In an event held in Johannesburg recentlyLibby Lloyd, chief executive of the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA), was named MTN Media Woman of the Year 2005. The choice was made on a majority vote of The Media magazine’s editorial board.
Lloyd was chosen from amongst a list of finalists that included Talk Radio 702 presenter Jenny Crwys-Williams, editor of the Daily Dispatch Phylicia Oppelt, general manager of SABC Television Airtime Sales Clare O’Neil, and general manager of Beeld Lucille van Niekerk.
The MTN Rising Star award, given annually to a female media professional under the age of 30, went this year to 27-year-old Tembisa Gebeda, presenter and producer on radio brand SAfm and television channel SABC Africa.
As in previous years, 2005’s selection criteria focused on nominees’ contributions to the growth and development of the South African media industry, and encompassed achievements in the political, economic, social and cultural spheres. Over 100 nominations had been received by The Media magazine at the closing date in May.
Lloyd has been chief executive of the MDDA since the statutory body began operations in 2003, with the mandated aim of ‘building an environment where a diverse, vibrant and creative media flourishes and reflects the needs of all South Africans.”
In his speech during the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) budget vote in April this year, Minister Essop Pahad outlined some of the agency’s achievements to date: ‘The [MDDA] received applications totaling over R50-million. So far it has provided support to 55 different media projects, covering all provinces. They include both non-profit and small commercial media; existing projects and new media projects; projects for specific communities of interest and geographical communities.”
Outside of the overwhelming majority vote for Lloyd, The Media magazine’s editorial board was unanimous on the list of finalists and the Rising Star. The Media‘s editorial board consists of Govin Reddy (former CEO of Mail & Guardian and deputy CEO of SABC), Professor Tawana Kupe (head of the school of literature, languages and media studies at Wits University), Mike Nussey (CEO of media agency Mindshare and board member of the Advertising Media Forum), Jyoti Mistry (head of television in the Wits University School of Arts), Jos Kuper (leading media researcher), Kevin Bloom (editor of The Media) and Sandra Gordon (publisher of The Media).
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