Brandhouse Beverages has announced the winners of the 2014 Responsible Drinking Media Awards (RDMAs). The winner of each category received R10 000 and was acknowledged for their journalistic skill and the level of influence and support they have given the responsible drinking agenda.
Journalist of the year went to Ina Skosana and Madelene Cronje of the Mail & Guardian for their story on violence, pregnant teenagers and booze at De Aar. The Mail & Guardian also won newspaper of the year and best online media for the same story
KwaZulu-Natal-based community radio station, Radio Khwezi, took the honours for media house of the year, based on the number of valid entries received from this radio station. The station’s Nothile Zwane won the best broadcast for apiece on the Kwa-Zulu Natal Liquor Authority and Licenses. The station also won best community media for Precious Maphumulo’s piece on Foetal alcohol syndrome; as well as another piece people on ARVs dying because of alcohol abuse. It was also part of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Liquor Authority Campaign.
SuperSport’s Brenden Nel won the award for best blogger, for his piece ‘Think when you drink rugby fans’ while Sive Kokwana, of the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, won the best campus media award for ‘Alcohol dependency corrupt good manners in society’.
Bona magazine took top magazine for Amanda Ndlangisa’s story, ‘Things fall apart’.
Managing director of brandhouse, Jeff Milliken, says the company acknowledges the issues associated with alcohol, which is why it is committed to promoting responsible drinking. “And these awards are about encouraging the media to use their platforms to promote responsible drinking and ultimately change consumer behaviour,” he said.
The idea is to get journalists to use their influence to promote responsible drinking amongst the South African public by publishing media pieces covering responsible drinking and issues related to it, such as alcohol abuse, drink driving, underage drinking, foetal alcohol syndrome, binge drinking and alcohol related violence etc. Bloggers, community media, campus media, online media, newspaper, magazine, and broadcast category media pieces are eligible to enter.
“Thanks to this year’s outstanding judging panel, made up of Mr Welcome Msomi, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Mr Khaya Dlanga and Ms Kerry Cullinan – our judges represented a wide skill set and provided the awards with a completely holistic judging approach,” Milliken said.
IMAGE: brandhouse corporate relations manager with Michael Mabasa with journalist of the year award winners Madelene Cronje and Ina Skosana, Mail & Guardian
