The decision to provide generous prizes is born out of Vodacom's commitment to the power of communication and its belief in the crucial contribution journalists make to the betterment of society.
Total cash prizes of R450,000 will be on offer in the Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2002 competition. This includes a grand prize of R100,000 in cash for South Africa's most outstanding journalist.
The winner of the grand prize and the title Vodacom Journalist of the Year, will be announced at an Award Ceremony at Vodaworld in Midrand, Gauteng on Saturday, November 2, 2002.
Other cash prizes totalling R350,000.00 will go to 50 other prize-winners in this new competition which aims to carve its name among the most prestigious journalism awards on offer.
Journalists have until 31 July 2002 to enter the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award 2002, and submissions must be material broadcast or published between 1 January 2001 and 30 June 2002.
"Vodacom is offering these generous rewards in recognition of the significant role played by journalists in a changing world and a changing country. This new awards programme will reach right across the length and breadth of South Africa and across all forms of media to find the work which epitomises the excellence of South African journalism, "said Joan Joffe, Vodacom's Group Executive -Corporate Affairs.
"In a fast changing world it is important to recognise the contributions made by journalists in print, radio, photography and television in South Africa. The Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award is a national initiative aimed at honouring outstanding journalists who report with insight and clarity in the face of political, social or economic pressures," said Joffe.
An independent judging panel comprising some of the country's best known and respected academics and former media personalities will adjudicate the awards and the results will be audited by De Loitte & Touche.
The judging panel, which was convened by Phil Molefe, head of SABC Africa, consists of Professor Derek Keats, University of the Western Cape; Professor Lizette Rabe, University of Stellenbosch; Anthea Garman, Rhodes University; Professor Anton Harber, University of the Witwatersrand; Dr Johann de Wet, University of the Free State; Rashid Seria, former newspaper editor; Harry Mashabela, veteran journalist; Rich Mkhondo, former journalist and head of Corporate Communications at SAA; Mary Papayya, media consultant; Collin Nxumalo, former journalist; Mike Siluma, former editor; Advocate Robin Sewlal of ML Sultan in Kwa Zulu Natal; Themba Hadebe, photographer Associated Press; Judge Mathilda Masipa, former journalist; Dr Tawane Kupe, University of the Witwatersrand; and Professor Johannes Froneman of Potchefstroom University.
The Grand Prize of R100, 000.00 will be awarded to the entrant whose individual piece or body of work merits the title: "Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2002". This person will be chosen from regional category winners who will all attend the national Award Ceremony on Saturday, 2 November 2002.
This is a competition for journalists working in all sectors of the media: Print, Radio, Television or Photography. Categories for entry are: Television - News, Television - Feature, Radio - News, Radio - Feature, Print - News, Print - Feature, On-line reporting, Specialist areas e.g. health, environment, education, tourism and sport, and a Photographic category. Entry is open to all South African journalists working for South African media organisations to submit material published or broadcast between 1 January 2001 and 30 June 2002.
The competition aims to attract entries from throughout the South African journalist community. Entries should be submitted through five Vodacom regions that cover the whole country. Each region is named for the city forming the centre of that geographical region.
Johannesburg (Southern and Northern regions)
Bloemfontein (Central Region)
Cape Town (Western Region)
Port Elizabeth (Eastern Region)
Durban (KwaZulu-Natal)
There will be a winner in each category from each region. Each regional winner will be given a certificate and a cash prize of R5, 000.00 and will automatically be entered for the national competition.
Each regional winner who is not in the Gauteng area will be flown to Johannesburg to attend the National Award Ceremony at Vodaworld on 2 November 2002. Each national category winner will walk away with a R10,000 cash prize as well.
In addition there will be a special "Editor's Choice" prize awarded to South Africa's most promising journalist. Judges will make their selection from nominations by editors and news editors throughout the country. These entries must include examples of work and a motivation of the nomination of a journalist who has been in the business for up to five years. This winner will be flown to Wales where he or she will receive three-months training at the Thompson Foundation. Both the Editor's Choice winner and the editor who nominated him or her will be flown to Johannesburg for the ceremony on 2 November.
