Media Group.

For further details and terms and conditions, see the BBC website.

Image Credits

mwendeNewsAfrica,BBC World News,Focus on Africa,Ghana,Journalism,Kenya,Komla Dumor
Komla Dumor was a Ghanaian journalist who worked for BBC World News and was the main presenter of the programme Focus on Africa. He passed away a year ago after a heart attack. The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award has been launched in his honour. The award will be...