Central24 has no less than three winners in the Vodacom Journalist of the Year regional awards.
Vodacom Journalist of the Year has once again showcased the incredible talent and dedication of South African journalists. The Free State, Northern Cape, Northwest and Limpopo region gained national attention due to the daring escape of Facebook rapist Thabo Bester and the individuals who were entangled in the web of deceit surrounding his escape.
In addition to other significant national stories, this region serves as a reminder of the influence and vital role of the national broadcaster, as well as the value of community media.
The regional awards function was held today in Bloemfontein.
Helena Barnard, editor of NoordkaapBulletin, is the winner in the features category. The judges said that in the winning entry, the journalist skilfully merged the rich history of a long-forgotten war with the culture and cuisine of the people of the Northern Cape. She won with “Soek jou wortels (en vind Martha se melktert) by Magersfontein”, published in NoordkaapBulletin. In this catecory the judges were impressed by the range of carefully crafted story-telling from this region, enabling readers, viewers and listeners to immerse themselves in descriptive writing and carefully constructed narration.
Marti Will, editor of Vista, is the winner in the lifestyle category and impressed the judges with an insightful piece that focused on the Khoisan people reclaiming and advancing their culture and way of life. It was entitled “Khoisan-stamme vat hande vir bevordering van hul kultuur”.
Charné Kemp, freelancer for NoordkaapBulletin, Netwerk24 and Volksblad, won in the politics category with a body of work comprising printed and online articles on a by-election in Kimberley. The judges mentioned that the journalist gave insight into the daily survival battles of the people in Roodepan and Platfontein, illustrated the text with compelling photographs and supplemented the analysis with easy-to-follow infographics. Kemp’s writing in “Die stryd om Kimberley se Wyk 1” was lauded for “meticulous and relentless reporting and giving a voice to the voiceless”. The judges also commended Kemp in the investigative category for her untiring investigations into a solar fraudster, ultimately culminating in his arrest.
Another reason for Media24 to celebrate is Alet van der Walt of Netwerk24 being named the winner in the sustainability category. In this category, the judges look for in-depth features that report evocatively and with insight on the challenges and solutions of establishing a sustainable future for South Africa and its heritage.
Last September, the collapse of the wall of the Jagersfontein tailings dam created an environmental and humanitarian catastrophe – people and livestock were killed and land and watercourses polluted. Van der Walt won for a well-researched overview of how the collapse happened and the dire consequences to those in the area, which includes interviews with stricken farmers and with an environmentalist about heavy-metal pollution. ”Jagersfontein: Visse ‘spring’ uit water toe slik spruit tref” was presented with video, graphics and strong photographs.
Regional winners will go up against each other in the national finals taking place on 30 November.
