Johannesburg, 28 November 2018. South Africa's top sporting journalists were honoured during the 38th Annual SAB Sports Media Awards, last night.
Veteran South African sports journalist, Thomas Kwenaite was inducted into the SAB Sports Media Hall of Fame.
Convenor of the judging panel, John Perlman, said many hours were spent reviewing the entries. "As the judges argue each year about the benchmarks for excellence in a fast-changing media world, we learn things that make this competition stronger and more credible each year."
SAB has recognised excellence in sporting journalism for more than three decades due to it having a developmental, educational, patriotic and communicative function, integrating and coordinating individuals and social groups, which helps a nation to develop.
"The sport system is directly connected with the subsystems of health, science, culture, upbringing and education, and therefore has a significant impact on the socio-economic and political processes of modern society," says Refilwe Masemola, Director Communications, SAB and AB InBev Africa.
The health and wellbeing of the local communities in which SAB operated was imperative to the future prosperity of its business. "We have an important role in ensuring that individuals live better lives, and sport plays a vital role in health, preventing disease and promoting wellness."
Judges remarked that standards, in particular photographic entries, had increased. In the converged media category, journalists who got everything possible out of their assignment – text, video and photos – impressed the most, noting that despite tough industry conditions entrants had "done a splendid job of staying true to their passion and their calling".
"There was much talent, creativity and hard work to celebrate and admire. We hope 2019, with two World Cups coming up, will inspire sports journalism of even greater quality," Perlman said.
SAB hopes that the awards will encourage new entrants into sports media, increasing competition and further increasing quality of sports reporting.
Each Newcomer of the Year received R5 000, sub-category winners R15 000, and the Journalists' Journalist of the Year R10 000.
The SAB Sports Media Award winners for 2018 are:
DIGITAL MEDIA AWARDS
- Converged Media: Antoinette Muller (Freelance)
- Audio Media: Nkululeko Nkewu(Soccer Laduma Radio)
- Video Media: Leila Dougan(Daily Maverick)
- Written Media: Antoinette Muller(Freelance)
AUDIO MEDIA AWARDS
- Sports Commentator of the Year: Thabo Kofa(Lesedi FM)
- Sports News Reporter of the Year: Carl Lewis(Eyewitness News Sport)
- Sports Producer of the Year: Mosibodi Whitehead(Kaya FM)
- Newcomer of the Year: Dalton Motshwane(Thobela FM)
WRITTEN MEDIA AWARDS
- Sports Feature Writer of the Year: Niren Tolsi (The Cricket Monthly)
- Sports Columnist of the Year: Mninawa Ntloko(Business Day)
- Sports News Reporter of the Year: Marizanne Kok(Media24)
- Newcomer of the Year: Luke Feltham(Mail & Guardian)
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
- Sports Photographer of the Year: Kim Ludbrook (EPA)
- Action Shot of the Year: Kim Ludbrook(EPA)
VIDEO MEDIA AWARDS
- Sports Commentator of the Year: Kaunda Ntunja(SuperSport)
- Sports News Reporter of the Year: Ronald Masinda(eNCA)
- Sports Producer of the Year: Peter Matshele (SuperSport)
- Sports Presenter of the Year: Vaylen Kirtley(SABC)
- Newcomer of the Year: Mbali Nkosi(Soweto TV)
GENERAL AWARDS:
Journalists' Journalist of the Year: Njabulo Ngidi (Independent Newspapers)
Hall of Fame: Thomas Kwenaite
JUDGING PANEL:
Convenor: John Perlman:
- In the Video Media Category:
- Sias du Plessis
- Dinesh Gangaram
- Mpumelelo Mbangwa
- Keletso Totlhanyo
- In the Audio Media Category:
- Marcelle Gordon
- Beverly Maphangwa
- James Shikwambana
- Thabiso Tema
- In the Photography Category:
- Robin Comley
- Dudu Mathebula
- Sandile Ndlovu
- In Written Media:
- De Jongh Borchardt
- Gerhard Burger
- Matshelane Mamabolo
- Sibusiso Mijkeliso
- And in Digital Media:
- Simon Borchardt
- Eddie Martinuzzi
- Cindy Poluta
