Eleven years after the assassination of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, in Kidal in northern Mali, RFI awarded this Saturday, November 2, in Cotonou in Benin, the scholarship bearing their names to Victoire Andrène Ombi, journalist, presenter at Radio Mucodec (Republic of Congo), and to Daouda Konaté, technician 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.
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This eleventh edition of the Stock Exchange, open to the 25 French-speaking African countries*, was organized at Benign. 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 candidate journalists were asked to produce a report on the theme “Dialogue and tolerance” while the candidate technicians prepared a sound subject around “income-generating activities in Benin”.
The winners unanimously chosen by the jury
Victory Andrène Ombi, 25 years old, from Republic of Congoholds 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 “ the 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 “.
Reporting
Daouda Konaté
33 years old, originally from Ivory Coastis self-taught, technician at the Katiola municipal radio and web developer. His report, “Les Tisserands d’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 “.
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 theAssociation of Friends of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlonalso 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.