Vodacom announces regional winners of 2011 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards for the Eastern Region

After a rigorous judging process by the judging panel, Vodacom is pleased to announce the regional winners for the 2011 Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards in the Eastern region.

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 Eastern region had the most entries in the print feature category (43), closely followed by the print general news category (38). Columnists' entries were also high for the Eastern region (total of 30). 

Portia Maurice, Chief Officer, Corporate Affairs at Vodacom commented, "From the feature stories to the exposés, this year's entries really reflect the changing fabric of South African society and the range of social challenges we have to confront as a society - from rape, forced removals, sport amenities to healthcare."

The winners will officially receive their prizes at a champagne breakfast to be held in Port Elizabeth on the 3^rd October at the Protea Hotel Marine. All the regional winners countrywide will go on to the National Awards ceremony in Johannesburg on the 4^th of November.

The winners of the 2011 Vodacom Journalist of the Year regional Awards in the Eastern region are:

2011 Columnist winner
Piet Naude, Eastern Province Herald, Meetings a waste of time

2011 Community Media winner
Lynn Erasmus, Your Money Publishing, Your Money, Entrepreneur of the month

2011 Consumer Journalism winner
Gillian McAinsh, Avusa, The Herald, Fair & Square: ‘Squeaky couches dilemma'

2011 Financial/Economic winner
Lee-Anne Butler, Avusa, The Herald, More support needed for IDZ's

2011 Online journalism winners
Brian Hayward, Avusa, The Herald, Nelson Mandela Bay's crumbling state healthcare
Eugene Coetzee, Avusa, The Herald, Nelson Mandela Bay's crumbling state healthcare
Estelle Ellis, Avusa, The Herald, Nelson Mandela Bay's crumbling state healthcare
Khanyi Ndabeni, Avusa, The Herald, Nelson Mandela Bay's crumbling state healthcare

2011 Photography winner
Mlondolozi Mbolo, Avusa, Daily Dispatch, Xhosa rite

2011 Print: Feature winners
Michael Kimberly, Avusa, Daily Dispatch, I am Eastern Cape
Sabelo Skiti, Avusa, Daily Dispatch, I am Eastern Cape
Mayibongwe Maqhina, Avusa, Daily Dispatch, I am Eastern Cape

2011 Print: General News winner
Bongani Fezile, Avusa, Daily Dispatch, Bhungeni Informal Settlement forced removals

2011 Radio: Feature winner
Unathi Binqose, SABC, SAFM, Imfundo

2011 Radio: General News winner
Nkululeko Nyembezi, SABC News, Rape

2011 Sport winner
Alvin Reeves, Avusa, The Herald, Lack of cricket facilities in PE township

2011 Television: Feature winners
Nontsikelelo Nohiya, SABC, Cutting Edge, Long walk to education
Keith Sayster, SABC, Fokus, Mud Schools
Malusi Ntanzi, SABC, Fokus, Mud Schools

2011 Television: General News winner
Neil Raath, eNews Channel, Circumcision

2011 Editors Choice winner
Yolande Stander, Avusa

2011 Cartoonist winner
Cuan Miles, Avusa, Daily Dispatch, Causing a stink

Maurice concludes, "Good journalists are the conscience of our society, we are pleased to be able to help them shine in a small way."