Mondi shortlist released

“Journalistic excellence reflects a level of achievement that goes
beyond competent reporting,” says Rhodes University head of journalism
and media studies Professor Guy Berger.  His comment comes on the back of the two-day judging session for the 8th annual Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards, according to a media release from the organisers.

Berger noted that while the best entries were very good examples of journalism, there is still room for improvement in the eleven categories of the competition. “In the Hard News category especially, there is an overuse of journalistic clichés.”

“Nevertheless, the quality of many entries in this year’s competition was highly inspiring. As judges, we thoroughly enjoyed working through the news, views and images of 2008,” notes Berger, convenor of the judging panel, comprising Ebbe Dommisse, Joyce Sikhakhane, Ivan Fynn, John Dludlu, Phil Mtimkulu, Obed Musi and Juby Mayet.

The contest’s theme – Obvious is the Enemy – was validated in the Investigative Journalism category with journalists digging much deeper than the surface evidence and delving into the underbelly of politics, health, business, mining and the environment. “As judges we focused on fresh ways of reporting – on endeavours which went beyond the predictable in order to do justice to the rich and dynamic tapestry of South African life last year,” said Berger.

A shortlist of 33 finalists was drawn from a total of 601 entries from 37 South African newspapers. The most popular category was Feature Writing followed by News Photographs.

Afrikaans daily Beeld and English weekly Sunday Times feature strongly among the finalists, followed closely by The Star and Mail & Guardian.

Winners will be announced at the annual awards evening on May 6 at the Wanderers Club in Illovo, Johannesburg. A Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Premier Award of R15,000 cash, an iconic Mondi Shanduka nib trophy and a certificate are theirs for the taking.

CATEGORY 1:   HARD NEWS

These stories covered every topic under the South African sun: staples like crime and accidents, tragedies and triumphs. World Cup 2010 featured strongly, although there was – surprisingly – little about the electricity crisis. But in several cases, the reality of reports was blurred by boring phraseology like ‘the atmosphere was tense’.

1. 
Amanda Roestoff and Leané du Plessis – “Satan sê ek moet moer”; “Ons was bang vir hom”; “Ons seun is geboelie”, “Baai, Jacques”’; “Hy het sward gereeld geslyp” – Beeld

2.
Kanina Foss and Alex Eliseev – “Secret Boy’s Weird World” – Series – The Star

 Commendations

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Lucky Sindane – “2010 Big Shot skips SA” – Mail & Guardian

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Bareng-Batho Kortjaas – “2010 turmoil”; “The heartbreaking story behind Parreira’s departure”; “Shut up!” – Sunday Times

 

CATEGORY 2:   ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

Analysis and commentary is a rich prospect given the dynamism and complexity of South Africa.  Numerous entries related to political issues. There was naturally dissection of the dissidence within the ANC post-Polokwane, Mbeki’s departure and the appointment of President Kgalema Motlanthe.

 

1.
     
Makhudu Sefara – “Better the devil we know”; “ANC brought this on itself”; “Zuma’s poisoned chalice” – City Press

2.
     
Michael Bleby – “Owning a piece of Mandela” – The Weekender

 

Commendations

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Franny Rabkin – “The sleight of hand that raised Pikoli’s gallows” – Business Day

 

CATEGORY 3:   FEATURE WRITING

As in previous years, this was the most popular category for 2008’s work, showing that journalists felt their best work lay in this area. The effect was also stiffer competition.  Many entries revealed acute observation and real research, and the result was richly textured description and insight – taking readers on a journey of tangible discovery.

 

1.
     
Alex Eliseev – “The old man in Room 21” – The Star

2.
     
Elise Tempelhoff – “Bloederigheid tussen hul tande” – Beeld

3.
     
Leila Samodien – “My little angel Adam” (four-part series) – Cape Argus

4.
     
Thabo Mkhize – “Place to BEE” – Sunday Times Lifestyle

 

Commendations

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Marida Fitzpatrick – “‘Exit’ Mooinooi” – Beeld

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Charles Molele – “We are hungry and angry. We will soon begin to eat dogs” – Sunday Times  

CATEGORY 4:   INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM

There was an excess of chronicles about corruption. It may be that there are so many cases that they can be picked up like diamonds on the Skeleton Coast, but even so, those journalists playing a serious watchdog role are doing society very proud.

 

1.
     
Chandre Prince, Ntando Makhubu, Lubabalo Ngcukana – “Killer water in the Ukhahlamba District Municipality” – Daily Dispatch

2.
     
