The award will compliment the annual Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards which recognises journalistic excellence. The winner will be announced at the MSNA awards ceremony scheduled to take place on April 20, 2005 at the Sandton Sun in Johannesburg, and will receive a Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Lifetime Achiever nib trophy, and certificate.
Nominations for those who have made a significant contribution towards newspaper journalism must be in by 11 February 2005. The honour recognises a sustained and extraordinary contribution to newspaper journalism on the part of an individual. The winner will have demonstrated impeccable ethics and craft excellence. The results will have enriched South African public life. Where the person's accomplishment has been achieved in the face of obstacles, this will add to the nominee's ratings.
The individual's accomplishment should have been over a career of at least 20 years in journalism and the judges are not eligible for nomination.
The judging panel consists of 10 well respected journalists:
Guy Berger (Prof), convenor of the judges and head of the Department of Journalism at Rhodes University
Sarah Crowe, media officer at UNICEF
Sbu Mngadi, chief corporate and strategy officer at Cell C
Ethel Hazelhurst, financial journalist
Portia Kobue, news editor for Kaya FM
Johan de Wet, former editor of Rapport
Zubeida Jaffer, freelance writer and former head of Independent Newspaper's parliamentary bureau
Peter Magubane, renowned veteran South African photojournalist
Ken Owen, former Sunday Times editor
Joe Thloloe, head of news at e-tv.
