Eleven years after the assassination of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, in Kidal in the north of Mali, RFI awarded this Saturday, November 2, in Benin, the scholarship bearing their names to Victoire Andrène OMBI, journalist, presenter at Radio Mucodec (Republic of Congo), and to Daouda KONATANDtechnician at the Communal Radio of Katiola (Ivory Coast). They will benefit from 4 weeks of training in Paris, fully supported, during the first quarter of 2025. The names of the two winners were announced today during a ceremony held in Cotonou.
This eleventh edition of the Stock Exchange, open to the 25 French-speaking African countries*, was organized in Benin. Twenty young professionals (10 reporting technicians and 10 journalists) from 12 countries were selected from 370 applications. All benefited from training in the premises of the SRTB (Société de Radio et Télévision du Bénin), partner of this edition, provided for two weeks by Rachel Locatelli, responsible for training at RFI, and Muriel Pomponne, editor-in-chief at RFI.
At the end of the training, the journalist candidates were asked to produce a report on the theme “Dialogue and tolerance” while the technician candidates prepared a sound subject around “income-generating activities in Benin”.
The winners were unanimously chosen by the jury:
Victoire Andrène OMBI, 25 years old, originally from the Republic of Congo, holds a degree in journalism from Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville. She is currently a presenter at Radio Mucodec. She produced a report on dance as therapy. The jury praised “thethe originality of the subject, the quality of the interviews and the mastery of a difficult theme, with a production where the journalist disappears behind the testimonies ».
Daouda KONATÉ33 years old, originally from Ivory Coast, is self-taught, technician at Katiola Communal Radio and web developer. His report, “ The Weavers of Abomey », immerses listeners in the world of artisans and their working conditions. The jury praised “ the diversity and subtlety of sounds, the quality of the editorial structure, all supported by a beautiful melody ».
The reports from the two scholarship winners can be found this Saturday, November 2 in the evening news editions and Sunday, November 3 in “Afrique matin” on RFI. These reports are also published on rfi.fr, as well as an article and a video devoted to the handover of the 11th “Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Scholarship”.
On the occasion of this eleventh edition, a “Prize from the association of Friends of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon” was created and rewards two deserving candidates who did not obtain the scholarship by offering them equipment, including a computer. This year the prize was awarded to Marie-Noëlle DJOUBODI30 years old, originally from Cameroon, sound technician at CRTV Extrême Nord Maroua and at Michel CYALA BENGANKUNA27 years old, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), journalist and editorial secretary at Radio Ditunga in Ngandajika (Lomami province).
The jury was chaired by Jean-Marc Fourdirector of RFI, and composed of Cécile Mégiedirector of transversal editorial strategies and cooperation at France Media Monde, Benjamin Avayoudeputy head of mobile and video resources at RFI, Vincent Hugeuxsenior reporter and teacher at the Sciences Po School of Journalism, Stephanie Rabourdindeputy director of the Campus General Directorate of Ina, Jean Luc AploganRFI correspondent in Benin, Emmanuelle Sodjicorrespondent for France 24 in Benin, and Georges Amlon, journalist, trainer, former editor-in-chief and general director of ORTB (Benin radio and television office)
The two trainers Muriel Pomponneeditor-in-chief at RFI, Rachel Locatelliresponsible for internal training at RFI, and Daniele Gonodpresident of the Association of Friends of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, also attended the deliberation sessions.
Find the “Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Scholarship” on social networks with the hashtag #BourseDupontVerlon.
* Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Mauritania, Niger, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Seychelles , Chad, Togo, Tunisia and Rwanda.
Marie Dorothée
2024-11-02 21:56:00
#Congolese #Ivorian #winner
**Interview with Cécile Mégie, Director of Transversal Editorial Strategies and Cooperation at France Media Monde**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Cécile! It’s a pleasure to have you here to discuss the recent awarding of the Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Scholarship in Benin. Can you tell us more about the significance of this scholarship?
**Cécile Mégie:** Thank you for having me! This scholarship is incredibly meaningful as it honors the memory of two brave journalists, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, who were tragically assassinated in Mali. It aims to support the next generation of radio journalists and technicians across French-speaking Africa by providing them with vital training and resources.
**Interviewer:** This year, two outstanding candidates were selected. Can you share what stood out in the works of the winners, Victoire Andrène OMBI and Daouda KONATÉ?
**Cécile Mégie:** Absolutely! Victoire impressed the jury with her original report on dance as therapy, demonstrating deep sensitivity and skill in her interviewing. The jury noted her ability to let the voices of her subjects shine through, which is a true hallmark of journalism. Daouda’s work, focusing on “The Weavers of Abomey,” showcased an engaging auditory experience with a rich diversity of sounds and a compelling narrative structure. It really brought the artisans’ stories to life.
**Interviewer:** This year’s selection process was quite competitive with over 370 applications. What was the overall experience like for the participants during the training in Benin?
**Cécile Mégie:** The training was an intensive experience aimed at equipping these young professionals with not only technical skills but also journalistic integrity and storytelling techniques. They were challenged to create reports that reflected societal themes, such as dialogue and tolerance. The participants were incredibly enthusiastic and eager to learn, and I believe this energy will translate into impactful journalism in their respective countries.
**Interviewer:** It’s inspiring to see the support extended even to those who didn’t win the scholarship via the new prize created for deserving candidates. What prompted this addition?
**Cécile Mégie:** We are committed to nurturing talent across the board. The new prize recognizes exceptional candidates who may not have received a scholarship but show great promise in their work. By providing equipment like computers, we aim to foster their development and support their journalism journey, ensuring that more voices can contribute to the rich landscape of African media.
**Interviewer:** Great initiatives indeed! What are your hopes for the future of the scholarship and its impact on journalism in French-speaking Africa?
**Cécile Mégie:** I hope to see this scholarship continue to grow and inspire young journalists for many more years to come. My dream is that it sparks a movement where journalism in Africa thrives with integrity, creativity, and a commitment to serving the public interest. Ultimately, strong journalism can truly empower communities by amplifying their stories and challenges.
**Interviewer:** Thank you so much, Cécile, for your insights. It’s wonderful to see the legacy of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon live on through this scholarship.
**Cécile Mégie:** Thank you! It’s been a pleasure discussing this important initiative.
