Category winners stand to win R10 000 each, and depending on the quality of entries, runners-up could be awarded in individual categories. Due to an overwhelming number of magazine entries last year, a special category for Lifestyle Magazines has been created for this year's Awards.
Another exciting addition to the Awards is the New Journalists category. Designed for those journalists with less than a year's reporting experience on the ICT industry, this category should attract entries from journalists in any medium who have only recently started reporting on the world of Information and Communications Technology.
Telkom initiated the ICT Journalist of the Year in 2000 to develop and nurture an interest in Information and Communications Technology journalism among South African journalists. The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ), which manages the Awards on Telkom's behalf, received close to 300 entries last year from journalists working in a diverse range of media.
"The focus is not on those journalists who report exclusively on Telkom. Instead, we are looking for those who make sense of the fascinating world of communications across all its facets," says Sizwe Nxasana, Telkom CEO.
Nxasana said that journalists did not have to specifically cover technical issues and subjects. "Many journalists cover issues which show the relationship between technology, communications and the community or society as a whole. Entries comprising articles and reports on these themes are most welcome," he said.
There is no limit to the number of entries any one entrant may submit, and there is no entry fee.
Journalists can enter in the following categories:
- Print mainstream
- Community newspaper
- Business magazine
- Lifestyle magazine
- Television broadcast
- Radio broadcast
- Internet & e-news
- New journalist
Last year's overall winner was Marina Bidoli from Financial Mail. Her prize included a cash prize of R25 000 and an all-inclusive trip to Telkom's strategic equity partners in Malaysia and the USA. Marina was also the category winner for Magazines. The overall-runners up were Ruda Landman and Nicola de Chaud of Carte Blanche and Robyn Chalmers of Business Day, each receiving R10 000 in prize money.
The closing date for entries is 1 November 2002. Visit www.telkom.co.za/journalist/index.jsp for more information.
