Community news coverage took center stage at the Forum for Community Journalists’ (FCJ) annual prize-giving ceremony with two editorial members of Central24 in top positions.
The event was held on Friday (14/10) in Boksburg where journalists, editors and editorial team members from across the country and several media houses were awarded for writing and packaging the news that matter to their respective communities.
Avbob, through financial investment in the forum and industry, showed its appreciation of community journalists in society.
Helena Barnard, editor of Central24’s NoordkaapBulletin, received a second place award in the category Human Interest. She was also a finalist in the writing categories Editorial Comments, Hard News and Sport.
Charné Kemp, freelance journalist for NoordkaapBulletin, was a finalist in the categories Hard News, Human Interest and Investigative Reporting.
NoordkaapBulletin was also a finalist in the categories Best front page: Corporate-owned free newspaper, and Newspaper of the year: Corporate free newspaper (fewer than 24 pages).
Madré Marais, chief sub-editor for Central24, received a third place award in the category Headlines. Marais was also a finalist in the category Columns.
Lientjie Mentz, editor of Bloemnews, was a finalist for Photography: General.
Media24 colleagues Samantha Lee-Jacobs from People’s Post was announced as the Journalist of the Year and Jarryd Westerdale from Roodeport Record received the Alet Roux Award for the most promising journalist.
Etienne van Rensburg from Vaalweekblad was announced as the Photographer of the Year and the Randburg Sun the winner of the Avbob Best Community Involvement Award.
