Judges in the Newspaper Association of South Africa’s Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards have announced the shortlisted entries in this year’s awards. The number of entries has risen from 601 last year to 76o this year, with 37 newspapers across nine provinces taking part.
Interestingly, news photography was the most popular category with a total of 125 entries, while the feature photography and feature writing categories each attracted 105.
The judges – Pippa Green, Jodi Bieber, Joe Latakgomo, Tyrone August, David Wightman, Juby Mayet, Liesl Louw, Mathatha Tsedu, Tumi Makgabo, Paula Fray, Peter Sullivan, Mike Siluma, Adrienne Sichel and Arrie Rossouw – were convened by Professor Guy Berger of Rhodes University in what was described as an ‘intense session’.
Berger said: “It was a happy group of assessors at the end of our two-day judging process. We had worked through a very large sample of South African newspaper journalism, and were able to conclude that the best entries were of superb standard. Over the decade of this competition, it’s clear that the best of the country’s journalism just keeps getting better.”
The finalists are:
HARD NEWS
· Gloria Edwards – ‘Panjo’ series (Beeld)
· Omphitlhetse Mooki – ‘Tale of SA’s underworld – Agliotti hitman hated him’ series(The Star)
· Angelique Serrao – ‘Lifestyle Audit’ (The Star)
· Mzilikazi wa Afrika and Stefan Hofstatter – ‘Cele lied, say his generals’ and others (Sunday Times)
Commended: Adriaan Basson, Babalwa Shota and Julian Jansen – ‘The Dewani Dossier’ (City Press); Kathryn Kimberley and Xolisa Mgwatyu – ‘In God’s name’ (Daily Dispatch); Fanie van Rooyen – ‘Sy wou Blou Bull vermoor’ (Beeld)
ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY
· Samantha Reinders and Mara Kardas-Nelson – ‘Blood, sweat and water’. Save us from Seepage: acid mine drainage series (Mail & Guardian)
· Ingi Salgado – ‘Umgeni’ and others (Business Report)
FEATURE WRITING
· Charl Blignaut – ‘Yum yum, bubblegum’ (Sunday Times)
· Willemien Brummer – ‘Waar jou naelstring lê’ (Die Burger)
· Dana Snyman – ‘Ons roep hom Sello’ (Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad)
· Niren Tolsi – ‘Fear and loathing in Obamaland’ (Mail & Guardian)
Commended: Murray la Vita – ‘Kuns=lewe=kuns’ (Die Burger); Beauregard Tromp – ‘10 today… ‘Miracle’ Rosita is still a ray of hope’ (The Star); Shaun Smillie – ‘A story of two boys’ (The Star)
INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
· Amabhungane team – Zuma Inc series (Mail & Guardian)
· Matuma Letsoalo – ‘Company hit by new scandal’; Mrs Vavi, the pension fund and the R40 000 bribe (series) (Mail & Guardian)
· Jacques Pauw – ‘We bust a human trafficking ring’ (City Press)
· Herman Scholtz – ‘Frozen Chicken Horror’ (various articles) (Rapport and City Press)
· Mzilikazi wa Afrika and Stephan Hofstatter – ‘Cele lied, say his generals’ and others (Sunday Times)
Commended: Julian Rademeyer, Jacques Pauw and Andrew Trench – ‘ANC’s mines grab’ (City Press); Antoinette Pienaar – ‘Simply Slim’ series of investigations into Simply Slim products (Beeld); Craig McKune – ‘Gaston Savoi and government officials corruption probe’ (Cape Times)
CREATIVE JOURNALISM
· Nikiwe Bikitsha – ‘Hanging up my wig’ (Mail & Guardian)
· Willem Kempen – ‘Sewe dae by die Kunenes: Aand 1’ (Beeld)
· Willem Kempen and Louis Kruger – ‘As Mev. Ples of FB was…’ (Beeld, Burger and Volksblad)
Commended: Phumla Matjila – ‘Big pimpin’ in the township’ (The Times); Katy Chance – ‘Pornography of poverty isn’t pretty’ and others (Business Day)
EDITORIAL CARTOONS
· Bethuel Mangena – ‘The Cape Town toilet controversy’ and others (Sunday World)
· Wilson Mgobhozi – ‘4 million babies!’; ‘Self demolition’ and others (The Star)
· Jonathan Shapiro – ‘Zumaglue’; ‘Feel it…it is here!’ and others (The Times and Mail & Guardian)
GRAPHICAL JOURNALISM
· Rudi Louw – ‘2010 – All the newsmakers’ (City Press)
· John McCann – ‘Cronin’ and others (Mail & Guardian)
· Morne Schaap – Various (Media 24)
POPULAR JOURNALISM
· Yolanda Barnard – ‘Leifdeskind’ about Charlize Theron (Sondag Son)
· Prince Chauke – ‘Redi: my secret pain’ (Sunday Sun)
NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS
· Judy de Vega – ‘Pensioners caught in protest crossfire chaos’ (The Herald)
· Felix Dlangamandla – ‘Delivery’ (Beeld and Rapport)
Commended: Paballo Thekiso – ‘Rescued babies’ (Saturday Star); Cornel van Heerden – ‘Panjo’ (Foto 24); James Oatway – ‘Haiti’ (Sunday Times)
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHS
· Theana Breugem – ‘Ratte’ (Beeld)
· Phill Magakoe – ‘Knights of the city – Pretoria’s heroes in blue’ (Pretoria News)
· Alon Skuy – ‘Back to nature’ (The Times)
· Cornel van Heerden – ‘Hier is ET doodgekap’ (Foto 24)
· Herman Verwey – ‘Piet se laaste dossier’ (Beeld)
· Deaan Vivier – ‘JZ moes dalk sy kantoor soek in die mis’ (Foto 24)
Commended: Cornel van Heerden – ‘SA Rodeo’ (Foto 24); Alet Pretorius –‘Mnr & Mej Dwergiefees’ (Foto 24)
SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHS
· Antoine de Ras – ‘Just for kicks’ (The Star)
· Alon Skuy – ‘Hand of devil’ (The Times)
· Herman Verwey – ‘Rand van ewigheid’ (Rapport)
· Deaan Vivier – ‘Totaal verslae’ (Foto 24, Beeld, Die Burger, Volksblad and Rapport)
PRESENTATION
· Nina Clark – ‘How Australopithecus Sediba fits in’ (The Star)
· Andries Gouws – ‘Bafana at the World Cup’ and others (Beeld)
· Debbie van der Merwe – ‘Student word Meester’ and others (Rapport-Mytyd)
JOURNALISM TWENTY-TEN
· Sameer Naik – ‘The best World Cup ever’ (Saturday Star)
· Niren Tolsi – ‘Field of shattered dreams’ and others (Mail & Guardian)
Turbine Hall will be the venue for this year’s awards ceremony on May 10 in Johannesburg.
Winners will receive a Mondi Shanduka Premier Award and a R15 000 cash prize.
Follow the latest updates on Twitter: @MondiShanduka
