FCJ Excellence Awards announces 2018 winners!

From left are Jaco Koekemoer, MD - Caxton Local Media, Michelle Pienaar, journalist of the year and Louis Jacobs from North-West University (one of the sponsors).

Michelle Pienaar of George Herald was awarded the very prestigious title of Journalist of the Year and Salome Kotze of Klerksdorp Rekord was chosen as the Photographer of the Year.

FCJ Excellence Awards: 2019 finalists announced!

21 Jun 2019

The awards have been presented under the auspices of the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) for over two decades now and are widely considered as the “Oscars” of the local and community media industry.

FCJ Excellence Awards 2017: Winners announced!

3 Jul 2018

At the FCJ Excellence Awards local and community newspapers and journalists from all over the country and across all media houses compete against each other to award the best of the best in South Africa.The winners are:

Photography

Photographer of the Year

1. Salome Kotze, Klerksdorp Record – Winner 
2. Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad– Second
3. Carina Roux, TygerBurger - Third 

General

1. Ronald Sibiya, Pretoria Record – Winner
2. Taylor Meyer, The Village News – Second
3. Michelle Pienaar, George Herald – Third

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Zita Goldswain, Witbank News
• Nielen de Klerk, Tyberburger
• Kristy Kolberg, George Herald
• Samantha Lee, People’s Post
• JP Myburg, Klerksdorp Midweek 
• Elsje Vermeulen, Vaalweekblad

News – Finalists

1. San-Marie Cronje, South Cape Forum - Winner
2. Bianca du Plessis, Hermanus Times - Second
3. JP Myburg, Klerksdorp Record - Third

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Zita Goldswain, Witbank News 
• Kristy Kolberg, George Herald 
• Selogile Leshage, Potchefstroom Herald
• Michelle Pienaar, George Herald
• Bianca du Plessis, Hermanus Times
• Carina Roux, TygerBurger 
• Ronald Sibiya, Pretoria Rekord

Sport

1. Elsje Vermeulen – Vaalweekblad – Winner Sport - 'Voltreffer'
2. Ettiene van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad – Second Sport – 'Beast mode on'
3. Hugo Redelinghuys, George Herald – Third Sport – 'Matrix move'

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Samantha Lee, People’s Post 
• Blake Linder, Roodepoort Northsider 
• Wouter Pienaar, Potchefstroom Herald 
• Carina Roux, TygerBurger
• Stehan Schoeman, TygerBurger
• Ronald Sibiya, Pretoria Rekord 
• Samantha Trail, Witbank News 

Writing

Journalist of the Year

1. Michelle Pienaar, George Herald – Winner 
2. Daleen Naude, Middelburg Observer – Second
3. Teresa Dias, Laevelder – Third

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Hazel Allies-Husselman – Athlone Bulletin News
• Zita Goldswain – Witbank News
• Marinette Hay – Vrystaat Nuus
• Ronel van Jaarsveld – Die Pos
• Arisa Janse van Rensburg - Laevelder
• Kristy Kolberg – George Herald
• Samantha Lee – People’s Post
• Selogile Leshage – Potchefstroom Herald
• Liam Ngobeni – Pretoria-Moot Rekord
• Desiree Rorke – TygerBuger
• Tamlynne Thompson – CapeTowner
• Andries Van Zyl – Zoutpansberger

Digital reporting

1. Sibonele Mtshali, Southern Courier – Winner
2. Kristy Kolberg, George Herald – Second

Headlines

1. Bertus de Bruyn, Letaba Herald – Winner 
2. Dalene Naude, Middelburg Observer – Second 
3. Danie Jacobs, Klerksdorp Record – Third 

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Zita Goldswain – Witbank News
• Kristy Kolberg – George Herald
• Pieter Delport, Bloemfontein Courant
• Samantha Lee – People’s Post
• Wouter Pienaar - Potchefstroom Herald 
• Murray Stewart – The Village News
• Mariëtte Strydom – Boland Media
• Hannes Visser – Oudtshoorn Courant

