An experienced ICT journalist, McLeod is the sixth overall winner of this award which was initiated and launched by Telkom in conjunction with the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) in 2000. This competition has established itself as South Africa's premier ICT journalism awards, affording journalists an opportunity to test their skills amongst themselves, while being recognised for their contributions to the ICT sector.
"Duncan's entry showed a level of depth and insight that was unparalleled in the other entrants. The work displayed a unique blend of critical thinking and technical knowledge that made it a clear winner," says awards judge, Vincent Maher. His prize includes a cash amount of R40 000 and an all-expense paid seven-day trip to Hong Kong. Amongst some of the privileges McLeod will enjoy while in Hong Kong is attending the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) conference, along with sight-seeing for himself and his partner.
Winners of other categories received a cash prize of R15 000, while the winner of the newly-introduced Student Category walked away with a cash prize to the value of R10 000 and a bursary to study further in any South African tertiary institution.
The category winners and runners-up are:
Joint winners: Belinda Anderson, Moneyweb & Warwick Ashford, ITWeb
Runner-up: Ana Monteiro, Moneyweb
Winner: Siki Mgabadeli, SABC TV
Runner-up: Sumitra Nydoo, SABC 3
Winner: Gugulakhe Masango, Business Report
Runner-up: Lesley Stones, Business Day
Winner: Duncan Mcleod, Financial Mail
Runner-up: Larry Claasen, Financial Mail
Special mentions: Matthew Buckland, The Media & Nicola Mawson, Engineering News
Joint winners: Lloyd Gedye, Mail & Guardian & Thabiso Mochiko, Business Report
Runner-up: Shoks Mzolo, I-Net Bridge
Winner: Belinda Anderson, Moneyweb
Runner-up: Tshepo Ikaneng, SABC Radio
Winner: Patricia McCracken, Caxton Magazines
Joint runners-up: Anthony Doman, Popular Mechanics & Alan Duggan, Popular Mechanics
Winner: Ryan Noik, Sandton Chronicle
Winner: Peter McMahon, University Of Cape Town
Runner-up: Catherine Murray, Rhodes University
Special mention: Bate Felix Tabi Tabe, University of the Witwatersrand
Over the past six years the Telkom ICT Journalist of the Year Awards have established themselves as meaningful, sought-after accolades in the field of journalism where developments in the information and communication technology industry are not only reported accurately, but interpreted, commented upon and given meaning in their impact on society. "Connect" the theme chosen for this year's awards unites Telkom's revised vision - 'To be a leading customer and employee-centred ICT solutions service provider' - with the way information is disseminated to the public by journalists.
"Without the clear spread of information about technology and the intelligent communication of such information, technology would exist in a vacuum, rather than enhancing and uplifting our lives. ICT journalists are the "connectors" between people and the technology that improves our lives," comments Lulu Letlape, Group Executive of Corporate Communications at Telkom.
Previous winners include accomplished journalists like Patricia McCracken writing for Bona magazine in 2004, Toby David Shapshak writing for Mail & Guardian and GQ (in 2002), Marina Bidoli writing for Financial Mail (2001) and Nathi Sukazi writing for Business Report in 2000.
Once again a panel of independent, respected industry experts judged the entries, providing a collective understanding of the influence effective ICT journalism has on all South Africans. The judging panel for this year's awards include: Andile Mazwai, CEO, BJM Securities; Professor Guy Berger, head of the School of Journalism & Media Studies at Rhodes University; Thoko Mogosi, CEO of HP South Africa; Vincent Maher, Director of the New Media Lab at the Rhodes University School of Journalism & Media Studies; and Lucienne Abrahams, Director of the LINK Centre - Learning, Information, Networking & Knowledge - at the Wits Graduate School of Public & Development Management.
"The judges were guided in their judging by three main criteria: excellence, clarity and balance," confirms Letlape. "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. The winners are informed journalists who demonstrate a depth of understanding, thoroughness of research and richness in resources. They have shown that they can explain technology to their specific audience, be conscious of quality in their writing, comment effectively and generate light as well as heat on an issue. Lastly, when looking for balance in the work submitted, judges look for journalists who can put issues into context and perspective, not unquestioningly accepting only one point of view."
This year, some outstanding journalism made clear the importance of the subject, ranging through policy and investment issues through to consumer and development concerns.
"Other cases could do well to see how to de-jargonise and explain this complex field," maintains Professor Guy Berger of Rhodes University. "Good work was done in print, but those journalists using ICT's like TV and the web can do a lot better in regard to use of their specific media to tell the ICT story. It is a story that needs to be told not only to specialists, but also to ordinary people."
Co-judge Vincent Maher of Rhodes University endorsed this opinion: "For me what was most noticeable was the dramatic difference in quality and depth of the stories between the online-only publications and traditional media publications. I find it quite disturbing that digital publications seem to be setting their journalistic standards much lower."
