SABC News, in partnership with the Media Development Diversity Agency (MDDA), National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Association of Christian Broadcasters (ACB) and the Independent Forum for Religious Broadcasting (IFRB) is proud to announce the first annual 2008 Community Media Awards winners in each of the following categories:
Best Presenter
Sanelisiwe Fortunate Cele – Radio Khwezi
Best Producer
Glen Ubisi – Radio Bushbuckridge
Excellence in Journalism
Rhode Michelle Marshall – Bush Radio
Excellence in Broadcasting in Indigenous Languages
Angeline Marakoane – East Rand Stereo
Excellence in Developmental Journalism
Azhar Vardi – Radio Islam
Excellence in In-Depth News Coverage and Current Affairs
Celeste Langa – Bush Radio
Excellence in Investigative Journalism
Chanel September – Bush Radio
Best Overall Winner
Sanelisiwe Fortunate Cele – Radio Khwezi
The winners of each category will receive R10,000 and a trophy; and the overall winner will win R20, 000, a certificate and a trophy.
Bheki Khumalo, Chairperson of the News Sub Committee in the SABC Board said, “The SABC congratulates all the finalists and the winners of the respective categories. We look forward to a bigger and better round of entries in the year ahead. We are committed to enhancing journalism as a career in the South African public and are encouraging community media news journalists to use this opportunity and take part in the annual Community Media Awards in the future.’
Judges for the awards were drawn from the media sector and they are:
Libby Lloyd – currently self-employed and works on a range of projects including media and development issues and policy development
Pheladi Gwangwa – Radio 702 Station Manager
Joe Mjwara – Group Executive Strategic Relations: Business Connexion
Mapule Mbhalati – Head: Radio News SABC
Criselda Kananda – MD: Positive Talk Services & Metro FM Talk Host
Lawrence Ubisi – Programme Manager: Munghana Lonene FM
Franklin Huizies – CEO: National Community Radio Forum
The Community Media Awards ceremony is the first of many to come and is a platform that will be used to reward and recognise the excellent work done by South African journalists in community radio. In so doing SABC News and its partners MDDA, NCRF, NAB, CAB and IRFB strives to encourage the community media to go beyond the call of duty and produce news and current affairs that meets the highest standard.
It is expected that the awards will promote professionalism in the Community Media and build capacity in the respective areas of focus that will contribute to the growth and development of the media.
Khumalo continued, “We are very excited and dedicated to nurturing talent in the journalism industry. We believe that through the Community Media Awards a high caliber of authentic South African news leaders will be bred and their work will continue to shine locally and globally.’
Although this year’s event focused mainly on broadcasting, it is hoped that in the years ahead this event will grow into a broad Community Media Award that will include print and other electronic mediums such as television and the internet.
When the information submitted by various radio stations and station managers was judged against the criteria, the judges felt that they would not be in a position to make a fair decision regarding winners in the categories for Best Radio Station and Best Station Manager.
The judges of the Community Media Awards had this to say, “Unfortunately there will not be an award for the Best Radio Station and Best Radio Station Manager. The information that was requested for the stations to send did not enable the judges to judge on the criteria given. The information was more formative than substantive. Therefore we could not make a fair and objective judgment.
We thank and appreciate the effort from all radio stations and apologize for the inconvenience! This in no way is a reflection on the ability of any of those that entered.’
