Top judges announced for Avis Atta Media Awards

The awards ceremony, to be held on 27th June at the Royal Over-Seas League at St James’s in London, is the first in the country to celebrate excellence in media focusing on the African continent.

The high-profile panel of judges includes British travel editors, experienced journalists, social media entrepreneurs and highly regarded industry figures who specialise in Africa tourism.

Chairman of the judges panel and Atta’s media director Graham Boynton, said:

“The judges will have a tough job on their hands choosing from high calibre entries on one of the travel industry’s most diverse and dramatic destinations.”

“Not only will the Avis Atta Media Awards celebrate journalism at its best, but also showcase some of the African continent’s finest assets.”

Panel of Judges

Colin Bell
Founder of Wilderness Safaris, Great Plains and Natural Selection

Damian Cook
Founder and Managing Director of E-Tourism Frontiers and Atta Social Media Director

Julian Edmunds
CEO of Costal Aviation and Atta Chairman elect

Frances Geoghegan
Managing Director of Africa Travel

Jake Grieves Cook
Managing Director and Founder of Gamewatchers Safaris and Porini

Lyn Hughes
Co- Founder of Wanderlust Travel Magazine

Joss Kent
CEO of &Beyond

Praveen Moman
Managing Director and Founder of Volcanoes Safaris

Craig Rix
Editor of Travel Africa Magazine

Lucia van der Post
Financial Times Journalist and Travel Writer

Jeremy Jauncey
Founder and CEO of Beautiful Destinations

“Through sponsoring the Atta Media Awards Avis hopes to recognise the high quality journalism that we have in the UK about Africa, and encourage more people to learn about and visit this spectacular destination.”

The awards will comprise of 10 categories to cover all media platforms:

1. Best news coverage of African tourism (Trade Press).

2. Best Cultural Article on African destination

3. Best wildlife feature in a national newspaper

4. Best wildlife feature in a magazine

5. Best blogger/ vlogger on Africa

6. Best online coverage of Africa

7. Best National Newspaper coverage of Africa

8. Best magazine coverage of Africa

9. Best feature on African environment/conservation issues

10. Special Award: Contribution to Understanding African tourism

Entries can be submitted online at www.attaawards.com until April 30 and a shortlist will be published on May 20.

Winners will be announced in London on June 27, as part of the annual Atta Regatta Summer Networking event sponsored by the Kenya Tourism Board.