PRESS RELEASE

Winning work reveals the dynamism of African industry and represents those leading the way in international business reporting on Africa

London – Thursday 1 July 2010

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks company, has announced the winners of the 2010 Africa Business Reporting Awards at a ceremony in London tonight. Now in its seventh year, the Awards are a celebration of journalists and news organisations who have gone the extra mile to promote the African continent. This year a record 770 entries were received, demonstrating increased reporting and competition in these Awards.

Francis Kagolo among the winners for his story on biofuels

Winners from the eleven categories came from nine different countries, including winner of Media of the Year, which went to Business Day in Nigeria. Peter Guest, editor of This is Africa, was named as Journalist of the Year and the Best Newcomer title was awarded to South African Gemma Ware, writing for The Africa Report. A full list of winners can be found below and at www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com.

Paul Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Diageo plc. and chair of the judging panel said,
‘Very few consumer companies have the footprint, the leadership, the brands and the talent that Diageo has in Africa. We recognise that for Africa to develop, and for companies like Diageo to grow, we must do business sustainably. For us, that means being a responsible business that aids broader socio-economic development. We all have a role in ensuring that happens, including the media. It is for that reason that I continue to value and support the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards.’

The Keynote address was delivered by Ms. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President, Africa Region at the World Bank Group who commented, ‘It is obvious that the media in Africa–as much as international press– needs to be part of changing perceptions about the continent. The days of Africa being seen as a place where potential is yet to be realized, or just simply as a destination for aid, must be put behind us. The reality today is that Africa is a viable business destination with a large and mainly untapped market, offering excellent investment returns and diverse opportunities for business. That’s the untold story of Africa, and the media has an obligation to bring it to wide(r) audiences.’

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development Stephen O’Brien said, ‘Too often, the only reports we see and hear of Africa here in the UK are of bad news. Yet Africa’s rich culture and vibrant, growing economy is a good news story for those willing to look beyond the headlines. These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the work of those journalists who scratch below the surface and show Africa for how it really is today – a continent that is looking to the future and open for business.’

Presenting the Awards, Nick Blazquez, Managing Director of Diageo Africa, added, ‘Across Africa we are seeing an increase in the public’s appetite for business news and information, and an associated investment in business reporting by media outlets. The quality and quantity of entries this year has been extremely encouraging and we look forward to ongoing growth and strength in the business media across Africa. I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to these awards and offer my congratulations to all of this year’s winners.’

The 2010 winners of the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards are:

BEST ICT FEATURE
‘Zimbabwe catches on to Facebook’ Iden Wetherell (Global Post, Zimbabwe/USA)

BEST FINANCE FEATURE
‘Ask Nigeria’s Lamido Sanusi’ David Stead and team (BBC World Service, Africa Have Your Say, UK)

BEST INFRASTRUCTURE FEATURE
‘The Scramble for Blue Gold’ Kerry Dimmer (African Decisions, South Africa)

BEST AGRIBUSINESS / ENVIRONMENT FEATURE
‘Hunger looms as biofuels take root in Uganda’ Francis Kagolo (New Vision, Uganda)

BEST TOURISM FEATURE
‘Land grabbing: The plunder of public beaches’ Philip Mwakio (The Financial Journal, Kenya)

BEST USE OF NEW MEDIA IN A STORY
‘Spark Africa Series’ Peter Vlam (Africa Interactive, Various)

BEST BUSINESS NEWS STORY
‘China Takes African Market by Storm’ Felix Dela Klutse (Daily Guide Newspaper, Ghana)

BEST BUSINESS FEATURE STORY
‘How Africa is Becoming the New Asia’ Jerry Guo (Newsweek, USA)

BEST NEWCOMER
Gemma Ware (The Africa Report, France)

MEDIA OF THE YEAR
Business Day Nigeria (Nigeria)

JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Peter Guest (This is Africa, UK)

Winners received a bronze statue titled “News” by the sculptor Loni Kreuder and a cheque for £500.

-ENDS-

For more information, visit www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com or contact:

Jo Crawshaw, Awards Secretary, africapractice, jcrawshaw@africapractice.com, +44 (0) 207 209 7507

Natasha Vromen, corporate relations, Diageo plc natasha.vromen@diageo.com, +44 (0) 20 8978 2734

About Diageo

Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

Diageo Africa

Diageo Africa is active, particularly in brewing, but also in distilling, in the majority of the sub-Saharan African countries. For Guinness, in particular, the connection with Africa is a long one; the first recorded exports of Guinness to Africa were to Sierra Leone in 1827. Now Guinness is brewed in over 20 countries throughout Africa and is exported to many others. The popularity of the brand is going from strength to strength in Africa – Nigeria is the second largest Guinness market in the world. Diageo brands are enjoyed in more than 40 African countries.

Diageo Africa region is responsible for nearly a third of Diageo’s net sales of beer globally, and with over 4,500 employees accounts for around 15 per cent of Diageo’s workforce worldwide.

Several of the larger Diageo companies in Africa are quoted on local stock exchanges. Guinness Nigeria, for example, has over 60,000 shareholders. All of these companies have active corporate social responsibility programmes, covering initiatives in water, health, education and other areas of value to the communities in which we operate.