Zululand Observer wins coveted Newspaper of the Year award

Finalists in eight categories at the Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards 2023, Zululand Observer walked away with five awards

August 3, 2024

Tamlyn Cramer 1 minute read

After 8 years, the Zululand Observer wins the coveted Best Paid Newspaper of the Year again! ZO editor-in-chief Ronelle Ramsamy proudly accepts the prestigious award at the Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards in Sandton. ZO consultant editor Dave Savides won both the Hard News and Editorial Comment and Column categories

ZULULAND Observer employees are beaming with joy and pride this morning (Saturday) after scooping the prestigious Paid Newspaper of the Year award, out of a huge stable of community newspapers countrywide.

Last night, ZO editor-in-chief Ronelle Ramsamy received the accolade at the glittering Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards gala dinner held at the @Sandton Hotel in Gauteng.

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The Zululand Observer featured as finalists in no fewer than eight categories and walked away with five awards on the night.

Cementing its long-standing reputation of delivering award-winning content of the highest professional and ethical standards, the ZO took the top spot ahead of Lowvelder and Suid-Kaap Forum respectively.

The newspaper was also placed third in a newly introduced category – Best Back Page.

Writing category wins
ZO consultant editor kick-started the newspaper’s winning streak on the night by scooping the Editorial Comment and Columns award for the second consecutive year. He then went on to win the Hard News category and was named runner-up in the prestigious Journalist of the Year category.

Ramsamy was a finalist in the Editorial Comment and Columns category, while Savides was named a finalist in the Sport and Best Headlines categories.

“The Newspaper of the Year award reiterates that we pride ourselves on an outstanding product which well serves its readers and advertisers,” said Ramsamy.

“We thank God that in these difficult economic times, we can still produce award-winning newspapers of a high standard. Our ZO legend, Dave Savides continues to lead from the front, scooping two of the major writing awards, and is an inspiration to the younger journos.

“We are very proud of the entire team. This win is attributed to our dedicated and hardworking team at the ZO and our loyal community,” said Ramsamy.

The Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards, hosted by the Forum of Community Journalists NPC (FCJ), is a well-known event in the media industry with entries exceeding 500 in this year’s competition.