Editorial Comment

1. Hennie Stander, Potchefstroom Herald – Winner 
2. Lerato Serero, Sedibeng Ster – Second 
3. Tobie van den Bergh, Middelburg Observer – Third 

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Tasmin Cupido – District Mail
• Daleen Fouche – Hermanus Times
• Marlene Jordaan – Worcester Standard
• Joline van der Merwe – Weslander
• Gerhard Rheeder – Middelburg Observer
• De Waal Steyn – The Village News
• Keina Swart – Die Pos

Columns

1. Nielen de Klerk, Tyberburger – Winner
2. Murray Stewart, The Village News – Second
3. Johnny Masilela, Die Pos – Third

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Lise Beyers – Paarl Post
• Hedda Mittner – The Village News
• Daleen Naude – Middelburg Observer
• Lana O’Neil – Benoni City Times
• Keina Swart – Die Pos
• Hannes Visser – Oudtshoorn Courant

Sport

1. Wouter Pienaar, Potchefstroom Herald - Winner
2. Hugo Redelinghuys, George Herald - Second
3. Tasmin Cupido, Helderberg Gazette – Third

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Samantha Lee – People’s Post
• Tandy-Lee Marinus – Paarl Post
• Frank Mavhungo – Limpopo Mirror
• Daleen Naude – Middelburg Observer
• Murphy Roberts – Weskus Nuus
• Nasifa Sulaiman- Worcester Standard

Human Interest

1. Elaine Davie, The Village News – Winner
2. Nielen de Klerk, TygerBurger, and Daleen Naude, Middelburg Observer – Joint Second

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Monique Basson – Kouga Express
• Trish Goosen – Weslander
• Summer Jacobs – Tabletalk
• Kgotsofalang Mashilo – Germiston City News
• Lientjie Mentz – Bloemnuus
• JP Myburg – Klerksdorp Record
• Andries van Zyl – Zoutpansberger/Limpopo Mirror

Investigative Reporting

1. Anton van Zyl, Zoutpansberger - Winner
2. Andries van Zyl Zoutpansberger - Second

Hard News

1. Desiree Rorke, Tyberburger – Winner
2. Elmon Tshikhudo, Limpopo Mirror – Second
3. Liam Ngobeni, Rekord – Third

Other finalists in no particular order:

• Trish Goosen - Weslander
• Kristy Kolberg – George Herald
• Samantha Lee – People’s Post
• Selogile Leshage – Potchefstroom Herald
• Daleen Naude – Middelburg Observer
• Gerhard Rheeder – Middelburg Observer
• Andries van Zyl – Zoutpansberger/Limpopo Mirror

Alet Roux Award (Best new journalist with less than three years’ experience)
Kristy Kolberg, George Herald – Winner

Newspapers - Best Front pages
Independent commercial newspapers

1. Far North Bulletin – Winner 
2. Kokstad Advertiser – Second
3. The Village News – Third

Corporate-owned free newspapers

1. Idinga – Winner 
2. Sedibeng Ster – Second
3. The Beat – Third

Corporate-owned paid newspapers

1. George Herald – Winner
2. Potchefstroom Herald – Second
3. South Cape Forum – Third

Newspaper of the year

Independent commercial newspapers

1. Far North Bulletin – Winner
2. The Village News – Second
3. Zoutpansberger – Third

Corporate-owned free newspapers (pagination less than 24)

1. Northcliff and Mellville Times – Winner
2. Roodepoort Northsider – Second
3. Krugersdorp News – Third

Corporate-owned free newspapers (pagination more than 24)

1. Benoni City Times – Winner
2. Bedford View and Edenvale News - Second
3. Randburg Sun – Third 

Corporate-owned paid newspapers, circulation more than 5,000

1. Lowvelder – Winner
2. Die Pos – Second
3. Hermanus Times – Third

Corporate-owned paid newspapers, circulation less than 5,000

1. Letaba Herald – Winner
2. Eikestad Nuus – Second

For the complete list of winners, click here.