The Media Online’s weekly column delivering news of award wins, entries, competitions, dates to note and winners in the media.
The voice of 5FM nominated for 2026 SA Voice Over Awards
5FM has announced that Brionne Olsen, the unmistakable station voice behind SA’s hottest youth radio station, has been nominated for the 2026 South African Voiceover Awards, the country’s premier platform honouring excellence in voice artistry.
The awards, now in their second year, celebrate the diversity and impact of Mzansi voices across radio, television, digital media, animation, audiobooks and more.
Olsen’s nomination for Best Commercial Voiceover Performance places him among the country’s top vocal talent, recognised for originality, emotional impact, production quality and creative contribution to the industry.
As 5FM’s official station voice and Radio Imaging Specialist, he leads the creative and technical execution of all station audio, shaping the sonic identity that millions of young South Africans recognise instantly. His work spans concept development, scripting, sound design, recording, mixing and mastering – ensuring that every piece of 5FM imaging lands with precision, engaging personality and power.
PRISM Awards Chief Judge steps down after three-year term
Paul Reynell, Founder of Paddington Station PR, has formally stepped down from his roles within the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA), effective 3 June 2026. His departure concludes his tenure as Vice-President, PRISMS Committee Chair, Membership Committee Chair, and his three-year term as Chief Judge of the PRISMS Awards.
In a message to the PRISA Board, Immediate-Past President Bradly Howland acknowledged Reynell’s contribution, noting:
“Paul joined PRISA at a time when the organisation was working hard to find its footing again, and he threw himself into that rebuilding effort with real energy and commitment. He was part of growing and elevating the Awards into the flagship programme they have become – one that is now genuinely respected in the industry.”
Reynell said the decision to step down followed a period of reflection on where he can make the most meaningful impact in the profession.
“People don’t follow leaders because they stay in roles. They follow leaders because they move forward. Africa’s communication profession is entering a defining decade. My focus now is on strengthening the continent’s voice, boosting Africa’s reputation globally, and building pathways that bring more international briefs and investment into African markets.”
Good Hope FM’s ’26 Warrior Woman Awards looking for Mzansi’s most fearless leading ladies
Good Hope FM proudly announced the launch of the 2026 Warrior Woman Awards during a thrilling live broadcast and floral- and pink-infused event at the SABC’s Sea Point studios this morning.
It’s a colourful and powerful celebration of women who are fearless in rolling up their sleeves and putting in the work to build a better city, province, nation and world for all.
Spearheaded by The Morning Show with Leigh-Anne Williams, the awards are now in their third year of identifying and honouring remarkable women who fight hunger, support vulnerable communities, build businesses, champion education, improve health and wellness, strengthen neighbourhoods, break barriers in challenging industries, inspire through sport, uplift culture through creativity and empower the next generation of rising bright stars.
Aside from on-air showcases of their endeavours, recognition and a uniquely crafted Warrior Woman Awards trophy, this year’s finalists will also stand the chance to win their share of R20K’s worth of Canal Walk shopping vouchers – adding even more excitement to one of Cape Town’s most beautiful and inspiring annual events.
The categories for 2026 are:
- The Hunger Fighter Award
- The Community Care Award
- The Job Creator Award
- The Education Champion Award
- The Wellness Warrior Award
- The Community Builder Awarda
- The Change-maker Award
- The Rising Warrior Award
- The Sporting Champion Award
- The Creative Impact Award
Entries for the 2026 Warrior Woman Awards are officially open and will close on 16 September 2026. To enter, send your motivation to marketing@goodhopefm.co.za.
2026 Effie Awards South Africa Grand Jury announced
Effie Awards South Africa has announced the senior panel of industry leaders who will serve on the 2026 Grand Jury, tasked with adjudicating the programme’s highest honour, the coveted Grand Effie.
Hosted by the Association for Communication and Advertising (ACA), the Effie Awards remain the globally recognised benchmark for marketing effectiveness. The 2026 Grand Jury will meet in person on Thursday, 10 September 2026, to review qualifying Gold-winning cases and determine whether any campaign stands above the rest as the year’s most effective work.
The 2026 Grand Jury will be co-chaired by Refilwe Maluleke and Ahmed Tilly.
- Refilwe Maluleke, Executive Head of Marketing, Discovery Health
- Ahmed Tilly, Creative Consultant, Number 10 | A Creative Consultancy
- Bridget Harpur, Head of Marketing, Volkswagen Group Africa
- Carl Willoughby, Chief Creative Officer, TBWA\Hunt Lascaris
- Gugu Mthembu, Chief Marketing Officer, Telkom
- Kagiso Musi, Chief Executive Officer, WPP Media
- Laurent Marty, Chief Strategy Officer, Joe Public
- Neo Makhele, Chief Strategy Officer, Ogilvy
- Roanna Williams, Chief Creative Officer, Boundless
- Robyn Lewis, General Manager: MTN Brand, MTN Group
- Tebogo Motsepe, Executive Head: Marketing Strategy, Nedbank
- Thabang Skwambane, Chief Executive Officer, Nahana
- Vaughan Croeser, Vice President: Marketing, South African Breweries
Content Creator Awards launch free Creator Labs to equip South Africa’s next generation of creators
The Content Creator Awards, sponsored by Samsung, are taking their commitment to growing South Africa’s creator economy beyond the annual celebration of excellence, with the introduction of two free Creator Labs designed to educate, connect and equip creators with practical skills for building sustainable careers in the industry.
