Entries for the 2003 Telkom ICT (Information and Communication Technology) Journalist of the Year Awards have closed, judges have narrowed down the field and the industry is poised for the announcement of winners to be made at a prestigious gala awards evening in Sandton on February 24 2004.
This year the competition attracted some 190 entries across eight categories from journalists writing about the fast-paced, multi-faceted world of information, communications and technology, which has enjoyed an eventful year in South Africa. Entries from writers for Business Magazines predominated, with recurrent themes including liberalisation, development and black economic empowerment in the ICT sector. Specific topics covered in depth include the SNO (second network operator) process, regulatory changes, privatisation and developments in technology.
The top ICT journalist will go home with R25 000 in pocket, as well as an expenses-paid trip to Telekom Malaysia and SBC Communication in the United States, while the winner of each category will receive a R10 000 cash prize.
“Interface” the theme chosen for this year’s awards aptly sums up this role played by the media, with journalists comprising the interface between the ICT sector and an informed audience.
Initiated by Telkom and launched in conjunction with the IAJ (Institute for the Advancement of Journalism) in 2000 to develop and nurture an interest in ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in the media, the competition recognises journalists for their contribution to the sector by an independent panel of judges. Previous winners include accomplished journalists like David Shapshak writing for the Mail & Guardian and GQ (in 2002), Marina Bidoli writing for Financial Mail (2001) and Nathi Sukazi writing for Business Report in 2000.
The independent judging panel for this year’s awards include: Mondli Makhanya (Editor-elect of the Sunday Times), Andile Mazwai (CEO, BJM Securities), Nick Worrall (Trainer at the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism), Tholoana Qhobela (Chairperson, Ogilvy PR South Africa) and Alison Gillwald (Research Director of the LINK Centre — Learning, Information, Networking & Knowledge — at the University of the Witwatersrand).
“The judges were guided in their judging by three main criteria: excellence, clarity and balance,” explains Amanda Singleton, Telkom Corporate Communications Group Executive. “With these qualities in mind, they have set out to reward skillful and enterprising journalism that goes beyond the obvious, the ordinary, the expected and the regular.”