The finalists in the seventh annual Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards were released today, Wednesday, 27 February 2008. Hosted by Mondi Shanduka Newsprint in partnership with the Newspaper Association of South Africa, the competition received a record 575 entries across 10 categories.
Over the past few months, the Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards have been calling for entries from the South African newspaper community. The response? A hundred and eighty eight journalists from 35 newspapers – community, regional and national – entered their work as published during 2007. This represents a 20% increase in entries on the previous year.
The winners and finalists will be acknowledged at the official awards ceremony, hosted by former Carte Blanche anchor and presenter Ruda Landman, at the Wanderers Club in Illovo, Johannesburg on 9 April 2008.
Each category winner – including the South African Journalist of the Year and the South African Story of the Year – will receive a cash prize of R15 000, a Mondi Shanduka Nib and framed certificate.
The finalists are:
- Jorisna Bonthuys – Die Burger: “Kioto2 kry nou stoom” and two other articles on the environment
- Renthia Bornman – Rapport: Several layouts about the Rugby World Cup
- Cobus Coetzee and Adriaan Basson – Beeld: “Staat het geweet eNaTIS sou vou” and follow ups
- Nashira Davids and Buyekezwa Makwabe – Sunday Times: “War declared on gangs” and related stories
- Nerissa Govender – The Witness: “Family's blue light trauma” and seven other pages
- Jocelyn Maker and Megan Power– Sunday Times: “Manto's hospital booze binge”
- Murray La Vita – Die Burger: “Gesondheid in die rondheid!”
- Masi Losi – Daily Dispatch: “You are now a man, my son”
- Hanlie Malan – Die Burger: Several graphical illustrations
- Sandile Ndlovu – Sunday Tribune: Labour of love series
- Francois Nel – Die Burger: Road of Chaos
- Chandré Prince, Brett Horner, Ntando Makhubu – Daily Dispatch: “Why Frere's babies die”
- Arlene Prinsloo – Die Burger: Untitled cover wrap photograph of the Springbok victory and other pages
- Oliver Roberts – Sunday Times Lifestyle: “Don't look down”
- Lee Rondganger – The Star: “Smash, grab… gone”
- Jonathan Shapiro – Zapiro Productions: A range of cartoons
- Alon Skuy – The Times: Hillbrow flight
- Shaun Smillie – The Star: “The Search for Looksmart” and related stories
- Lizel Steenkamp – Rapport: “Plek van die dood”
The following journalists have received commendations by the judging panel:
Malvory Adams – Sowetan: three part series on “Blacks know Rugby”
- Jennifer Bruce – The Star: “Babies in a box”
- Tony Carnie – The Mercury: “Probe into metal illness factory” and follow ups
- Marida Fitzpatrick – Beeld: “Jan Bom – waar swaarkry triomfeer”
- Andries Gouws – Beeld: Series of front pages
- Jillian Green – The Star: “The man who danced with death”
- Natascha Jacobsz – Sondag: “Zuma se ‘kondoom' vir goeie geluk”
- Leonie S. Joubert – Weekend Argus: “Tossed by wind, ocean and quotas”
- Stephen Lawrence – The Star: A worrying time
- Simphiwe Mbokazi – Business Report: Perd van ‘n ander kleur series
- De Wet Moolman – Beeld: Several graphical illustrations
- Boxer Nqobizwe Ngwenya – The Star: UJ Riots
- Sandile Ndlovu – Sunday Tribune: beach reflected in sunglasses
- Riëtte Olivier – Die Burger: “Drama by doodsbrug”
- Wessel Oosthuizen – The Citizen: Picture of Schalk Burger, CJ van der Linde and Bakkies Botha combine efforts against Simon Shaw
- Waldimar Pelser – Beeld: “Rukkerige spoedballet”
- Shayne Robinson – The Star: Out of the frying pan AND Cash heist drama
- Mujahid Safodien – The Star: Smash and Grab
- Alon Skuy – The Star: Line of fire: riots Soweto
- Diane-Marié Strydom – Die Burger: “Jy moet maar afskeid neem van jou familie…”
- Claire Angelique Bezuidenhout – Sunday Tribune: “It's not all black…”
- Elise Tempelhoff – Beeld: “Mynmonopolie se gru-moeras” and follow ups
- Michael Bleby – Business Day: “An officer and a gentleman”
- Riana van der Schyff – Saturday Star: A selection of full page layouts
- Anton Vermeulen – Beeld: A number of graphics
- Cara Viereckl – Saturday Star: Refugees
The intensive judging process, convened by Prof Guy Berger, took place on 14 and 15 February, with the panel determining, through in-depth debate and discussion, who is ‘best of breed' in the various disciplines of South African newspaper journalism.
“We had terrific submissions this year – so much so that, in addition to naming the winners and runners-up, the judges were also moved to commend a record number of entries, almost 30,” notes Berger.
Berger was joined by Salie de Swardt, Ivan Fynn, Alf Kumalo, Irwin Manoim, Phil Mtimkulu, Joyce Sikhakhane and Caroline Southey.
