Columbia University in the United States of America has honoured Felix Dela Klutse, the Business Editor of Daily Guide, for winning the 2011 Citi Journalistic Excellence Award at a ceremony held in New York City on Wednesday. Mr Klutse, the first Ghanaian Journalist to have won the prestigious and competitive award since its inception in 1982 was honoured alongside 19 other journalists who hail from countries such as Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Nigeria, among others. The Daily Guide Business Editor, together with other award winners all received a certificate, a trophy, among other things as their prizes. The Citi Journalistic Excellence Award, which has been running globally for the past 29 years, is an elite programme administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and sponsored by Citigroup, which is the leading global financial services company with approximately 200 million customer accounts and operates in more than 160 countries. For almost three decades, the competition has brought a group of winning business journalists from all corners of the world to New York, USA where they are given the opportunity to meet and interact with leaders in the fields of finance, journalism and government during a 10-day intensive training course dubbed: 'International Journalists Seminar.' The award was launched in Ghana, this year and Mr Klutse, who is also the Editor of Business Guide, a publication of Western Publications Limited, has emerged winner from Ghana. His article: 'Is Government Losing Fight Against Poverty,' made him to grab this enviable award. Before the award ceremony, the award winners participated in a ten-day intensive training programme dubbed: “International Journalists Seminar” run by Columbia University School of Journalism, which one of the leading Journalism Schools in the world. The award winners also visited some key places namely Federal Reserves of New York, Citigroup headquarters, New York Stock Exchange and New York Times. They also met and interacted with high profile personalities in America such as Ms Abby Joseph Cohen, the President of Goldman Sach’s Global Markets Institute, Michael Schlein, Chief Executive Officer of ACCION International and a host of others. In his address during the ceremony, the Chief Operating Officer of Citigroup, Douglas Peterson, commended the award winners for their efforts, stating that the quality and standards of their articles had been remarkable. “It is tough to be selected for this award and I would like to commend you for this achievement,” he noted. The Associate Dean of Professional Prizes and Programs at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Ms Arlene Morgan said the quality and quantity of entries this year has been extremely encouraging adding that “we look forward to ongoing growth and strength in the business media across Africa.” I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this award and offer my congratulations to all of this year’s winners, she noted. In July last year, Mr Klutse's contribution towards the promotion of businesses in Africa through his articles was recognized when Diageo Plc, the world no.1 beverage producer awarded him the Best Business News Reporter in Africa for 2010 at a ceremony in London. Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards are dedicated to honouring journalists and media organisations that have gone the extra mile to promote the African continent. In 2010, Mr Klutse beat journalists from publications across the African continent and international media outlets such as The Economists, Reuters and British Broadcasting Corporation to win this enviable award. Again, he was the first Ghanaian Journalist to win the Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards since its inception in 2003. Source: Daily Guide/Ghana