Africa Nonprofit Investigative News Service Wins Accolades for First Report

Washington, DC, May 4, 2016 (Newswire.com) - The Angaza Foundation for Africa Reporting (TAFAR), a U.S.-based journal- ism nonprofit focused on watch dog news in Africa, is pleased to announce that its first investigative project received awards and accolades from around the globe, including a Citation from the Overseas Press Club of America in New York last week.

The OPC bestowed the 2015 Morton Frank Award Citation on the TAFAR story, “Opening the Black Box of Egypt’s Slush Funds,” by reporters Nizar Manek and Jeremy Hodge. (http://www.africa-confidential.com/angaza-file) The Award recognizes outstanding international business news reporting for magazines.

"For a new news organization specializing in one area of the world, to receive this amount of attention and accolades for its first effort is an honor indeed, and validates our vision to enhance watchdog reporting in the heart of the devel- oping world,"

Bobby Block, TAFAR founder and Executive Director

The 7,000-word exposé was the first effort produced for the Angaza File, a periodic report published online by Africa Confidential, one of the longest-established specialist publications on Africa.

The investigation unveiled massive financial corruption in Egypt at the hands of the country’s military rulers, who were able to use a complex network of slush funds to siphon off the equivalent of U.S.$9.4 billion in state revenues and foreign donor assistance.

“For a new news organization specializing in one area of the world, to receive this amount of attention and accolades for its first effort is an honor indeed, and validates our vision to enhance watchdog reporting in the heart of the devel- oping world,” said TAFAR founder and Executive Director Bobby Block.

“Please help me congratulate Nizar and Jeremy as well as editor Bernd Debusmann for the outstanding work they produced and continue to produce for TAFAR. And please support our mission, as we expand our efforts to radio podcasting in coming months.”

In addition to the OPC Citation, the Egypt slush fund story was shortlisted and singled out for its no holds-barred reporting by Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), the European Press Prize and the Foreign Press Association in London.

To find out more about TAFAR and how to help visit: www.tafar.org

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About The Angaza Foundation for Africa Reporting: The Angaza Foundation for Africa Reporting, or TAFAR, is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting journalism to hold governments, corporations, institutions and individ- uals across Africa accountable. It was established in 2013 by a group of international journalism professionals in the belief that the free flow of ideas and the ability to shine light on government and commercial activities are prerequi- sites for social and economic development in Africa at a pivotal moment in its history. For more information about TAFAR, contact info@tafar.org or visit www.TAFAR.org.

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Source: The Angaza Foundation