Mondi Magazine Awards finalists announced

"This year's top contenders are distinguished by their vigorous, colourful writing, a lively spirit of enquiry, fresh and zesty perspectives on contemporary life and society, and a grand and breathtaking visual flair," says journalist and panel convener Gus Silber. "Choosing the winners was a process even more tortuous and fraught with debate than usual. Our thanks to all the entrants for raising the standard and making our job so challenging and demanding."

The annual magazine journalism awards - held by the Magazine Publishers Association of South Africa and title sponsor Mondi Business Paper - this year received 911 entries from magazine journalists, columnists, designers and photographers from 101 different titles, 37 of which were new titles or had not entered the previous year's awards.

Silber was assisted in the judging process by Dion Chang, journalist and trends consultant; Alex Dodd, journalist, editor, and part-time journalism lecturer at Wits University; Sue Grant-Marshall, journalist and author; Fred Khumalo, Sunday Times Insight and Opinion editor and columnist; Joe Khumalo, journalist; Kim Penstone, magazine editor and media commentator; Joe Thloloe, journalist and chairman of the South African National Editors Forum; and De Waal Venter, critic and author.

In the running for a share of the R140 000 prize money, a Mondi Magazine Awards Golden Nib and a framed certificate will be:

Business and industry

Kevin Bloom: 'War Talk', The Media
Stephan Hofstatter: 'Land Reform: Time to Mend Fences', Financial Mail
Ivo Vegter: 'Platinum Royalty', Maverick
Irma Venter: 'Power Hungry', Engineering News

Health and wellness

Justine Joseph: 'What diabetes can do for you', Shape
Pearlie Joubert: 'Deadly Silence', Fairlady
David Moseley: 'Anatomy of a Circumcision', Men's Health
Laura Tyrer: 'Bird Flu Alarm', Engineering News

Beauty

Ayanda Bikitsha: 'Defining African Beauty', True Love
Megan Lindow: 'Positively Gorgeous', Marie Claire
Shannon Smith: 'Message on the Bottle', Fairlady

At home

Kerstin Eser: 'New Vintage', Elle Decoration
Tina-Marie Malherbe: 'Voila Henri', Visi
Liezel Norval-Kruger: 'Nostalgiese Plaaskersfees', Rooi Rose
Laureen Rossouw: 'Soul Food', House and Leisure

Foresight

Rian Malan: 'Slimjan onder die Adboere', Insig
Ronel Nel: 'In die Klas', Insig
Jocelyn Newmarch: 'Turning Townships into Suburbs', The Property Magazine
Gillian Warren-Brown: 'Spin a Little Yarn', Popular Mechanics

Commentary and critique

Kay Karriem: 'Aanstap, Bruines', Insig
Jean Meiring: 'Die Ewige Eierdans', Insig
Henk Rossouw: 'Pieter Hugo review', Art South Africa
Ivo Vegter: 'Wasted Efforts', Maverick

Fashion

Jenny Andrew: 'Dial SA: Fashion', Wanted
Robert Bell: 'Ladies, Waiting', Style Magazine
Jackie Burger and Maranda Engelbrecht: 'Temptation', Taste
Kirsty Stoltz: 'Dirty Pretty Things', FHM

Visual impact

Elzilda Becker: Dekat covers, Dekat
Christopher Lee-Jones: 'Anatomy of a Circumcision', Men's Health
Justin Plunkett: 'Jake White & Mark Shuttleworth', GQ
Anton Sassenberg: 'Neo-oude-doos', Insig

Travel, sport and leisure

Johan Bakkes: 'Hel Toe', Insig
Neil Manthorp: 'Cold War', The Wisden Cricketer
Dana Snyman: ''n Droom van Chroom', Weg
Sam Woulidge: 'Love Italy', Taste

Columns

Frik Els: 'Big Spender', Finweek
Dave Pepler: 'Liewe Aarde', insig
Bruce Pinnock: 'Back of the Pack', Runner's World
Josef Talotta: 'The Back Page', Style Magazine

Photography

Melanie Cleary: 'Die Groot Hunkering', Dekat
Aubrey Jonsson: 'Die Vlieënde Oscar', Insig
Justin Polkey: 'Hit Men', Top Billing
Lefty Shivambu: 'Spitting Mad', Kick-Off

Profile

Michelle Constant: 'On the Money', SL Magazine
Stephan Hofstatter: 'The Timekeeper', Men's Health Best Life
Koos Kombuis: 'Melktert om Middernag', Insig
Gillian Rennie: 'Raising Thabo', Fairlady

Reportage

Stephan Hofstatter: 'Platteland Plunder', Farmer's Weekly
Adam Levin: 'Fashion by the Sea', Style Magazine
Chris Louw: 'A Farmer's Fight Against Mysterious Cattle Ailments', Farmer's Weekly
Dylan Muhlenberg: 'Talking Dirty', GQ

Features

Karin Brynard: 'Sameswerings, doodskis-rituele, duister geheime', Insig
Erns Grundling: 'Kent gij dat Volk?', Insig
Dylan Muhlenberg: 'Cuffed', SL Magazine
Grant Warren: 'The Rage Inside Me', GQ