Formerly the Mondi Paper Newspaper Awards, the competition - now in its fourth year - is sponsored by newly formed black economic empowerment entity, Mondi Shanduka Newsprint, and is the only newspaper journalism award to be endorsed by the Newspaper Association of South Africa (NASA).
"The name change does not affect the competition in any way. We continue to recognise journalists who exhibit quality, talent and passion in the various fields of newspaper journalism," says Peter Lynch, CEO of Mondi Shanduka Newsprint. "The mandate of our judging panel is no different - to seek out South Africa's greatest newspaper journalists of the past year and to give them due recognition."
Guy Berger, convenor of the judging panel and head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, noted, "This competition is for those newspaper writers, designers and photojournalists who take high standards very seriously."
He encouraged all journalists taking pride in their performance to enter, saying that they would get themselves benchmarked against their peers by a panel of top quality and highly credible judges. "To be rated best in the whole of South Africa is an achievement that the winners never forget," he added.
The Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards are evolving with the needs of the industry that it serves. "To this end, we have expanded and adjusted the categories of the awards to encompass more diversity and breadth of genres of newspaper journalism," explains Berger.
Journalists are invited to enter into the following categories: Breaking News; Analysis, Follow-ups and Commentary; Feature Writing; Investigative Journalism; Creative Journalism; Graphical Journalism; News Photographs; Feature Photographs and Presentation (Layout and Design).
No entries are accepted in the 10th category - South African Story of the Year. Judges will instead select a winner from the range of entries in the other categories, looking for agenda-setting and original journalism that contributes to society by giving new insight into the changing character of South Africa.
The Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards welcome Sarah Crowe, media officer at UNICEF, Sbu Mngadi, chief corporate and strategy officer at Cell C, and financial journalist Ethel Hazelhurst to the panel. They join Berger, Portia Kobue, news editor for Kaya FM, Johan de Wet (former editor of Rapport), Zubeida Jaffer (freelance writer and former head of Independent Newspaper's parliamentary bureau), Peter Magubane (renowned veteran South African photojournalist), Ken Owen (former Sunday Times editor) and Joe Thloloe (head of news at e-tv).
The competition is open to all newspaper journalists employed on a full-time or freelance basis by a South African newspaper. Entries must consist of the journalist's own work which has been published in South African daily or weekly newspapers between 1 January 2004 and 1 January 2005. The closing date for entries is 11 February 2005.
Winners and finalists will be honoured at an awards ceremony on 20 April 2005 at the Sandton Sun. The finalists in each category will receive a framed certificate.
Call for entries booklets (print and electronic PDF) are available from NASA. Contact Cathy Pestana on Tel: +27 +11 721-3200/1/2 or .
The breakdown of the categories are as follows:
1. BREAKING NEWS
Journalism that is about an unfolding or recent event, typically written to tight deadlines and under pressure. The writing should be fresh, comprehensive, accurate and have high quality graphic description and pointed news salience.
2. ANALYSIS, FOLLOW-UPS & COMMENTARY
This category entails articles that take a deeper look at a current news issue. They are distinct from breaking news, general feature articles and creative journalism. Enterprise news and backgrounder articles may be considered here, alongside news analysis and comment. Characteristics such as multi-sourcing and multi-perspectival views will be considered. Logical structure, depth of insight and quality of writing are also important.
3. FEATURE WRITING
Journalism that has entailed enterprise, investigation and persistence in gathering the information and which shows skill in telling the story. Feature writing may cover profiles, interviews, travel, trends etc. Quality of language, narrative skill, story structure and descriptive power of the features will also be considered in judging.
4. INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM
This is generally in-depth journalism resulting in scoops. Consideration will be given to research, perseverance, courage and innovation.
5. CREATIVE JOURNALISM
This journalism covers columns, creative writing and humorous pieces. Columns should be clear, engaging, persuasive - arguing a cogent case. Readability, interpretation and relevance to readers will be considered. Creative and humorous writing is entertaining without becoming pure fiction. Attention will be given to the use of language, wit and cross-cultural sensitivity.
6. GRAPHICAL JOURNALISM
Cartoons, comic strips and info-graphics count here. Images should be pithy, vivid and pointed. Creativity and cleverness in concept, quality of imagery or drawing, and simplicity and topicality will be considered. The message should make a point in a distinctive way that photographs or text alone could not do. Entrants should motivate why their work scores on these criteria.
7. NEWS PHOTOGRAPHS
Pictures of fast-breaking or spot-news comprise this category. Excellence in composition, lighting, action and other photographic qualities will be considered. The judges will assess both the original image and how it lent itself to being presented, and will therefore require a copy of both the original and the page on which it appeared.
8. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHS
Feature pictures that tell a story and which demonstrate reporting initiative are assessed under this category. Excellence in composition, lighting, action and other photographic qualities will be considered. The judges will assess both the original image and how it lent itself to being presented, and will therefore require a copy of both the original and the page on which it appeared.
9. PRESENTATION (LAYOUT AND DESIGN)
Content and headline treatment, the use of photographs and graphics and overall design will be assessed for clarity, readability and aesthetic attractiveness. The treatment as a whole will be assessed as journalism.
10. SOUTH AFRICAN STORY OF THE YEAR
No entries are accepted for this category; instead the judges will select a winner from the range of entries in the other categories. This agenda-setting and original journalism contributes to society by giving new insight into the changing character of South Africa. Evidence of impact - such as changes and reforms resulting from the work - will be taken in account.
