Springboks named newsmaker of the year
Celebrations were the order of the day when the National Press Club came together with the Northwest University at the Newsmaker of the Year 2023 and Journalist of the Year award function.
The National Press Club has named the Springbok team its newsmaker of the year 2023.
The special function at which the announcement was made on April 17 took place at the Pretoria botanical garden and was attended by Tshwane Mayor Cilliers Brink, Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa and former winners as well as executive committee members of the club.
Students and staff of the University of North West department of communication, that organised the National Press Club-North West University journalist of the year 2023 competition, also attended.
The university’s 20th anniversary was also celebrated with a 1m birthday cake at the event.
University principal and Vice-Chancellor Prof Bismark Tyobeka said much could be learned from the team’s achievements in the past year, as he announced the winners.
“We should take a few lessons from them. They always chased lost opportunities and they are honest,” said Tyobeka.
The university plans to soon award an honorary doctorate in coaching science to Rugby World Cup winning coach and former SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus.
Tyobeka said this is to honour Erasmus as an innovative coach with an exceptional management style.
He also honoured journalists in what he called “the new and everchanging media landscape” for their bravery and selflessness.
He appealed to them to “keep on influencing communities for the better”.
Brink said in a mayoral year of exceptionally difficult challenges, he took a few lessons from the Springboks himself.
“Their lessons are multiple: Not to give up, not to lose optimism and maintain that true South African insistence that we can win if we put our minds to it,” said Brink.
He praised the press for a job well done in the year that he has been mayor.
“Without the press I cannot do my job. Your job is also to tell me what is going on and what the priorities of the public are. There is nothing like a call from the press to concentrate my mind,” said Brink.
Accepting the trophy on behalf of the Springboks, SA Rugby board member Mimi Bulelwa Tau referred to the team as “symbols of hope.”
The National Press Club journalism trophies and cash prizes were presented in several categories, with the overall winner Zikhona Ntshona of Newzroom Africa walking away with two trophies for general journalist of the year 2023 as well as journalist of the year 2023 for television news.
Winners in the NPC/NWU journalist of the year 2023 awards:
– Print and Online: Features or Investigative Journalist of the Year: Hamilton Wende (Freelance journalist)
– Print and Online: Photojournalist of the Year: Sandile Ndlovu – Sunday Times
– Radio News: Journalist of the Year: Lerato Motsa – Power FM
– Radio: Features, Investigative or Actuality Journalist of the Year: Jabulani oa-Afrika, Lizette Labuschagne and Suzanne Paxton – SABC News
– Television News Journalist of the Year: Zikhona Tshona – Newzroom Afrika
– Television In-depth Features or Interviews Journalist of the Year: Chriselda Lewis – SABC News
– Television cameraman: Dudley Newton-Saunders – The Devi Show on eNCA
– Radio Community News Journalist of the Year: Lerato Mokena – Unisa Radio
– Print and Online Community News Journalist of the Year: Rasaad Adams – Paarl Post
– Spokesperson of the Year 2023 went to Motalatale Modiba of the Gauteng department of health
– Click here to see the cutting of the cake at the function.
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