Arena journalists scoop numerous national and regional Vodacom Journalism Awards
Johannesburg, 25 November 2019: Journalists from Arena Holdings (previously known as Tiso Blackstar Group) have been awarded top honours at the 2019 Vodacom Journalism Awards, which were held in Johannesburg on 21 November. Arena Holdings’ journalists won two National, as well as ten Regional categories at the Vodacom Journalism Awards, which are now in their 18th year.
“The awards are well deserved and reflect the journalists’ dedication and commitment to delivering top quality journalism. Their jobs are challenging, and require a level of commitment to the truth that may often put them in harm’s way, yet they carry on regardless. They embody journalistic integrity, and we congratulate all our winners for their outstanding work,” says Andy Gill, Managing Director of Arena Holdings.
National Winners
Karabo Ledwaba of Sowetan was announced as the national Young Journalist of the Year, where the Vodacom adjudication panel described her as showing “commitment to the vocation of news well above the norm”. Ledwaba has won an opportunity to further develop her professional and personal development through an all-expenses-paid trip to follow cutting-edge training overseas, both at the renowned Thomson Foundation in the UK and in a newsroom context, according to Vodacom.
The Financial Mail’s Lisa Steyn received the overall national award in the Financial/Economic category for a body of work entitled, ‘The Death of Gold Mining.’ Steyn previously won the national award in 2016, and the Gauteng regional award in 2018.
Both national winners were also the Gauteng regional winners in their respective categories in 2019.
Karabo Ledwaba and Lisa Steyn accept their Awards – images via @Vodacom
Regional Winners
In the Eastern Cape, Malibongwe Dayimani of Daily Dispatch was the regional winner in three categories: Investigative for his articles on ‘Frere Hospital’s beds of horror’; Multi-platform for ‘The Siege of Stutterheim’; and Financial/Economics for ‘The Great Eastern Cape ATM Scam.’
Mamela Ndamase also of Daily Dispatch was the Eastern Cape regional winner in the Politics category for ‘Councillor Accused of Dodgy Home Sales’ which exposed a councillor and her husband for selling houses that did not belong to them.
Naziziphiwo Buso of The Herald was Vodacom’s Young Journalist of the Year nominee for the Eastern Cape.
The Western Cape regional winner in the Live Reporting/Breaking News category was Aron Hyman of Sunday Times and TimesLIVE for a broad body of work that covered the murder of Cape Town lawyer Pete Mihalik, the gang-related shooting of a Gift of the Givers volunteer, as well as an analysis of why Cape Town is regarded as the world’s most dangerous city.
Nivashni Nair of Times Select was recognised as the KZN regional winner in the Opinion category for ‘Penny for my Thoughts.’
Nair was also part of the Sunday Times and TimesLIVE team which included Orrin Singh, Lwandile Bhengu, and Suthentira Govender, in winning the KZN regional Multi-platform for their body of work entitled ‘Durban’s Easter rain of terror’
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About Arena Holdings
Arena Holdings is the largest national English publishing group, and the second largest digital publisher in South Africa. We own the largest music and independent film catalogue in Africa, as well as leading TV channels, TV production, and radio stations in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The business has strong exposure to the rapidly growing digital, broadcast and mobile markets, with a broad reach across the African continent. Arena Holdings is the proud custodian of iconic brands that include the Sunday Times, Sowetan, Business Day, Financial Mail, The Herald, and Daily Dispatch – with footprints across print, digital, social media, and leading industry event platforms. The company’s business model is underpinned by a unique network of assets, including dedication to excellence and a strong commitment to providing quality content and services to our varied audiences and customers. Arena Holdings is a division of Lebashe Investment Group – a 100% black-owned investment company – and prides itself as a level 1 B-BBEE contributor.
Issued by Samantha Pugh, Pugh Public Relations & Corporate Communications
e: sam@pughpr.co.za c: 071 874 5460
On behalf of Andy Gill, Managing Director at Arena Holdings