CAIRO: Ethar Kamal El-Katatney, reporter for IBA Media, received CNN's MultiChoice African Journalist Award for her article "The Business of Islam, submitted into the Economics and Business Award category. El-Katatney is the first Egyptian to receive this award. This is the 14th annual African Journalist Award, the largest pan-African award on the continent. It was founded in 1995 by Edward Boateng, formerly African Regional Director for Turner Broadcasting System Inc., and the late Mohamed Amin, to recognize and encourage excellence in journalism throughout Africa. El-Kataney's article which was chosen among 836 entries from a record 38 nations across the African continent, an achievement she describes as "unbelievable. "Every time I think about it, I'm shocked again. I'm looking at the award right now and I'm thinking 'Me? Really?' she told Daily News Egypt from South Africa. The Economics and Business Award, which is presented by Coca Cola Africa, awards the article which best demonstrates "a contemporary, balanced and clear understanding of any aspect of economic and/or business issues on the African continent, as stated on the website. This year they received over 1,500 applications. Member of the judges' panel, Anna Umbima, journalist and broadcaster, said, "This subject, Islam, is usually covered from a political and social perspective - but here we are given a business perspective. It's very accessible and covers many interesting aspects of the business of Islam. "Out of the 25 finalists, only seven were women. All were so much older and more experienced. And none were from North Africa, let alone Arabs. So to realize that I, as a Muslim Egyptian female who just turned 22 and has only been working for two years, have won such a prestigious award, is mind-blowing, said El-Katatney. "When I heard my name the first thought that ran through my head was not only that I won, but that thank God I am being given a chance to get up there, to show those 500 influential and important people from around the world, look at me and what I represent, she said. With the discrimination Arabs and Muslims are facing today around the world, El-Katatney wanted to break that stereotype. El-Katatney, who wears the veil, says she was approached and asked several times about her choice to don it. "You know how we always have to say 'no, it doesn't oppress me, I am successful and independent etc,' well, I didn't really need to say that, since just by being a finalist I showed that I was successful. So to get up there and win proved that even more, she explained. While little attention is given to the awards in Egypt, El-Katatney said her achievement was acknowledged by other high profile media players. "Tony Maddox [executive vice president and managing director of CNN International] came up to tell my mom he was proud of me, he actually had tears in his eyes, she said. British Airways' managing director wanted to take a photo shaking El-Katatney's hand to be published in their in-flight magazine. And when she told the vice president of Turner Broadcasting, CNN's parent company, that she will be in London next week, he insisted that she come and visit so that he can give her a private tour. El-Katatney learned about the award from the manager of a program on investigative training she was doing last October with International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). "He forwarded me the website and advised me to apply, honestly, if I had any idea how huge the event was, I don't think I would have done so, she said. Luckily, El-Katatney decided to send two of her articles; one in the medicine category about leprosy in Egypt, and the other winning article for the economics and business category, both of which were published in July 2008. El-Katatney was told she was a finalist in March. When she went to attend the event, she noticed that the other finalists were a lot older than she was, and one of the judges told her that she was probably the youngest winner ever. El-Katatney did not expect to win, so much so that she booked a flight back to Egypt before the breakfast where they handed out the prizes. El-Katatney went home with $1000, a laptop, printer and certificate. El-Katatney is currently studying for two masters degrees at the American University in Cairo, an MBA and MA in TV and Digital Journalism, she is also working full time at IBA Media and part time at Muslimah Media Watch. "The award has made me all the more determined to work harder, to find interesting stories that serve a purpose and possibly make a change, she said. On a final note, El-Katatney points out how grateful she is to win such a prestigious award. "It's so amazing to know that once the ceremony is aired, millions of people will know that we have great Egyptian journalists. And I hope a lot of Egyptians will see it, apply and win, to get to experience what I felt when I was there.