Sam Sole, Stefaans Brümmer and Adrian Basson – “Arms firm did give cash to ANC” – Mail & Guardian

 

Commendations

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Dumisane Lubisi and Jackie Mpiloko – “Jabulani Hospital” – City Press

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Julian Rademeyer – “Swart rykes met miljoene bedrieg” – Beeld 

?
        
Simpiwe Piliso and Kim Hawkey – “Gotcha Khaya” – Business Times

 

CATEGORY 5:   CREATIVE JOURNALISM

Entries ranged from profiles to motoring to columns with many having the judges chuckling out loud. The leading stories were perceptive, expertly narrated, and showed a masterly command of vocabulary and sentence construction.

 

1.
     
Marida Fitzpatrick – “Onder 4 oë: Ben Schoeman is … ne è un Sissy” – Naweek Beeld

2.
     
Rowan Philip – “Brassed off by the Brits” – Sunday Times

3.
     
Thomas Falkiner – “Bouncing off the limiter” – Sunday Times

 

CATEGORY 6:   GRAPHICAL JOURNALISM

Visual creations tell a story in a unique way – whether as cartoons, collages or info-graphics. Some excellent work was evident, but possibly in lesser quantities than in previous years.

 

1.
     
Anton Vermeulen – “? Verspilde eeu van mislukte revolusies” – Rapport Perspektief

2.
     
Jaco Grobbelaar – “Die ANC kan nie COPE nie” – Die Burger

3.
     
Jonathan Shapiro – “Rape of justice” and “Xenophobia flag” – Sunday Times, Mail & Guardian

 

Commendations

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Mark Wiggett – “There is no crisis in Zimbabwe” – The Herald     

 

CATEGORY 7:   POPULAR JOURNALISM

This category is finally beginning to get some traction with entries from papers like Daily Sun and Sunday Sun, although submissions from the other tabloids are welcomed too. Some of the stories examined were open to ethical questions in the sense of intrusion into private lives, but a great deal was squarely on the button in terms of the role of the media as a force for good.

 

1.
     
Brian Hayward – “Sleepy town’s sordid love scandal turns bloody” – Weekend Post

2.
     
Prince Chauke – “How do you cope with ‘Doctor Willie? The Faker” – Sunday Sun

 

CATEGORY 8:   NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

As can sadly be expected, the entries catalogued the continuing violent character of South African society. However there were other, less disturbing, news pictures.

 

1.
     
Chris Collingridge – Kids learn lesson of hate – The Star

2.
     
Simphiwe Nkwali – Pleaded in vain – Sunday Times

 

Commendations

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Michael Walker – “Freak winds, snow, hail” – Cape Times/The Star

 

CATEGORY 9:   FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

This category was also characterised by traumatic images – mainly arising from the xenophobic terror last year.  Many papers appear to be running multi-picture spreads, and the photographers involved were therefore able to enter a portfolio that told a story on the same subject.

 

1.
     
Alon Skuy – “What the hell is going on? 10inTEN Your hate attacks in 10 minutes” – Jozi Weekly / The Times

2.
     
Jennifer Bruce – “Desperate, they board the 6.10 to safety” – The Star

 

Commendations

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Lebohang Mashiloane – “10inTEN (Blind Zimbabweans)” – The Times

?
        
Theana Calitz – “Solidariteit – Zuma” – Beeld

 

CATEGORY 10:   SPORTS PHOTOGRAPHY

As a new category, it elicited captivating entries across a wide range of sporting activities. Treatment in layout-and-design generally did justice to the power of the pictures.

 

1.
     
Cornél van Heerden – “‘n Lemoen ‘n dag” – Beeld

2.
     
Deaan Vivier – “Dis weer die ou Bulle!” – Rapport

 

Commendations

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Herman Verwey – “Pukke hol, spring punte los” – Beeld

?
        
Adrian de Kock – “Epic, bru” – The Star / Weekend Argus

 

CATEGORY 11:   PRESENTATION

Most entries were clean, clear and competent but added little to the content that was being conveyed. Yet there were some highly imaginative designs and quality headlines working with pictures and words, contributing rather than detracting from the communication.

 

1.
     
Jacqueline Steenveldt, Ricky Hunt, Sukasha Singh – “Mob Nation series” – Mail & Guardian

2.
     
Robin Crouch – “90-year walk” – The Witness

 

Commendations

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Debbie van de Merwe – “Wysneuse vat die grootmense aan” – Rapport Tydskrif

?
        
Johan du Plessis – “200 digging for diamonds illegally, Mayor’s gems are fake”  – Diamond Fields Advertiser

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Louis Kruger – “Lang reis na net… Antoniette” – Beeld

 

Should you have any queries, contact Malesedi Dlamini at the Newspaper Association of South Africa on (011) 484-3624 or e-mail: malesedid@printmedia.org.za.