Caxton honoured staff at its annual awards evening, delivering over R245 000 in prize money to recipients of awards in various categories, following an intensive judging period.
“We believe that these awards shouldn’t only pay tribute to the top newspapers and editors that Caxton has to offer, but also to the best switchboard operators and telesales people who make their own very valuable contributions to their branches,” says Bruce Sturgeon, CEO of Caxton’s Local Newspapers.
“Last year I correctly predicted that we’d have an exciting, game-changing year ahead and that prediction has certainly proven true,” he says. “We’ve morphed decisively from being Caxton Local Newspapers into Caxton Multi-Media and we’re confident that another pioneering year lies ahead for us.”
Some of the most anticipated awards of the night included the Most Promising Newspaper Journalist of the Year, awarded to Johanri Coetzee of Steelburger/Lydenburg; Best Get It Magazine of the Year went to Joburg North; Field Salesperson of the Year was awarded to Jamie Schubach from Highway Mail and Newspaper Journalist of the Year was awarded to Nicolene Smalman from The Lowvelder.
Best Free Newspaper (more than 24 pages) went to Highway Mail edited by Robyn Scottand the Best Sold Newspaper (with circulation exceeding 8000) went to The Lowvelder edited by Irma Green.
Gill Randall, joint MD of NAB, added, “We can’t, and don’t, underestimate the value of the Caxton Awards, with regard to our staff and our readers and advertisers. For NAB and Caxton to continue producing the excellent print and digital products we have on offer, it’s crucial that we intimately know the local environments and the communities in which we operate. It’s this understanding that is at the heart of the awards and the reason for our ongoing success.”
Other awards for the evening included:
· Best Headline writing: Johann Gresse from Middelburg Observer
· Best Investigative journalist: Jana Boshoff also from Middelburg Observer
· Best Free Newspaper, less than 24 pages: Roodepoort Record edited by Roelien Vorster
· Best Sold Newspaper, circulation less than 8 000: Capricorn Voice edited by Joline Nash
· Best Portrait photograph: Schalk le Roux from Vanderbijlpark Ster for Desperation Daze
· Best Sports photograph: Hugo Redelinghuys from George Herald for Water Wall
