Don’t miss your chance to submit an entry for the Journalist of the Year competition. The closing date has been extended to Tuesday, 12 May 2026 at 13:00.
Entries are open for members of the National Press Club. Become a member now at the reduced rate of R300, which will also give you free access to the black-tie awards function on 29 May 2026.
Entries will be adjudicated by a panel of industry experts and academics.
2025 COMPETITION CATEGORIES
The competition consists of 12 categories covering print, digital, broadcast and community media. Work should be published between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025.
PRINT AND ONLINE MEDIA
Category 1: News
Prize money: R30 000
- Enter a portfolio of not more than five news articles.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Attach clearly legible PDF documents of articles or insert the URL of the published story.
Category 2: Features / Investigative Journalism
Prize money: R30 000
- Enter a portfolio of not more than three features/investigative pieces.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Attach clearly legible PDF documents of articles or insert the URL of the published story.
Category 3: Photojournalism
Prize money: R30 000
- Enter a portfolio of not more than five photographs.
- The photos must be submitted as a PDF or high-resolution JPEG files (at least 300DPI/PPI).
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Attach PDF documents or insert the URL of the published photographs.
RADIO
Category 4: Radio News
Prize money: R30 000
- Enter a portfolio of not more than five news items.
- All the items should be a maximum of 90 seconds (1,5 minutes) each.
- Attach the recording as an MP3 and supply a written script as it was broadcast.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast.
Category 5: Radio Features / Investigative / Actuality
Prize money: R30 000
- Enter a portfolio of not more than three pieces.
- All the items should be a maximum of 30 minutes each.
- Attach the recording as an MP3 and supply a written script as it was broadcast.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast.
TELEVISION
Category 6: TV News
Prize money: R30 000
Enter a portfolio of not more than five news items.
- All items should be a maximum of five minutes each.
- Upload a copy of the broadcast to YouTube and add the link to the entry form.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast.
Category 7: TV In-depth / Features
Prize money: R30 000
- Enter a portfolio of not more than three pieces.
- All items should be a maximum of one hour each (preferably 30 minutes).
- Upload a copy of the recording on YouTube and submit the link on your entry form.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast.
Category 8: TV Cameraperson
Prize money: R30 000
- Enter a portfolio of one piece of up to 30 minutes insert OR three pieces of up to 10 minutes each insert.
- Upload a copy/copies of the broadcast to YouTube and add the link to the entry form.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast.
EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY JOURNALISM
Category 9: Aserie Ndlovu Award for Community Journalism: Print / Online
Prize money: R30 000
- This category is for journalists working at community publications (excluding mainstream publications).
- Enter a portfolio of not more than five news articles.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Attach clearly legible PDF documents of articles or insert the URL of the published story.
Category 10: Aserie Ndlovu Award for Community Journalism: Radio – News / Features / Investigative
Prize money: R30 000
- This category is for journalists working at community radio stations (excluding mainstream radio stations).
- Enter a portfolio of not more than five news items.
- All the items should be a maximum of six minutes each.
- Attach the recording as an MP3 and supply a written script as it was broadcast.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast.
Category 11: Campus Radio – News / Current Affairs / Features
- This category is for journalists working at campus radio stations.
- Enter a portfolio of not more than five news items.
- All the items should be a maximum of six minutes each.
- Attach the recording as an MP3 and supply a written script as it was broadcast.
- Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on the entry form).
- Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast.
Category 12: Media Liaison Officer / Communications Officer/ Spokesperson
Prize money: R30 000
- In this category, you can either enter yourself or nominate someone else.
- Enter a portfolio of work (one or more projects).
- Give a minimum of five references.
- Write a 500-word motivation to motivate your entry (on the entry form).
An overall winner will be selected from Categories 1-11. The Unisa – National Press Club Overall Journalist of the Year will win R100 000.
Eligibility to enter
Categories 1-12: Entrants must be National Press Club members, with paid-up membership for 2026.
Verify your membership status: secretariat@nationalpressclub.co.za.
Categories 1-11: Individuals must enter their own work.
Category 12: Entrants can enter their own work or be nominated by someone.
Technical requirements
- All entries must be submitted electronically.
- Entrants must confirm it is their own work and agree to it being used for publicity.
- Non-English entries must include an English translation plus the original published work.
- Individuals may enter for as many categories as they want to.
- Please provide a PDF for content that is behind a paywall.
How to enter: