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Mondi Shanduka – 2007 Awards

This is the 7th successful year (2008) of the most prestigious Newspaper Journalism awards sponsored by Mondi Shanduka Newsprint and endorsed by the Newspaper Association o f South Africa.

We are pleased to note that entries into the Mondi Awards this year were up by 20 percent.  It is also noted that although the newspaper industry faces challenges every day, the quality of journalism is continually improving.  We encourage those journalists who did not enter to continue striving for excellence and to showcase what our country’s best have to offer.

The judges in the 2008 Frewin, McCall and Joel Marvis awards have noted that the “look” of the entries has matured this year and that there were clear winners.  They have compared some of the newspapers to “classic international styles of presentation.”  To the publishing houses, thank you for your support by entering this competition.  On behalf of the Newspaper Association of South Africa, I would like to congratulate all the winners on their achievements, and commend them for their efforts in producing quality newspapers.

I would also like to thank Peter Lynch and Mondi Shanduka for their ongoing support and commitment in the promoting our industry’s excellence.  Thank you to the respective judging panels, under the convenorship of Prof. Guy Berger (Head of the Department of Journalism at Rhodes University), and Clive Loxton (Head of the AAA School of Advertising) for their time, dedication and hard work in judging the entries of the Mondi and Frewin awards.

And lastly, thanks to all the entrants who make every effort to enter these awards that showcase our South African Newspaper industry’s talent and capability.

Hard News

Winner

  1. 01

    Family's blue light trauma

    (The Witness)

    It was my second week on the hard news desk as a cadet reporter in The Witness newsroom when the “Blue- Light ” story broke. My beats included crime, social and general news. I also initiated a series on local achievers allowing me to explore the world of feature writing. My passion for print news was born in school where I was the Editor of the publication. During my university career I wrote for The Witness Hi-Five in the capacity of a young adult columnist, including several young adult book reviews. I am currently an English and Comunication/ Media Skills lecturer based in KwaZulu- Natal.

Finalist

  1. 01

    Smash, grab... gone

    (The Star)
    1. 01
      Lee Rondganger

Commended

  1. 01

    Drama by doodsbrug

    (Die Burger)
    1. 01
      Riette Olivier

Analysis and Commentary

Winner

  1. 01

    Kioto2 kry nou stoom (and two other articles on the environmen)

    (Die Burger)

    Die verslaggewer werk die afgelope sowat agt jaar by Die Burger in Kaapstad.
    Sy beklee tans die pos van spesialis-omgewingsverslaggewer. Voor dit was sy onder meer lid van die koerant se parlementêre redaksie asook onderwys- en omgewingsverslaggewer (op die algemene redaksie

Finalist

  1. 01

    War declared on gangs

    (Sunday Times)
    1. 01
      Nashira Davids
    2. 02
      Buyekezwa Makwabe

Commended

  1. 01

    Blacks know Rugby

    (The Sowetan)

    a three part series

    1. 01
      Malvory Adams

Feature Writing

Winner

  1. 01

    The search for Looksmart

    (The Star)

    Shaun Smillie is a general reporter who works for The Star newspaper. For most of his journalistic career he freelanced for a number of national and international magazines and newspapers. His areas of interest include science, in particular archaeology and environmental issues.  This is his fourth year at The Star.

Finalist

  1. 01

    Plek van die dood

    (Rapport)
    1. 01
      Liezel Steenkamp

Commended

  1. 01

    The man who danced with death

    (The Star)
    1. 01
      Jillian Green
  2. 02

    Tossed by wind, ocean and quotas

    (Weekend Argus)
    1. 01
      Leonie S. Joubert
  3. 03

    Rukkerige spoedballet

    (Beeld)
    1. 01
      Waldimar Pelser
  4. 04

    Jan Bom - waar swaarkry triomfeer

    (Beeld)
    1. 01
      Marida Fitzpatrick

Investigative Journalism

Winner

  1. 01

    Why Frere's babies die

    (Daily Dispatch)
    1. 01
      Chandre Prince
    2. 02
      Ntando Makhubu
    3. 03
      Brett Horner

Finalists

  1. 01

    Staat het geweet eNaTIS sou vou and follow ups

    (Beeld)
    1. 01
      Cobus Coetzee
    2. 02
      Adriaan Basson
  2. 02

    Manto's hospital booze binge

    (Sunday Times)
    1. 01
      Joycelyn Maker
    2. 02
      Megan Power

Commended

  1. 01

    Probe into metal illness factory

    (The Mercury)
    1. 01
      Tony Carnie
    2. 02
      Tony Carnie
  2. 02

    Mynmonopolie se gru-moeras

    (Beeld)
    1. 01
      Elise Tempelhoff

Creative Journalism

Winner

  1. 01

    Don't look down

    (Sunday Times Lifestyle)

    Oliver Roberts, 28, began his career in community papers before becoming a staff writer for Style magazine in 2004. He went down with the ill-fated Style ship in late 2006 and was forced to spend six months of purgatory at a popular women’s publication before Sunday Times Lifestyle saved his life in April 2007.

Commended

  1. 01

    An officer and a gentleman

    (Business Day)
    1. 01
      Michael Bleby
    2. 02
      Mariam Isa

Graphic Journalism

Winner

  1. 01

    Jonathan Shapiro

    (Zapiro Productions)

    Zapiro (aka Jonathan Shapiro) is editorial cartoonist for Mail & Guardian, Sunday Times and Independent Newspapers. Born in Cape Town. Studied architecture. In 1983 became politically active in the UDF. Became cartoonist for South in 1987. Studied on a Fulbright Scholarship at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Has exhibited cartoons internationally and published eleven cartoon collections. Received the Principal Prince Claus Award, first Mondi Shanduka Journalist of the Year Award, two Mondi Shanduka Graphic Journalism Awards, first Vodacom Cartoonist of the Year Award, CNN African Journalist of the Year Sport Category Award, Communicator of the Year Award (Tshwane University), Honorary Sunday Times Alan Paton Literary Award, and Honorary Doctorate (Unitra).

Finalist

  1. 01

    Hanlie Malan

    (Die Burger)

Commended

  1. 01

    Anton Vermeulen

    (Beeld)
  2. 02

    De Wet Moolman

    (Beeld)

Popular Journalism

Commended

  1. 01

    Zuma se 'kondoom' vir goeie geluk

    (Sondag)
    1. 01
      Natascha Jacobsz

News Photographs

Winner

  1. 01

    Hillbrow Flight

    (The Times)

    Alon Skuy(27) embarked on his career as a photographer after completing a course at The Market Photo Workshop in Newtown Johannesburg in 2005. After working as a freelance photographer for The Star and Sunday Independent Newspapers, he was employed as a full time photographer for the Star in December 2006, and later moved to The Times Newspaper. He has been employed there as a full time photographer for close on a year.

Feature Photographs

Winner

  1. 01

    Labour of love

    (Sunday Tribune)

    Sandile Ndlovu, 28, was born in Umlazi, KZN. He is a self taught photographer. He started his career as a freelance photographer at Independent Newspapers in 2001, than three later he was employed as Junior Photographer. He then left and joined Rapport newspaper for five months in  Johannesburg as Senior Photographer. Ndlovu is now re-employed by the Sunday Tribune (KZN) as a Chief Photographer.

Presentation

Winner

  1. 01

    Untitled cover wrap photograph of the Springbok victory and other pages

    (Die Burger)

    Arlene Prinsloo started working at Beeld in 1989, and moved to Rapport in 2000. Since 2004 she has been working at Die Burger in Cape Town.  At all three newspapers she has been involved in typography, and has held the position of typographical editor. Arlene loves expressing news through typography, and thinks a piece of well designed copy can be just as attractive as a very large photograph.

Finalist

  1. 01

    Renthia Bornman

    (Rapport)

Commended

  1. 01

    Andries Gouws

    (Beeld)
  2. 02

    Riana van der Schyff

    (Saturday Star)

Lifetime Achiever

Winner

  1. 01

    Mathatha Tsedu

    Born on the 23rd of June 1952, Mathatha is the editor-in-chief of the City Press.  He is also the former editor of Sunday Times (September 2002 – November 2003), deputy chief executive for the SABC News (July 2001 – August 2002) and he was deputy editor of The Star Newspaper.

    Mathatha holds an Honours Degree in Journalism Studies with the University of Witwatersrand and several journalism courses in South Africa, Kenya, United Kingdom, Belgium, Zimbabwe and Harvard University (USA).

    He is the chairperson of The African Editors Forum (TAEF) and council member of the South African Editors Forum (SANEF).  He was awarded the prestigious Nieman Fellowship in 1996/97 and spent 10 months at Harvard University.  He studied Leadership, Management, Journalism Ethics and General Economics.

    He was awarded the Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism.  He is a member of the MultiChoice Foundation Advisory Board and freelancer for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).  Regular contributor to The World Paper based in Boston UN and published as a supplement to over 50 newspapers around the world.  He also served as a member of the Task Group on Government Communications appointed by the then Deputy President Thabo Mbeki.  Comtask’s recommendations led to the demise of SADC and the creation of GCIS.

Story of the year

Winner

  1. 01

    A series of 32 pages covering Vusi Pikoli and Jackie Selebi.

    (Mail & Guardian)

    This entry represents the fruits of the second year of the Mail & Guardian’s dogged (if we have to say so ourselves) pursuit of the truth about Jackie Selebi, his friend Glenn Agliotti and the organised crime network that had
    congealed around mining boss Brett Kebble before he died.  Investigating this story has been no stroll in the park. Dirty tricks directed at us (but that’s a story for another day) apart, our stories were initially derided, including by some in the media.

    When we started sniffing around Agliotti and the police chief’s relationship during the second half of 2005 – even before Kebble was shot -- we thought we were onto something big. But ever since we published our first set of articles in May 2006, there were those who said we were barking up the wrong tree; that we had taken sides in a territorial war between the DSO (Scorpions) and the police; that we were useful idiots.

    Selebi himself took it a step further this January when he claimed in a court affidavit that a media campaign had been orchestrated against him, adding: “I have received information that members of [the] DSO even went on a so-called ‘bosberaad’ with members of the media, more in particular members from the Mail & Guardian to discuss and structure this campaign against me.”

    Selebi’s statement could not have been further from the truth. Of course we attempted to penetrate the DSO and find out what they knew - we could not call ourselves journalists if we did not try - but we were largely unsuccessful.
    Our investigation had started separately from the DSO’s and our greatest strength lay in the own sources we had cultivated who had direct or indirect contact with the criminal network that was the subject of our interest.

    Where we did find out what the DSO was up to, it tended to be because of the “fishing in the same pond” phenomenon – we and the DSO were talking to the same people because these were the people who mattered. Yet Selebi seems to have fallen for his own spinmeisters’ propaganda, refusing to believe that the media could be any more than a passive tool for interests other than the public interest, or that it could develop its own sources and resources – or indeed that it could investigate.

    Back in May 2006 already, we had plotted the links between Selebi, Agliotti, his associate Clinton Nassif and Kebble; placed Kebble’s murder in the context of this network; and referred to the “contraband” activities that occupied members of the network.

    Bit by bit our reporting has been vindicated. Agliotti and Nassif have turned out to be every bit as significant and nefarious as we portrayed them to be – they have both confessed to a role in Kebble’s “assisted suicide” and in a
    massive drug smuggling operation. And Selebi has been charged …

    We feel vindicated, but more: We have provided swathes of factual backdrop to some of the more pressing issues of our time, not least the ANC succession battle and the related issues of the political manipulation versus the independence of law enforcement.

    1. 01
      Stefaans Brümmer

      Stefaans Brümmer is a Mail & Guardian old hand. A politics and journalism graduate, he wrote for the Cape Argus before joining the M&G at the dawn of democracy. In the late 1990s he worked in television for a while, only to return “home” to work full-time on investigations at the M&G.

    2. 02
      Stephen “Sam” Sole

      Stephen “Sam” Sole has been a journalist since 1986. He served as president of the now dissolved South African Union of Journalists from 1996 to 1998. He has worked for the investigative magazine Noseweek, served as political editor of the Sunday Tribune, an joined the Mail & Guardian as investigative journalist in 2002. He also teaches journalism part-time at the Durban University of Technology

    3. 03
      Zukile Bathandwa Majova

      Zukile Bathandwa Majova, worked as political and investigative reporter at the Mail & Guardian in 2006 and 2007, helping to bridge the all-too-often yawning gap between chronicling the doings of politicians and exposing them. Before joining the M&G, he was a local government and politics reporter at the Mercury in Durban. He is now news editor at YFM.

    4. 04
      Nic Dawes

      Nic Dawes joined the Mail & Guardian in 2004 from the short-lived broadsheet This Day. He divides his time between investigations, reporting on public policy and editing duties. He had previously helped set up the online news service of Vodacom World Online but after the dotcom bubble burst he spent two years in management and consulting.

    5. 05
      Adriaan Basson

      Adriaan Basson joined the Mail & Guardian as an investigative reporter in 2007. He started his journalism career at Beeld newspaper as a crime and courts reporter in 2003 and was one of the founding members of the daily’s investigations unit. He is the recipient of the 2007 inaugural Taco Kuiper award for investigative journalism for a series on corruption, tender fraud and nepotism in South Africa’s Department of Correctional Services.

    6. 06
      Pearlie Joubert

      Pearlie Joubert worked as a journalist at the Vrye Weekblad after graduation in 1989. Some four years later she moved on to news production, researching and directing mainly for British television, making a wide variety of films both locally and in the rest of Africa. She joined the Mail & Guardian two years ago, supplying news and features from Cape Town and collaborating with the investigative team.

    7. 07
      Matuma Letsoalo

      Matuma Letsoalo joined the M&G in 2003 and writes on labour and politics, and collaborates with the investigations team from time to time. In 2004 he won the CNN African Journalist of the Year prize (MKO Abiola Print Journalism Award) and was finalist in the 2003 Mondi Papers Award (investigative category).

Journalist of the Year

Winner

  1. 01

    Jeremy Gordin

    (Sunday Independent)

    Jeremy Gordin is Associate Editor of The Sunday Independent (TSI), The Sunday Tribune and The Weekend Argus. From 2003-05, he was Acting Editor of the Independent News Network (INN), the group’s national news unit, and a group special writer. Before that he was Managing Editor and News Editor of TSI. He has been a journalist since 1976, working as a writer and sub-editor on The Rand Daily Mail, Cape Times, Sunday Express, Financial Mail, and overseas newspapers. In the mid-1990s he was Editor of The Executive and Playboy magazines. Gordin has co-authored two books of investigative journalism: The Infernal Tower (1996) and A Long Night’s Damage (1998).

2007 Award Categories

  1. Hard News
  2. Analysis and Commentary
  3. Feature Writing
  4. Investigative Journalism
  5. Creative Journalism
  6. Graphic Journalism
  7. Popular Journalism
  8. News Photographs
  9. Feature Photographs
  10. Presentation
  11. Lifetime Achiever
  12. Story of the year
  13. Journalist of the Year