GHOne TV’s multiple award winning journalist, Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman has been named as a finalist for the 2018 edition of the International Centre for Journalists’ prestigious Michael Elliott Award.

Mike served as a distinguished editor at The Economist, Newsweek and Time before becoming CEO of ONE. Last year, he had spoken of his dream to establish an award that would bring together his belief in great journalism with his commitment to progress in Africa.

This award, given in Mike’s name, will provide the winner a $5,000 cash prize to pursue an in-depth reporting project. In a special study tour organized by ICFJ, the winner will spend time in U.S. newsrooms to learn new skills and share knowledge.

Ridwan, a graduate of Communication Studies from the Ghana Institute of Journalism, was shortlisted for the award for his riveting four-part series titled “Portrait of the Countryside”.

Making its latest announcement on Tuesday, the International Centre for Journalists said' Abubakar Ibrahim, a Nigerian reporter and editor whose work conveys the human toll of terrorism and displacement, has been named winner of the 2018 Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling. Two broadcast journalists were however commended as finalists for the award: Lindile Yolisa Mpanza of South Africa’s SABC Digital news, for her report on sexual abuse of widows; and Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman of Ghana’s GHOne TV for his coverage of a community in crisis because its drinking water is contaminated.

In December 2017, Ridwan was adjudged best journalist in Rural Reporting by the Ghana Journalist Association for his compelling story on water challenges Ghana’s Vice President, Dr. Muhammadu Bawumia’s hometown.

Earlier in November 2017, the young news anchor and producer was declared best African Journalist in Peace and Security Reporting by the African Media Initiative. Ridwan Karim Dini-Osman won the award for his courageous and innovative feature on Chieftaincy Clashes in Northern Ghana.



The international panel that commended Ridwan was chaired by Norman Pearlstine, chief information architect, Money.net and former vice chairman of Time Inc., and included:

• Lionel Barber, editor, Financial Times

• Joyce Barnathan, president, International Center for Journalists

• Matthew Bishop, managing director, Bellagio Center, The Rockefeller Foundation

• Joachim Buwembo, former ICFJ Knight Fellow based in Uganda

• Erik Charas, founder, @Verdade newspaper based in Mozambique and member of ONE's Africa Policy Advisory Board

• Kate Critchley, interim executive director, Europe department, ONE

• Nic Dawes, deputy executive director for media, Human Rights Watch, and member of ONE's Africa Policy Advisory Board

• Jamie Drummond, co-founder and executive director, global strategy, ONE

• Jerri Eddings, senior program director, ICFJ

• Daniel Franklin, executive editor, The Economist

• Mercy Juma, reporter, BBC Kenya and inaugural award winner

• Rik Kirkland, partner, Global Publishing, McKinsey & Company and ICFJ Director

• Chika Oduah, freelance journalist based in Senegal

• Declan Okpalaeke, former ICFJ Knight Fellow based in Nigeria

• Emma Oxford, author, “At Least We Lived”