The Nat Nakasa Awards to take place in Sophiatown
SOPHIATOWIN – The award, which is a flagship event of Sanef, celebrates the hard work of journalists and the important role media plays in the country.
This year marks 25 years since the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) was established with the aim of protecting media freedom and promoting media ethics.
In a year dominated by the Covid-19 global pandemic, the role of the media has become even more critical in ensuring people are informed and have accurate information about the events unfolding around them.
Sanef’s flagship event the Nat Nakasa Journalism Award sponsored by Sanlam, will focus on the impact of Covid-19 on the work of journalists and the important role media have played in the country. This year, the occasion will be celebrated at a function at The Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre on August 14.
The winner is selected by a panel of judges on the basis of nominations submitted by the public. These judges include Peter Sullivan, Joe Thloloe and Crystal Orderson.
The event is named after Nathaniel (Nat) Ndazana Nakasa, who is said to have influenced generations of writers and journalists through his searing criticism of the apartheid system, and his death in exile in the USA in 1965 struck a great blow to the journalism community in SA. The award represents ‘courageous and brave journalism’ and recognises any media practitioner who has shown integrity and reported fearlessly.
One could argue it’s fitting that the 23rd edition of these awards will be presented in an area where Nakasa worked with Drum Magazine and the Classic literary magazine, which have a historical link to the multi-cultural communities who inspired the work of Father Trevor Huddleston.
