MDDA-Sanlam Local Media Awards finalists announced

A total of 89 finalists have been selected from the 750 entries received for the 2013 Awards, with 64 for print and 24 in the broadcast section.

The finalists announced today exclude the following:

• The winner of the Rantho-Letsebe Award for Radio conferred in honour of Tshepo Rantho and Harry Mtshana Letsebe. Rantho and Letsebe were two of the pioneers of community media who, among other outstanding contributions, were at the forefront of the initial process leading to the Community Media 2000 Conference in 1995 and played a role in the development of the MDDA Act of 2002 and the MDDA Regulations;
  
• The winner of the Alet Roux Medal which is awarded to the most promising newcomer in the print section; and
  
• Entrants who receive special commendations from the judges in recognition of their efforts but do not win an award in their categories.

The winners will be announced at a gala event to present the Awards on Friday, May 23 at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.

Says Sanlam's Head of Group Communications, Mr Ainsley Moos: "Sanlam and the MDDA congratulate the finalists and express our gratitude to all the journalists and media organisations that support these awards by entering for the various categories.

"We recognise that the healthy competition and the success of the Awards are sustained by the enthusiastic participation and commitment to the Awards by the community media across South Africa. In return, we remain committed to providing the resources and the platform for these important Awards."

Acknowledging the judges,the CEO of the MDDA, Mr Lumko Mtimde says: "We have secured a great team of experienced individuals for the two panels of judges and we are also grateful to them for the sterling job they continue to do to ensure that there is rigorous and fair adjudication of the entries.

"These two teams give selflessly of their time and expertise and we acknowledge the very important role they play in maintaining the integrity of the Awards and providing feedback that is so critical for the advancement of community media in our country."

Mtimde and Moos said they looked forward to presenting the winners and the two sponsors, Sanlam and the MDDA were currently busy preparing for a significant celebration of the best in community journalism on May 23.

The finalists are listed below.