Announced late last week were the four category winners of the SAB Environmental Media of the Year Awards for 2011, as well as the Nick Steele Memorial Award for the SAB Environmentalist of the Year 2011, which went to Yolan Friedmann, CEO of Endangered Wildlife Trust.
Winners
- Broadcast - Winner - Mike Vincent (50/50). Merit Winners: Phillip Lennon (50/50); Liz Fish (Carte Blanche); Nicolene Troll and Julie Laurenz (Carte Blanche)
- Print and New Media - Winner - Sheree Bega (Independent Newspapers). Merit Winners: Ingi Salgado (Business Report); Sipho Masondo (The Times); Tiara Walters (Sunday Times); Julian Rademeyer (Media24 Investigations and Beeld)
- Photography - Merit Winner - Karin Schermbrucker (Wild)
- The Magqubu Ntombela and Ian Player Cub Award (for journalists with under five years' experience) Winner: Richelle Seton-Rogers (SABC Radio News); Merit Winner: Kristen van Schie (The Star)
By: Karin Schermbrucker
click to enlarge"The judges were all in agreement that this has been the best selection of entries we've had for nearly 20 years," says Robyn Chalmers, head of media and communications for SAB. "Apart from recognising and rewarding excellence in the field
of environmental journalism, these awards exist to remind the media their stories are at times the only way we can ascertain the state of both 'green' and 'brown' issues in South Africa today.
"We'd like to congratulate all our winners and thank our judges and auditors, Grant Thornton, for helping us evolve this competition and keeping it relevant," concludes Chalmers.
Karin Schermbrucker
Commenting on Karin Schermbrucker's win, Wild magazine was thrilled that the awards have recognised her for her pictures of game capture. This is the first year there has been a separate category for photography and Schermbrucker was the only photographer to be awarded.
Commissioned by the magazine to provide a behind-the-scenes look at game capture, she spent a week with SANParks' Veterinary Wildlife Services in Mokala National Park. The results were a 10-page feature in the Summer 2010/2011 issue of the magazine.
To view the photographic timeline of the game capture operation, go to www.wildcard.co.za, click on 'Blogs' and select 'Photography'.
