The National Press Club invites entries for the Journalist of the Year competition
The National Press Club (NPC) is calling all its members to enter the National Press Club-North-West University (NWU) Journalist of the Year competition.
“NPC believes that excellent and ethical news reporting must be awarded as a vehicle to amplify Freedom of the media which is the cornerstone of our democracy.” says chairperson Antoinette Slabbert.
Slabbert says that the NPC journalist of the year awards will recognise journalists or media organisations who capture public sentiments, fuel open democratic debate in various ways and impact the lives of ordinary citizens through their news reports. She further says that the club believes this is an opportunity to recognise the quality of work, courage and commitment of journalists to ensure that the hard-earned media freedom remains intact.
Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of NWU, says: “The NWU would like to commend the efforts of journalists. In a changing media landscape and an evolving audience with new needs and new ways of communicating, the bravery and commitment of our journalists have remained constant. Journalists have been and will remain the gatekeepers that safeguard us and hold those who are responsible for our well-being accountable. Sponsoring this award is one way through which we want to express our gratitude.”
The awards for 2023 journalists of the year will be presented at the annual Newsmaker of the Year function to be held on Wednesday, 17th April in Pretoria. This event is a highlight on the calendar of the club and this year ‘s ceremony will go to even greater heights. The Springbok Rugby Team is named the 2023 Newsmaker of the Year, and it is for the fourth time that the team has been recognised as the Newsmaker of the year since the inception of the awards in 1980.
This year’s awards winners will share the stage with the world rugby champions on the night.
The panel of judges for this competition includes various industry experts and academics. We appeal to journalists, photographers, presenters, producers and media liaison officers/ communicators to enter the competition and showcase their craft and quality of their work.
This year’s competition again, consists of 11 categories:
Print and online: news; features/investigative journalism; and photography.
Broadcast media: radio news; radio features/investigative/actuality; TV news; TV features/investigative/actuality; and TV cameraperson.
Excellence in community journalism: print/online and radio features/investigative/actuality.
There is also a category for media liaison officers to enter (they can also be nominated). “For the media liaison officer of the year we are looking for someone with outstanding communication skills, accessibility, helpfulness and the like. We encourage PR and communication officers to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their entries in this category.” says NPC PRO Albi Modise.
On this category, the NPC executive committee will choose the winner to be announced at the awards ceremony.
In every category the winner will receive a cash prize of R8 000 sponsored by NWU. From these categories (excluding category 10 – media liaison officer) the judges will collectively select an overall winner depending on the quality of work submitted.
The NPC-NWU overall journalist of the year will win a cash prize of R10,000 sponsored by the university.
“We are delighted that the university has become our partner again for this year’s awards. This is an indication of NWU’s commitment to recognising quality and excellence in journalism.” concludes Slabbert.
The National Press Club invites entries for the Journalist of the Year competition
COMPETITION RULES
Opening Date: Thursday, 29 February 2024
Closing Date: Friday, 22 March 2024
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
● Entrants have to confirm that it is their own work and agree to it being used for publicity.
● Individuals may enter as many categories as they wish.
● Non-English entries should be translated into English (original published work must also be included).
● Entries must be submitted electronically.
* To Enter: Click on the category (category 1 to 11) you wish to submit your entry for.
CATEGORIES
● Entrants can enter work published from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.
● For categories 1 to 10 individuals must enter their own work.
● For category 11 entrants can enter their own work or be nominated by someone.
● Category 1 to 10 entrants must be National Press Club members with up to date 2024 membership (you may contact the Secretariat at admin@nationalpressclub.co.za to verify your membership status.
