Awards for corporate communication publications

Publications were judged in terms of writing, communication, as well as design and photography and Mercedes, external magazine for Mercedes SA, produced by New Media was the overall winner in the competition

In fifth place was NOW!, Nedbank, published by Words'Worth Publishing, fourth was Sanlam's staff magazine, Sandaba, third was Contact, City of Cape Town and Hip2B², Mark Shuttleworth's BSquare Communications, entered by New Media was the runner-up.

Aletta Kruger, industrial editor at the City of Cape Town was named Editor of the Year.

The best internal newsletter for 2009 was xxplore, Exxaro, entered by Words'Worth Publishing. It also produced NOW!, the best external newsletter, Nedbank's Prime Club, best external magazine with a smaller budget, as well as Small Capital Africa, the best one-off publication. Blue Apple Publishing entered Theba Bank's Annual Report that came out tops in that section. Santam's essence was awarded best internal magazine.

The most improved publication was SA Express's Indwe, entered by TCB and the best magazine cover title went to Your Game, Vodacom, entered by the SAIL Group Ltd.

Tshwane University of Technology won the award for the best electronic newsletter with Heita. African Motion Picture Company produced five finalists in the corporate DVD section and received top honours for the Childline Adult and Child DVD, while Standard Bank won the best DVD newsletter title for their staff DVD, Blue Wave.

Good life shows merit

TCB Publishing was delighted when two of its publications were honoured at the awards; abouTime, 1time Airline's vibrant monthly in-flight magazine, received a Merit award for Excellence in Design, indicating a 75% rating in the category of Design. The Fiat Alfa Romeo Group SA's quarterly publication Dolce Vita also won Merit awards for Excellence in Design, Excellence in Writing, as well as Excellence in Communication. These awards indicate that the up-market motoring publication has a 75% rating in each of the respective categories. In addition, Dolce Vita was a finalist in both the Best Design and the Best External Magazine Category A competitions, indicating that in both of these categories, Dolce Vita was one of the top five publications entered.

"TCB Publishing is driven by a commitment to blend our corporate clients' core brand communication with superior editorial and creative content to create well-read, entertaining and informative publications for their key market segments. To be so recognised by the local publishing industry is an achievement that validates that commitment and makes it even stronger," comments TCB chief operating officer, Bernie Hellberg.

Soaring finalist

Indwe, SA Express Airlines' monthly in-flight magazine won a variety of awards, including Most Improved Publication category, merit awards for Excellence in Design and Excellence in Communication, which indicates a 75% rating in each of the respective categories. In addition, it was a finalist in the Best External Magazine Category A as well in the Best Communication Category, resulting in the publication being in the top five of each category.

Produced by Siyaya Publishing, a black-owned publishing house, the magazine takes readers on exciting and informative journeys, providing them with a highly visual, multi-dimensional look at the regions served by SA Express Airways.

"This is indeed a wonderful achievement and indicates our devotion to the magazine," says publisher Deidre Theron-Loots. "Siyaya Publishing is a company that is small enough to offer a personalised service to clients, yet our proven track record of reaching a very exclusive, sought-after readership, and attracting top advertisers to our publications, makes us a force to be reckoned with in the industry, which these Awards confirm."

Spirit of the awards

African Spirit Media's Rivoningo, the new quarterly mouthpiece of the South African Police Services won a Merit award for Excellence in Design, indicating a 75% rating in the category of design. Its other publication, The Blue Train won Merit awards for Excellence in Writing and Excellence in Communication, again indicating a 75% rating in the respective categories. In addition, the magazine won the award for 2nd Runner Up for Most Improved Magazine.

"We are delighted that Rivoningo has been recognised by the publishing industry so soon after its launch," says Noeleen Maholwana-Sangqu of African Spirit Media, a black- and female-owned publishing company. "The dedication that the men and women of the SAPS demonstrate to their organisation and the people of South Africa is an inspiration, and makes us proud to be associated with Rivoningo to get their good news stories across."