The 2006 Nat Nakasa Award for courage in journalism has been awarded to Professor Guy Berger of Rhodes University, Print Media South Africa (PMSA) announced on Sunday.
Berger, who has headed the university’s journalism department for 11 years, is the ninth winner of the award, and the first academic.
”While Berger’s popularity has nothing to do with his winning, I know all journalists and many journalism students will celebrate that this worthy man, who works so hard for the profession, is being nationally recognised by his peers,” said PMSA Media Freedom committee chairperson Peter Sullivan.
Jailed for two years under apartheid for aiding and abetting the aims of banned organisations, Berger went into exile, returning to edit two newspapers but resigning after a political dispute with his staff. He continues to write columns.
The award is jointly sponsored by the PMSA, the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and the Nieman Foundation.
Former winners include photographers Alf Kumalo and Debbie Yazbek, reporters Buks Viljoen and Justin Arenstein, and editors Mathatha Tsedu and Jon Qwelane. — Sapa