The National Press Club � North-West University Journalist of the Year for 2010 is Graeme Hosken of the Pretoria News. The award was made at the annual National Press Club � Aon South Africa Newsmaker of the Year function on 14 March 2011.
National Press Club Chairperson Yusuf Abramjee said the awards aim to encourage excellent journalism and communication and reward excellence.
The winners in the other categories were Graeme Hosken, Mogomotsi Magome and Patrick Hlahla of the Pretoria News in the print news category for their articles ‘City tender can of worms’ and ‘Tswane Metro Police’. Herman Scholtz of Rapport was commended in this category for ‘Ou vleis herverpak.’
Graeme Hosken of the Pretoria News won the print features category for his reporting on the earthquake in Haiti, Masi Losi of Pretoria News won the photography category and Mandy Wiener of Eyewitness News won the radio news category for ‘Lolly Jackson’.
Melini Moses of SAfm was the winner in the radio in-depth features category for ‘Out of pocket’ and Mandy Wiener of Eyewitness News was commended in this category for her feature ‘Rent a child’. Joy Summers and Bernadette Cook of Carte Blanche are joint winners in the electronic media � television in-depth features category for ‘Acid mine drainage’ and ‘Rhinos’ respectively. Julie-Anne Reid of Carte Blanche was commended in this category for ‘Witbank hospital horror.’
Mia Willemse of eNuus is the winner in the TV news category for “Renoster” and “Danville” and Taurai Maduna of Eyewitness News in the electronic media � online category for ‘Jub Jub protests.’ Dr Barbara Jensen from the Gautrain was named the Media Liaison Officer of the year. Members of the National Press Club nominated their favourite media liaison officers and the executive committee chose the winner in this category. Abramjee said Barbara won because she is always available for media comment and very helpful towards the media. “We looked for someone with outstanding communication skills, accessibility, helpfulness and the like.”
Ferial Haffajee of City Press was awarded as the Editor of the Year for 2010. Members of the National Press Club nominated their favourite editor and the executive committee chose the winner in this category. She was awarded for her uncompromising stance on excellence. “Her influential voice continues to be heard � whether it is on official platforms like SANEF or on her hugely popular Twitter account. She constantly advances the voices of other women, in her newspaper and on other platforms, and is a trusted source of analysis about the state of our nation,” said Abramjee. The entries were judged by a panel of various independents experts and academics.
Cornia Pretorius is a senior lecturer in journalism at the School of Communication Studies at North-West University. Before that she was associate editor, education at the Mail & Guardian and editor of the Teacher. She won the Unitech Higher Education Journalism Award in 2004, the Association for the Development of Education in Africa award for education journalism in Africa in 2003 and the Sanlam/British Council Award for education journalism in 1987 and 1988.
Gilbert Mokwatedi has 15 years of experience in radio journalism, journalism training � specialising in radio news and current affairs � media relations and corporate communications. He has worked for media organisations such as the South African Press Association and the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Peter Morey has been running his own photographic studio for the last 16 years after working as a photographer at the Pretoria News for many years. He was the official photographer at the inauguration of both former presidents Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
Marion Scher is an award winning freelance journalist, writing for many of South Africa’s major consumer publications, the custom publishing field as well as public relations companies and the corporate world. She is also a trainer for the Print Media Association of South Africa and trains at 702 Talk Radio.
Theuns Eloff, Vice-Chancellor of North-West University says the university has a long standing scholarly relationship with journalism. “To express the NWU’s ongoing commitment to the indispensable role of an independent media in South Africa, I would like to announce our further sponsorship for a future prize for “Editor of the Year”. May this encourage the media as a whole to maintain the high standards of ethical journalism, the quest for truth in the public interest and appropriate accountability. The NWU supports you fully in this noble endeavour.”
Abramjee says the club will continue to award and reward excellence in journalism. “We must continue to raise the bar,” he said.
The National Press Club � North-West University overall Journalist of the Year won a cash prize of R10 000 and the winners in the different categories won a cash prize of R5 000 each, sponsored by the North-West University. The editor of the year received a luxury weekend break-away.
Abramjee thanked the North-West University for their sponsorship. “We are delighted to have the university on board as a partner. It is a yet another indication of their commitment to recognising excellence.”