The AVBOB FCJ Excellence Awards, hosted by the Forum of Community Journalists NPC
(FCJ), is a well-known event in the media industry. This year another new category
(mobile phone photography) was introduced, and a total of 541 entries were received.
This year, participants showcased their exemplary work across various categories, with
front pages and back pages, free newspaper of the year, hard news and compelling
human-interest reportage dominating the entries.
The dedication and talent displayed by community journalists in various writing and
photography categories underscore the vibrancy and diversity of community journalism in
South Africa.
The adjudication process was overseen by Dr André Gouws from Akademia.
Winners were announced at a prize-giving dinner at the Protea Hotel Stellenbosch and
Conference Centre, Techno Park on August 22 with top honours for Journalist of the Year
going to the team from George Herald. They are Lizette da Silva, Kristy Kolberg, Alida de
Beer and Michelle Pienaar. Highvelder’s Wayne van der Walt, for the third year in a row,
took the Photographer of the Year title and this year’s recipient of the Alet Roux Trophy for
Most Promising Journalist went to Lebohang Pita from Benoni City Times.
AVBOB, through its financial investment in the FCJ and industry and the ongoing support
from Caxton and Novus Community Media allowed the FCJ to further enrich its offering
and support to community journalists.
The ongoing support of these sponsors allows the FCJ to enrich and grow the competition.
This year a category for best mobile phone photography was added as many journalists
arrive at scenes and stories and take pictures with their mobile phones. The winner is
Kristy Kolberg from George Herald.
“As a business, we believe in the value and role that community journalism plays in
society. This year marks the fourth AVBOB FCJ Excellence Awards where we
acknowledge and
celebrate outstanding work. We’re proud of the journey we have travelled together. To us,
investing in journalism is to invest in collective memory, in accountability, and in the dignity
of our people,” said Nakedi Pilane, AVBOB Executive Director: Business Development
and Financial Services.
The FCJ also hosted its national seminar prior to the gala dinner and for the first time had
a panel discussion talking about journalism and AI. The discussion was led by Ivor Price
with panellists Phathiswa Magopeni, Alet Law and Sisanda Nkoala. Adam Oxford spoke
about data journalism.
Winners:
JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
WINNER
The George Herald Team
Lizette da Silva, Kristy Kolberg, Alida de Beer and Michelle Pienaar.
Avbob Business Development Director Nakedi Pilane with George Herald journalists Lizette da Silva, Kristy Kolberg, Michelle Pienaar and Alida de Beer — winners of the Journalist of the Year category at the Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards.
ALET ROUX Trophy for Best New Journalist
WINNER
Lebohang Pita, Benoni City Times
Avbob Business Development Director Nakedi Pilane with Benoni City Times journalist Lebohang Pita, winner of the Alet Roux Trophy for Best Newcomer at the Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards.
PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
Avbob Business Development Director Nakedi Pilane with Wayne van der Walt, winner of the Photographer of the Year category at the Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards.
NEWSPAPERS
Newspaper of the Year (Paid)
1. George Herald
2. Suid-Kaap Forum
3. Lowvelder
4. Vaalweekblad
5. Knysna-Plett Herald
6. Middelburg Observer
7. Zululand Observer
8. Oudtshoorn Courant
9. Paarl Post
10. Mossel Bay Advertiser
Newspaper of the Year (Free)
1. Sandton Chronicle
2. Northcliff Melville Times
3. Eikestadnuus
4. TygerBurger Brackenfell
5. Midrand Reporter
6. Rosebank Killarney Gazette
7. TygerBurger Eerste – Elsiesrivier Ravensmead
8. Benoni City Times
9. Polokwane Review
10. Capricorn Voice
-
- Avbob Business Development Director Nakedi Pilane.
-
- Executive Director of the FCJ, Ben Burger.
Best Front page
1. Northcliff Melville Times
2. Rosebank Killarney Gazette
3. Mpumalanga News
4. Midrand Reporter
5. Sandton Chronicle
6. Highvelder
7. South Coast Herald
8. Corridor Gazette
9. Lowvelder
10. Ster South Vanderbijlpark & Sasolburg
Best Back page
1. Suid-Kaap Forum
2. Vaalweekblad
3. Zululand Observer
4. George Herald
5. Sandton Chronicle
6. Eikestadnuus
7. Highvelder
8. Germiston City News
9. TygerBurger
10. Rosebank Killarney Gazette
WRITING
Digital
1. Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
2. Lizette Da Silva and Team, George Herald
George Herald team: Lizette da Silva, Kristy Kolberg, Alida de Beer and Michelle Pienaar.
Group Editors digital team: Ilse Schoonraad, Beatrice Esterhuysen, Dot Ings, Esté Smit,
Cameron Squire, Wyndham Ewerts and Jannie du Plessis.
