The bank’s boss and former Treasury Director General Lungisa Fuzile presented the awards, his first in 2018, since ascending to the position.
The evening belonged to Bongani Fuzile of Daily Dispatch, who was named for Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalist of the Year.
Former Muslim News Editor and renowned Writer and Poet James Matthews was named the Allan Kirkland Soga Lifetime Achiever Award (Category 17) while; The Citizen photographer, Jacques Nelles, was named Upcoming/Rising Star (Category 15) for his Picture of Parachute “The moon walk”.
The Awards, which recognise newspaper excellence in advertising, printing and production, layout and typography as well as the balanced use of pictures and graphics, include the Frewin Award, the McCall Award and the Joel Mervis Award.
The Frewin Award, which recognises urban daily newspapers with a circulation above 40 000, went to Die Burger with Beeld the runner-up. A Commended went to the Daily Sun.
Mail and Guardian was awarded the McCall Award, which honours urban daily newspapers with a circulation of 40 000 or less. The Witness was the runner-up and Pretoria News took a Commended.
The Joel Mervis Award recognises urban weekly newspapers irrespective of their circulation and a joint award went to Rapport and City Press. Runner-up is Naweek Beeld with Sunday Sun taking a Commended.
Commenting on the awards, Convener of judges, Clive Loxton, says the awards recognise a quest for excellence. “They recognise craftsmanship, attention to detail and ‘going the extra mile. We commend the shareholders for their bravery and not inconsiderable investment; in both time and money, to produce a result South Africa can be proud of.” He adds that the competition was very fierce in all three categories.
‘I’d like to thank my fellow judges – Logan Naidu, Tebogo Serabatse and Linda Rademan – all recognised experts in their fields, for their valuable contribution as well as the PSS for their faultless organisation of the judging set-up,” he says.
All winners pocketed R15 000 and certificates, so did nominees who only got certificates as well.
702’s and country’s darling Xolani Gwala was the MC and during the evening, gave account of the hardship he endured during his colon cancer operation and how he made it.
Revered Judge Bernard Ngoepe also graced the awards.
We hope Community Media category would also be added next year.
