Liza Albrecht wins 2010 Women in the Media

Liza Albrecht

"I didn't expect it. This is a big surprise and it is wonderful being in the room full of women," Albrecht said emotionally, as e.tv's Sindi Mabe, 702's Redi Direko, True Love's Sbu Mpungose, 3rd Degree's Debra Patta, Sowetan's Khanyi Nkosi and Independent Newspapers' Agnes Peter looked on.

"Salute all the women"

"I am very pleased that there are awards like these in this country. I salute all the women out there and I accept this victory on their behalf," Albrecht, who beat Direko, Irna van Zyl and Katy Katopodis for the award, added.

Media24-owned Rapport is said to be the biggest selling Afrikaans Sunday newspaper in South Africa, apparently boasting the third-highest circulation across all newspapers.

Albrecht regrets that there's still a group of mostly older people who make noise and feel threatened that the Afrikaans language is dying. "But, if I look at my teenage son, who is also Afrikaans, language is not an issue for him. My generation has a tendency to stereotype and turn issues into moments."

Redi Direko, Katy Katepodis, Robyn Farrell (1st for Women Insurance), Liza Albrecht (Winner) and Irna van Zyl

Rising star

Cape Argus news editor Natasha Joseph won the Rising Star Award, presented by last year's winner Mpungose, the former Bona editor. Other past Rising Star Award winners include 702 presenter Direko (2008), Siki Mgabadeli, then CNBC presenter (2007) and Tembisa Gebeda, then SABC presenter (2006).

Joseph, a former Rhodes University graduate and Cape Times and Big Issue writer, 'worked' in newsrooms since she was 10-year-old, shadowing her father, Raymond Joseph, a seasoned journalist.

Albrecht joins the list of past winners, which include star journalists such as Pheladi Gwangwa (2008), Radio 702 station manager; Patricia Scholtemeyer (2007), CEO of M-Net; Ferial Haffajee (2006), then editor of the Mail & Guardian; Libby Lloyd (2005), then CEO of the Media Development and Diversity Agency; and Patta (2009), then eNews group editor-in-chief.

Kate Turkington, Robyn Farrell (1st for Women Insurance) and Barbara Ludman

Two outstanding media personalities

The 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award was shared by two outstanding media personalities, Barbara Ludman, whose media career expands over 35 years, and Kate Turkington, who is well known for her 'Believe it or not' talk show on Radio 702 and 567 Cape Talk.

The competition is an initiative of Wag the Dog Publisher's The Media magazine and has been sponsored by 1st for Women insurance brokers. The company's MD, Robyn Farrell, said 1st for Women has already donated R11 million to women-related causes in SA.

The competition's judges include Max du Preez, Libby Llyod and City Press editor-in-chief Haffajee.

Images courtesy of Debbie Yazbek/Stone Soup PR