Samantha Wade of the Newcastle Advertiser has won the Journalist of the Year Award and Johannes Vogel of Xpose the Press Photographer of the Year Award in Sanlam's 12th annual competition for the country's community newspapers.
Last year Wade, who has been a journalist for only two years, received the Alet Roux medal of honour for the most promising newcomer. This year the medal went to Jackie Palm, a colleague of Wade at the Newcastle Advertiser.
The Sanlam Awards were established to promote and reward excellence in journalism, photography, typography and advertising within the community newspapers. A total of 1502 individual entries from 312 journalists representing 112 newspapers were adjudicated. These included 846 photographs and nearly 2500 advertisements.
In a new category for new publishers and emerging newspapers, Homeless Talk scooped the first prizes for both writing and best front-pages.
The Print Media Association's Cronwright and Hulzer awards for overall excellence in respect of contents and typography went to respectively Potchefstroom Herald and Paarl Post.
Seven Print Media SA Fellowship awards were awarded to those who contributed significantly to the association and print media industry.
The 2002 Print Media SA Fellows are:
Brian Pottinger - Managing Director, BDFM Publishing (Pty) Ltd
For his initial insight and subsequent huge, untiring leadership, diplomacy and guidance in the Print Development Unit (PDU) project and the MDDA negotiation process. John Frewin - Managing Director, OH Frewin (Pty) Ltd
For over 25 years unbroken involvement and contribution to the Community Press Association structures which included Chairmanship of the organisation in 1989/1991. Martin Dannheisser - Managing Director, Springs Advertiser (Pty) Ltd
For his unstinting service, over a lengthy period, to the Community Press Association which included Chairmanship in 1987/1989. Hugo Redelinghuys - Media Relations Sanlam Personal Finance: Cape
For his enthusiasm for the Community Press in South Africa and his immeasurable contribution to the highly successful, much appreciated annual Sanlam Community Press Awards and surrounding events for the past 12 years. Don Robertson - Accounts Manager, Mondi Paper (Pty) Ltd
For his over 10 years of good relationship and contribution to the highly respected Mondi/MPASA Magazine Journalism Awards and, more recently, untiring involvement in the Annual Mondi Print Media SA Banquet and the newly established Mondi/NASA Newspaper Journalism Award. Jon Drake - Production Director, Ogilvy & Mather
For years of selfless service and advice to the Print Media SA Technical Committee, including the last 8 years as Chairman of the Committee. Graham Langmead - CEO, Print Media SA
Graham was appointed as CEO of Print Media SA in 1998 after years of distinguished work in the marketing world. He brought to the Print Media SA a breadth of vision and an enthusiasm. He followed his mandate to elevate the organisation's profile and build its international stature. He achieved both objectives within a very short space of time, creating friends and forging alliances to the benefit of the industry. His special contribution to the Print Media SA has been his intimate knowledge of the business, his wide circles of contacts and his ability to mediate the competing interests of a very diverse constituency. In an increasingly complex economic and political environment, Graham has guided the ship with skill, dedication and an unswerving integrity. Graham ended his service Print Media SA as he began: managing an important restructuring process to position the organisation for the new challenges that confront it in the years ahead. We acknowledge his achievements tonight by making him a Fellow of Print Media SA.They join the existing Fellows: Bob Harrison, Barbara Cooke, Ian Snelling, Hennie van Deventer, Roy Paulson, Jos Kuper, Kotie van Heerden, Jolyon Nuttall, Roy Minnaar, Merry Short, Ton Vosloo, Aggrey Klaaste, Jane Raphaely, Rory MacNamara, Noel Coburn, Joe Thloloe, Dennis Beckett, Professor Guy Berger and Graeme King in the hall of fame.
