Mondi Newspaper 2003 Award winners shine...

The awards recognise journalistic skill and talent while encouraging excellence in the various disciplines of South African newspaper journalism. Stories that made the grade featured political scandals, the Hefer Commission and dying Aids sufferers, in the following categories: News Writing, Feature Writing, Investigative Journalism, Creative and Opinionated Journalism, Photographic and Presentation, with an eighth category "The South African Story of the Year". The category winners each received a R10 000 cash prize, a prized Mondi golden nib and a framed certificate. Finalists received a framed certificate.

Berger, panel convenor and head of the Department of Media Studies and Journalism at Rhodes University, used his podium opportunity to launch a scathing attack on South African journalism and the editors and writers who have disgraced it with their unethical behaviour, as well as the media owners who continue to publish them. Several high-profile editors present were no doubt squirming in their seats as he used 'toilet humour' to illustrate how editors and journalists continue to pass the buck of accountability in ethics in journalism. "Journalists are under threat from themselves ... ethics is about what you can get away with."

He admitted that there were many factors such as the budget cuts squeezing newsrooms, editors who blamed trainers, trainers who blamed education and everyone who blamed the usual suspects: the public relations industry, and so on, but that the problem with all this buck passing was that it tarnished the entire industry.

"It is down to every journalist and editor to stop the rot," he said, or the public would drift away, treating newspapers as the entertainment they were becoming. He also warned newspaper editors that they were facing a very real threat from the Internet, TV, and other multi-media options such as cellphones."

But on a more positive note, Berger did congratulate all the winners on the night: "The judges were heartened by the increased entries to the competition for the 2003 year. It indicates that many journalists feel proud of, and committed to, their craft. In addition, that they respect the credibility of this competition and the assessment of the panel. However, while there were some excellent entries, many still have a way to go. Consequently, and due to the high standards maintained by the judges, some categories have only a winning entry, and no finalists. A number of commendations were nevertheless made."

All the winners:
1. News Writing: Estelle Ellis and Jeremy Gordin from The Star with, "Pressure mounts on Nguka's accusers", a series on the Hefer Commission. There were no finalists, however, Clinton van der Berg from the Sunday Times and Vuyisile Ngesi from the Diamond Fields Advertiser each received a commendation.

2. Feature Writing: The Star's Nalisha Kalideen was named winner with "A fall of sparrows", a three-part series on the lives of two women living in a hospice. The finalists in this category were Fred Khumalo (This Day) and Lizel Steenkamp (Beeld).

3. Investigative Journalism: The Mail and Guardian's Stefaans Brümmer and Sam Sole took first prize for their in-depth series of articles on the major South African oil purchase scandal, "Mega oil scandal rocks SA". Wisani wa ka Ngobeni (Mail and Guardian) and Matuma Letsoalo (Mail and Guardian) were finalists.

4. Creative and Opinionated category: Ruth Helen Walne of the Daily News secured the winning spot for "The Dying Man", a series of three articles on the death of an AIDS-sufferer and its effects on herself and her parents. Finalists in this category were Jeremy Gordin (The Star) and Willemien Brümmer (Die Burger).

5. Graphical Journalism: Jonathan Shapiro, creator of Zapiro, for his series of cartoons on an array of political and social issues. There were no finalists. Anton Vermeulen (Beeld) received a commendation.

6. Photographic: Rian Horn of This Day for his series of images on the Hefer Commission. Debbie Yazbek (The Star) and Lisa Skinner (Beeld) were finalists.

7. Presentation: Arlene Prinsloo of Rapport clinched first place for her entry, "Die Groot Uitskud van Afrikaner-organisasies". Andries Gouws (Beeld) was a finalist and Johan du Plessis (Diamond Fields Advertiser) was commended.

8. The winner in the special category of "The South African Story of the Year" was Nalisha Kalideen of The Star for her Feature Writing winning entry "A Fall of Sparrows".

President of NASA, Trevor Ncube noted: "While the standard of the entries varied considerably, the judges were unanimous that the winning entries stood out in the quality of their writing, design and layout, or photography and deserved recognition in their respective categories. We trust that 2004 will be a year where editorial departments reflect on the standard of journalism within their specific disciplines and will encourage editors to dedicate time in developing journalists to ensure that standards are improved and maintained and that readers are engaged through accurate and intellectually stimulating journalism."

A total of 692 entries were received in this year's Mondi Paper Newspaper Awards. The judging panel included Berger, Portia Kobue (news editor for Kaya FM), Ruth Seopedi Motau (freelance photographer), Johan de Wet (former editor of Rapport), Ken Owen (former Sunday Times editor) and Joe Thloloe (editor of news at e-tv).