Community news took center stage at the Forum for Community Journalists’ (FCJ) annual prize-giving ceremony with two editorial members of Central24 placing amongst the top positions.
The event was held on Friday, 14 October, in Boksburg where journalists, editors and editorial team members from across the country were awarded for the excellent work they do in writing and packaging the news that matter to the communities they serve.
Avbob, through its financial investment in the forum and industry, showed its acknowledgement of the role of community journalists in society, and its support of excellent journalism.
Samantha Lee-Jacobs from People’s Post was announced as the Journalist of the Year and Jarryd Westerdale from Roodeport Record received the Alet Roux Award for the most promising journalist.
Etienne van Rensburg from Vaalweekblad was announced as the Photographer of the Year and the Randburg Sun was the winner of the new category, the AVBOB Best Community Involvement Award, for its project titled, Hero of the Month.
The FCJ’s loyal sponsors, Media24 and Caxton, pledged their continued support which enabled the FCJ to host a national seminar with guest speakers Reg Rumney and André Gouws prior to the gala dinner.
Helena Barnard, editor of the NoordkaapBulletin received a second place award in the category Human Interest.
Madré Marais, chief sub-editor for Central24, received a third place award in the category Headlines for Bloemnews.
Other finalists from Central24 was Marais in the category Columns, Barnard in the category Editorial Comments, Hard News and Sport, Charné Kemp (NoordkaapBulletin) for Hard News, Human Interest and Investigative Reporting and Lientjie Mentz (Bloemnews) for Photography – General.
NoordkaapBulletin was also a finalist in the categories Best front page – Corporate-owned free newspaper and Newspaper of the year – Corporate free newspaper (fewer than 24 pages).
