2008 Corporate Publication Competition winners

Words'Worth Publishing produced a variety of winning publications, with Prime Club (Nedbank) receiving the award for best writing, xxplore (Exxaro) winning the trophy for the best internal newsletter, Small Capital (Standard Bank) winning the trophy for the best external newsletter and Prime Club (Nedbank) being awarded best external magazine on a smaller budget. Words'Worth Publishing also produced the best once-off publication - Small Capital Omnibus - and the best annual report for the National Research Foundation.

“Our performance this year proves that long-term relationships with clients enable us to add immense value to their business,” says Ingrid Staude-Griesel, managing member of Words'Worth Publishing. “We have been producing award-winning work for some of these clients since 1993 and despite being ‘part of the family' we relish each chance to inject fresh insight and creative approaches that make their messages clearer, their readers more involved, and their publications more effective.”

Good run

Cape Town-based New Media also had a good run, with its titles The Pinnacle and Mercedes receiving third and second place for the overall best corporate publication. Mercedes was also named best external magazine with a larger budget.

Old Mutual's staff magazine Amicus was awarded best internal magazine and also achieved the most marks in communication, overall. The best designed publication for 2008 was Santam Focus. Distell's Brandcrafters' Bulletin received the award for the most improved publication.

Comments Phumlani Malinga, internal communications manager at Old Mutual, “As an internal communications team we have felt bold enough to push beyond boundaries knowing that we had the company's support. The tone and feel of internal communications at Old Mutual has become more about the people in the company and their role in Old Mutual's success.”

The National Zoological Gardens won the award for the best electronic newsletter with Zoo e-News. The African Motion Picture Company produced six finalists in the corporate DVD section and received top honours for the Coca-Cola Swaziland DVD.

This year, close on 130 publications were entered and the judges felt that the standard was higher than ever before. There was also a marked improvement in many publications, whichwere judged in terms of writing, communication, as well as design and photography in the following categories: Newspapers, Internal magazines, External magazines (Category A, higher budget external magazines and Category B, external magazines with a lower budget); Internal newsletters, External newsletters, Once-off publications, Annual reports, DVDs, Electronic publications; and Editor of the year. This year, a trophy was introduced for the best publication with a small budget.