The Big Issue up for international awards

The Big Issue South Africa magazine is in line for three International Network of Street Papers (INSP) awards. Finalists in the awards, held every second year, are recognised for “outstanding editorial and social enterprise achievements of street papers; and their contribution to social justice”.

‘Yemen’s Unseen’ by Ziryab Al-Ghabri, is a finalist in the Best Photograph category; ‘Babes in barbarians’ hands’ by Michelle Nöthling, has a chance in the Best Feature category; and the ‘2012 Collector’s Edition’, designed by Dirk Meerkotter, is a finalist in the Best Design awards.

“The Big Issue SA’s shortlisting in three INSP award categories is a fantastic achievement, especially considering the judging panel consists of several international heavy hitters in media, including South Africa’s own Ferial Haffajee. I’m incredibly proud of our team and holding thumbs for the awards later this month,” says Melany Bendix, editor.

The awards ceremony is taking place in Munich on 1 August at the INSP’s annual conference. Winners in the 10 categories will take home hand-made statues made by Glasgow Wood Recycling, a social enterprise that offers volunteering and training as a way of tackling poverty and social exclusion.

Two new categories have been introduced this year that recogniae street papers for their effectiveness as social enterprises and their work in supporting homeless people.

Trudy Vlok, managing director of The Big Issue South Africa and treasurer of the INSP, said the awards represent the very best of street paper journalism worldwide. “We are extremely pleased and excited to receive this level of recognition for the hard work that goes into The Big Issue SA magazine. To be finalists in multiple categories is an enormous honour. I would like to congratulate our editor and her team for making this possible,” she said.

The INSP reports that it received a record number of entries this year – 191 in total, from 51 different street papers in 25 countries. It said the the range of finalists are a “demonstration of the diversity of the global street paper network”.

Executive director, Lisa Maclean, said the awards are a real celebration of the diversity of street papers around the world. “Street paper editors, journalists, designers and photographers work hard every day to report on important issues and create first-class magazines and newspapers for their vendors to sell. It’s great to have the opportunity to celebrate and award these efforts and remind the world what street papers are there to do,” she said.

“This year, we are honoured to have had the support of an incredible panel of expert judges, who have dedicated many hours to reading entries and debating and selecting finalists and winners. We are very grateful for their support and expertise.”

Judges included expert panels of journalists, academics, writers, designers and photographers. A high-profile panel of media and publishing experts, led by Honorary President David Schlesinger, then selected winners in the seven editorial categories. The judging of the ‘Social Enterprise’ and ‘Social Development’ categories was supported by PwC – a leading supporter of social enterprise in the UK.

Best Feature Story – Writing for social impact:

· ‘Emergency aid in the middle of nowhere’ by Florian Blumer, Surprise (Switzerland)

· ‘When Systems Offend’ by Lindsey Krinks, The Contributor (USA)

· ‘Babes in barbarians’ hands’ by Michelle Nöthling, The Big Issue South Africa

· ‘Condemned at birth’ by Jameson Chauluka, The Big Issue Malawi

· ‘Storm about the Shelters’ by Ryan Gallagher, The Big Issue in the North (UK)

 Best Cover – Making a statement on the street:

· ‘Next Stop Referendum—Scotland’s Road to Independenc’e by Andreas Böhm & Dr. Frieder Schwitzgebel, Die Jerusalëmmer (Germany)

· ‘The Standl’s by Niko Schmid-Burgk, BISS (Germany)

· ‘Face to Face’ by Lisa Mansfield, The Big Issue Australia

· ‘Water. Will there be enough for everyone?’ by Branko Bobic, LICEULICE (Serbia)

· ‘The Bitterest Pill’ by Kevin Gopal (editor) & Mark Wheeler (designer), The Big Issue in the North (UK)