* PRINT AND ONLINE MEDIA (NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND ONLINE MEDIA)
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter a portfolio of not more than 5 news articles
● Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on entry form)
● Attach clearly legible PDF documents of articles or insert the URL of the published story
CATEGORY 2 – Features / Investigative Journalism
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter a portfolio of not more than 3 features/ investigative pieces
● Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on entry form)
● Attach clearly legible PDF documents of articles or insert the URL of the published story
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter a portfolio of not more than 5 photographs
● The photos must be submitted as a PDF or hi-res jpeg files (at least 300 DPI/ PPI)
● Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on entry form)
● Attach PDF documents or insert the URL of the published photographs
RADIO
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter a portfolio of not more than 5 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 entry form)
● Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast
CATEGORY 5 – Radio Features / Investigative / Actuality
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter portfolio of not more than 3 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 entry form)
● Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast
TELEVISION
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter a portfolio of not more than 5 news items
● All items should be a maximum of 5 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 entry form)
● Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast
CATEGORY 7 – TV In-depth/ features / Interviews
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter a portfolio of not more than 3 pieces
● All items should be a maximum of 1 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 entry form)
● Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast
Prize money: R 8,000
● Enter a portfolio of 1 piece of up to 30 minutes insert OR 3 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 entry form)
● Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast
EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY JOURNALISM
CATEGORY 9 – Community Journalism: Print/ Online
Prize money: R 8,000
- This category is for journalists working at community publications (excluding mainstream publications)
- Enter a portfolio of not more than 5 news articles
● Write a 200-word motivation for your entry (on entry form)
● Attach clearly legible PDF documents of articles or insert the URL of the published story
CATEGORY 10 – Community Journalism: Radio – News/ Features/ Investigative
Prize money: R 8,000
- This category is for journalists working at community radio stations (excluding mainstream radio stations)
- Enter a portfolio of not more than 5 news items
● All the items should be a maximum of 6 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 entry form)
● Upload a letter from an editor to confirm the date of broadcast
COMMUNICATIONS
CATEGORY 11 – Media Liaison Officer/ Communications Officer/ Spokesperson
Prize money: R8,000
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 5 references
● Write a 500-word motivation to motivate your entry (on entry form)
OVERALL JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
Prize money: R10,000
From the first 10 categories (excluding category 11 – media liaison officer) an overall winner will be selected.
Various factors will be taken into account, including the scores and a discussions by judges.
The overall winner will be the “National Press Club Journalist of the Year”, whether a reporter, photographer or camera person.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Originality
● Creativity - Newsworthiness
● Accuracy
● Impact
● Use of medium
● Overcoming barriers / resilience / tenacity
HOW TO ENTER:
- Each entry/portfolio must have a separate entry form.
● An entry/portfolio will consist of a selection of work, subject to the maximum for each section, published
during the period 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023.
● The entrant must verify that the entry is his/her own work.
● Entries must be submitted in English. Entries in other languages must be accompanied by an English translated version.
● Entries close at midnight (23h59) on Wednesday, 20 March 2024.
CATEGORY LINKS:
Category 1 – Print/ Online: News – https://forms.gle/JFaE3eysKQZQGR9p9
Category 2 – Print/ Online: Features/Investigative – https://forms.gle/jbLf6rk5FkiLkBV97
Category 3 – Print/ Online: Photojournalism – https://forms.gle/5msKmo2Rz27DeL63A
Category 4 – Radio: News – https://forms.gle/is3XbUpb8svAsvev5
Category 5 – Radio: Features/ Investigative/ Actuality – https://forms.gle/fdveKVZV8J6c6DRt7
Category 6 – TV: News – https://forms.gle/AZYxNjAGhVy2azY38
Category 7 – TV: In-depth/ Features/ Interviews – https://forms.gle/QGhbfK3rnWbtG6DM8
Category 8 – TV: Cameraperson – https://forms.gle/mFF9NLdH2uZaFuy88
Category 9 – Community Journalism: Print/Online https://forms.gle/gWeHqs2QT5tRvGVN7
Category 10 – Community Journalism: Radio News/ Features/ Investigative – https://forms.gle/Ez19SuViYp93ydFDA
Category 11 – Spokesperson/ Media Liaison/ Communications Officer – https://forms.gle/HqaywCNuMUTF5tfa7
*National Press Club executive committee (exco) members are not allowed to enter the competition.
INQUIRIES:
Secretariat: Frans Sello waga Machate
frans@nationalpressclub.co.za
Phone: +2763 374 2917