3. Irma Green, Network News
4. Jeff Ayliffe, George Herald
5. Team Entry, Caxton DigitalNetwork News (Irma Green, Mirelle Jacobs, Andrea van
Wyk, Jana Boshoff, Ruan de Ridder, Ally Cooper and Cathy Grosvenor)
6. Allison Cooper, Network News
7. Jana Boshoff, Network News
8. Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
9. Tiisetso Malunga, Middelburg Observer
10. Candyce Pillay, Northglen News and Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad
Editorial comment
1. Lebohang Pita, Benoni City Times
2. Louise Karsten, Mossel Bay Advertiser
3. Lauren O’Connor-May, Africa Community Media
4. Ronelle Ramsamy, Zululand Observer
5. Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
6. Cecilia Hume, TygerBurger
7. Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
8. Tamlyn Cramer, Zululand Observer
9. Alida Buckle, Weslander
10. Les Aupiais, The Village News
Hard news
1. Lizette Da Silva and Team, George Herald (Lizette da Silva, Michelle Pienaar,
Kristy Kolberg and Alida de Beer)
2. Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
3. Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
4. Alida Buckle, Weslander
5. Andries Van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
6. Kaylynne Bantom, People’s Post
7. Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
8. Alida De Beer, George Herald
9. Tracey Turner, Zululand Observer
10. Anton Van Zyl, Limpopo Mirror
Headlines
1. Wayne Van der Walt, Highvelder
2. Ronelle Ramsamy, Zululand Observer
3. Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
4. Liezl Scheepers, Parys Gazette
5. Christiaan De Swardt, Suid-Kaap Forum
6. Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
7. Ettienne Van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
8. Roelien D’Amico, Southlands SUN
9. Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
10. Matthew Handley, Middelburg Observer
Human interest
1. Lizette Da Silva and Team, George Herald (Alida de Beer, Kristy Kolberg, Michelle
Pienaar, Jannie du Plessis)
2. Liezl Scheepers, Parys Gazette
3. Maande Bele, Limpopo Mirror
4. Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
5. Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
6. Noluvu Ludidi, Vaalweekblad
7. Ettienne Van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
8. Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
9. Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
10. Blake Linder, Lowvelder & Corridor Gazette
Investigative
1. Irma Green, Lowvelder
2. Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
3. Estella Naicker, Northern Natal News
4. Gerhard Rheeder, Middelburg Observer
5. Andries Van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
6. Esmé Erasmus, TygerBurger
Sport
1. Ettienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
2. Wyndham Everts, Knysna-Plett Herald
3. Gerhard Rheeder, Middelburg Observer AND Hugo Redelinghuys, Suid-Kaap
Forum
4. David Rush , South Coast Herald
5. Alida Buckle, Weslander
6. Matthew Handley, Middelburg Observer
7. Andries Van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
8. Mark Kinnear, Lowvelder
9. Dave Savides, Zululand Observer
10. Lebohang Pita, Benoni City Times
Vernacular
1. Unathi Obose, City Vision
2. Ntsakisi Gracia Chauke, Nthavela
Certificate of merit: Xolani Dlamini, Eyethu Intshonalanga
PHOTOGRAPHY
General
1. Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North
2. Wayne van der Walt, Highvelder
3. Ettienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
4. Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
5. Blake Linder, Lowvelder
6. Carina Roux, TygerBurger
7. René Joubert. Highvelder Newspaper
8. Fuad Essack, Cape Community News
9. Gypseenia Lion, Bloemfontein Courant
10. Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
Mobile
1. Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
2. Alida Buckle, Weslander
3. Samantha Lee-Jacobs, People’s Post
4. Jo Fourie, TygerBurger
News
1. Wayne Van der Walt, Highvelder
2. Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
3. Sifiso Jimta, Ster South
4. Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North/Sedibeng Ster
5. Alida Buckle, Weslander
6. Ettienne Van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
7. Heinrich Greyling, Krugersdorp News
8. Yaseen Gaffar, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette
9. Daleen Naudé, Middelburg Observer
10. Barend Williams, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette
Sport
1. Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad
2. Ettienne Van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
3. Wayne Van der Walt, Highvelder
4. Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
5. Rashied Isaacs, People’s Post
6. Hugo Redelinghuys, Suid-Kaap Forum
7. René Joubert, Highvelder
8. Carina Roux, TygerBurger
9. Blake Linder, Lowvelder
10. Christiaan Cloete, Vaalweekblad/Ster North
The panel of judges, led by Gouws, comprised seasoned industry professionals, including Lucia Poolman, Chantel Erfort Manuel, Kyle Cowan, Buks Viljoen, Willem Kempen, Alé Steyn, Tobie vd Bergh, Johann Maarman, Elsabe Retief, DeWet Potgieter, Mercy Kannemeyer, Marlene Malan, Pieter Delport, Nomakhawuta Moshani, Yolanda van der Stoep, Zee Zenande, Mlungizi Louw, Virginia Keppler-Young, Thalyta Swanepoel and Khethiwe Masihlangane.