Three exceptionally promising young journalists from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have been selected as winners of the 2009 David Astor Journalism Awards, which recognise merging talent and potential to excel in the profession.

The award winners are: Jillo Kadida, 27, at The Daily Nation in Kenya; Erick Kabendera, 29, at The Guardian in Tanzania; and Barbara Among, 27, at The New Vision in Uganda.

They were selected from a field of 30 locally nominated candidates through a rigorous assessment process spanning nine months. Three independent judges from the United States, South Africa and the UK chose the winners after interviewing three finalists each in Nairobi, Kampala and Dar es Salaam last week.

The purpose of the awards is to develop the capacity of outstanding early-career African print journalists through a programme of long-term support that will help them to assume future leading roles in the profession. “These are three very different winners: all are talented, all have a track record of perseverance, and all, we are confident, will rise to the top of their profession,” the judges said in a joint statement. “But more than this, they share commitment to and support the principles of the profession.”

“We believe they will play leading roles in a regional community of like-minded colleagues united by the pursuit of independent and objective journalism,” the judges said.

Nation Media Group congratulates Jillo Kadida for this great achievement.