As a registered non-profit organisation, the Content Creator Awards reinvest sponsorship and partnership revenue into initiatives that create opportunities for creators and contribute to the development of the broader creator economy. The Creator Labs form part of this ongoing commitment, bringing creators together with leading platforms, brands, agencies and industry experts ahead of this year’s awards.
The second Creator Lab will take place on 11 September at Workshop17 at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
The workshop will provide creators with access to practical insights across areas including content monetisation, technology, creativity, industry trends and the commercial opportunities available to creators.
Cape Town applications and further information are available at www.contentcreatorawards.co.za.
Entertainment Week Africa 2026 opens call for entries
Entertainment Week Africa 2026 has opened its call for entries, inviting creators, artists, businesses and industry professionals to participate in its music, creative and business programmes.
The event will take place in Lagos, Nigeria, from 17 to 22 November 2026, with opportunities spanning music, film, animation, visual arts, content, business and careers.
Entries are open to creators, artists, filmmakers, animators, visual artists, brands, music professionals, creative businesses and other industry professionals.
Applications are open now through the Entertainment Week Africa website.
The Sea Point Promenade Photographic Exhibition Competition is back
For the past six years, the Sea Point Promenade has brought photography out of the gallery and into the public landscape. Set along one of Cape Town’s most iconic public spaces, the exhibition gives South African photographers a unique platform to have their work seen by thousands of locals and international visitors.
Each year has explored themes from across the photographic spectrum, from Birds, Wildlife and Movement to Landscapes, Macro and Black & White photography.
Six years later, the Sea Point Promenade continues to be a space where photography is not simply exhibited, but discovered, experienced and shared with the public.
This year, we bring light to The Art of Photography. To mark our seventh edition, we’re giving photographers the chance to win R100 000 in prizes.
At the heart of this year’s theme is a simple question: when does a photograph become art?
For submissions, please click on https://gleam.io/pN7y6/orms-x-canon-the-art-of-photography.
The Cannes Lions Creativity Report 2026 out now
Creativity is no longer confined to campaigns. It shapes brands, technology, culture, experiences and business models.
But what’s changing? Where are the opportunities? And how is creativity driving growth?
The Cannes Lions Creativity Report 2026 looks at this year’s Lion-winning work and identifies the trends behind the ideas.
Like creativity, it’s available to anyone.
Read it here.
SPAR celebrates nine wins at the 2026 Food & Home Awards
SPAR has received nine honours at the 2026 Food & Home Awards, with products across its private-label portfolio recognised for excellence in the meat, pasta and cheese categories.
Four SPAR products won first-place Gold Awards, with a further five receiving runner-up Silver Awards. The wins span SPAR Tender & Tasty, Your Butcher by SPAR and SPAR Signature Selection, demonstrating quality products across SPAR’s broad own-brand offering, which spans locally produced meat products to premium pantry and speciality ranges.
The annual Food & Home Awards celebrate the standout brands, products and producers shaping South Africa’s evolving food landscape. Recognised as a credible benchmark for excellence, the awards honour products that demonstrate exceptional flavour, quality, consistency and innovation through a rigorous, independent expert-judging process.
For SPAR Private Label, these accolades extend beyond individual product recognition, providing valuable third-party endorsement of the range’s overall quality, innovation and credibility.
Dr Dakalo Ndouvhada wins Social Media Influencer Award at the Limpopo Medical Awards
Dr Dakalo Ndouvhada has been honoured with the Social Media Influencer Award at the Limpopo Medical Awards, held on Saturday, 5 September 2026, recognising her growing influence in using digital platforms to educate, inform and connect communities through medicine.
Dr Ndouvhada is a medical doctor and host of The Doctor’s Corner, a podcast produced by Murunwa Communications that provides a platform for medical doctors from across South Africa to share their professional knowledge, insights and personal experiences.
At the heart of The Doctor’s Corner is a commitment to taking meaningful medical conversations beyond the consultation room. The platform gives doctors an opportunity to speak openly about healthcare, their professional journeys, the realities of practising medicine and the personal experiences that have shaped them.
National Research Awards: Professor Tulio de Oliveira honoured for societal impact
Professor Tulio de Oliveira, Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) at Stellenbosch University (SU), has won the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) 2026 Societal Impact Award, recognising the far-reaching contribution of his work to epidemic preparedness and response in South Africa and across Africa.
The award was presented at the annual NRF Awards ceremony in Gqeberha on Thursday, 3 September, under the theme “Building an Inclusive, Impactful and Transformed Research System”. Hon. Professor Blade Nzimande, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, delivered the keynote address.
The Societal Impact Award recognises NRF-funded or co-funded research that has delivered significant and demonstrable benefits to society through areas including innovation, technological advancement, sustainability and policy development.
