Countrywide, 1224 entries were submitted by journalists for the tenth annual Awards this year, a 33% increase in entries from last year. The Awards have grown from strength to strength over the last decade.
The Northern/Southern region had the most entries overall and in this particular region the print feature category received the highest numbers of entries (62), but surprisingly was followed closely by the photography category (a total of 53).
Portia Maurice, Chief Officer, Corporate Affairs at Vodacom commented, “From the feature stories to the exposés, this year’s entries really reflected the changing fabric of South African society and the range of social challenges we have to confront as a society – from identity fraud, service delivery, HIV and Aids to corruption.”
The winners will officially receive their prizes at a champagne breakfast to be held in Johannesburg on the 7th October at the Protea Hotel Fire & Ice in Melrose Arch. All the regional winners countrywide will go on to the National Awards ceremony in Johannesburg on the 4th of November.
The winners of the 2011 Vodacom Journalist of the Year regional Awards in the Northern/Southern region are:
2011 Columnist winner
Janet van Eeden, Independent Newspapers, Sunday Independent, Get over yourself – After all, it’s just sex
2011 Consumer Journalism winner
Herman Scholtz, Media 24, Rapport, Frozen chicken horror
2011 Financial/Economic winner
Lindokuhle Xulu, Moneyweb, ICT: Allegedly forged signatures, stole identities
2011 Online journalism winners
Lauren Clifford-Holmes, Mail and Guardian, Mail and Guardian Online, How Shangaan went electronic and then global
Lloyd Gedye, Mail and Guardian, Mail and Guardian Online, How Shangaan went electronic and then global
Paul Botes, Photographer, Mail and Guardian, Mail and Guardian Online, How Shangaan went electronic and then global
2011 Photography winner
James Oatway, Avusa, Sunday Times, Afghanistan at war
2011 Print: Feature winner
Sam Sole, Mail and Guardian Newspaper, Radovan Krejcir: The mobster at the gates
Stefaans Brümmer, Mail and Guardian Newspaper, Radovan Krejcir: The mobster at the gates
Ilham Rawoot, Mail and Guardian Newspaper, Radovan Krejcir: The mobster at the gates
Merit Mentions by the judging panel:
Mandy Wiener, Associated Magazines, Marie Claire, Lolly Jackson Murder
Ayanda Sitole, Mail and Guardian Newspaper, Body of work: Locals have Soweto sewn up;
I want my kids to be righteous and Rasta
2011 Print: General News winner
Stephan Hofstatter, Avusa, Sunday Times, Bheki Cele’s R500m police rental deal
Mzilikazi wa Afrika, Avusa, Sunday Times, Bheki Cele’s R500m police rental deal
Merit mentions by the judging panel:
Luzuko Pongoma, Avusa, Sowetan, Aurora mine murders
2011 Radio: Feature winner
Krivani Pillay, SABC, SAFM Midday Live, Living Positively with HIV
2011 Radio: General News winner
Rahima Essop, Primedia Broadcasting, 702 Talk Radio, The Andries Tatane Story
2011 Sport winner
Sameer Naik, Independent Newspapers, Saturday Star, The Best World Cup Ever
2011 Television: Feature winner
Asanda Magaqa, SABC, SABC News, No woman’s lan
2011 Television: General News winners
Mpho Lakaje, eNews, Hate crime
Fathima Simjee, Health-e News Service, Positive Heroes
2011 Editors Choice winners
Rahima Essop, Primedia Broadcasting
Lionel Faull, Mail and Guardian
2011 Cartoonist winner
Wilson Mgobhozi, Independent Newspapers: The Star, Pretoria News, The Mercury, Isolezwe, One man, One wife!
Maurice concludes, “Good journalists are the conscience of our society, we are pleased to be able to help them shine in a small way.”