Mail_&_Guardian freelancer Charlene Smith, whose courageous account of being raped was published in the paper last year, is amongst 12 South African finalists for the CNN African Journalist of the Year Award announced on Sunday. CNN spokeswoman Monica Braganca said the finalists, from Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Zimbabwe were chosen from a record 1158 entries from 21 African nations. Other finalists include Mia Malan from the SABC, Jacques Pauw and Adil Bradlow from the SABC, Ingrid Martens from the SABC, Sophia Phirippides from Carte Blanche (M-Net), Jabulani Sikhakhane from the Financial Mail and Shenid Bhayroo from the SABC. The winners will be announced on March 23.