New Media dominates Mondi Awards

Insig feature editor Erns Grundling lead the pack by securing the coveted feature-writing category for 'Kent gij dat volk?'. Grundling's undercover account of a rightwing youth survival camp, run by the Volksbrandweg in the Waterberg, opened a can of worms about the rightwing when it was published.

Heralded by many as the equivalent of the 'Best Actor' award at the Oscars, Insig editor Izelle Venter commented that according to the judges, the Features category is the one most journalists dream of winning and the writing has to be outstanding. The judges further stated that Grundling writes with empathy and insight.

In the Photography category, Aubrey Jonsson's stylised portraits of Paralympics sprinter Oscar Pistorius, "Die Vlieende Oscar", which appeared in the May 2006 issue of Insig, was judged a "clear winner'"

Furthermore, Kay Karriem of Insig won the Commentary and Critique category for 'Aanstap, Bruines,' a controversial and empathetic perspective on attitudes towards change and affirmative action within the country's coloured community.

Johan Bakkes secured the fourth Nib as winner of the Travel, Sport and Leisure category, for his breathtaking 'Hel Toe', an account of his journey to the lowest point on the African continent.

Woolworths' Taste temptation

Also in the New Media stable, Woolworths Taste's consulting food editor Maranda Engelbrecht and fashion guru Jackie Burger won this year's Fashion category for Taste. The award was presented for 'Temptation', one in a series of food-meets-fashion features entitled 'Food and Mood' that appear in each issue of the magazine.

Engelbrecht's Mondi comes hot on the heels of her recent international Gourmet Voice Award. Presented annually at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, these awards honour the gourmet media from around the world (TV, publishing, press, radio and Internet) who have made the biggest contribution to the promotion of the culinary arts and the appreciation of wine.

Essence of creativity

"In Food and Mood, my objective is to inspire and cross the boundaries a little," says Engelbrecht. "The recipes are simple, but the mix of flavours and the styling with fashion elements are new. The combination of talented fashionistas such as Jackie and photographers Gerda Genis and Micky Hoyle, plus the clever copy and creative layout from the editorial team, add to the story's success. When the work is done, it brings pleasure to me and hopefully to the consumer - that's the essence of creativity!"
New Media has won more than 40 highly acclaimed industry awards since 1997.