Group Editors staff enjoy year-end function

Gallery Update

GEORGE NEWS - The year-end function of Group Editors on Friday night, 23 November, was a delightful event which also included the very first Group Editors Awards ceremony. The awards were launched this year to celebrate the effort and dedication of staff members.

It was held at the Wilderness Hotel where guests relaxed over drinks and starters on the patio overlooking the swimming pool before moving inside for the awards and a delicious buffet.

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George Herald journalist Michelle Pienaar was one of the stars of the evening.

She not only scooped up the Group Editors journalist of the year award, but also won the categories for best human interest story of the year, best news photographer, and best headline writer of the year.

Pienaar also won two third places - in the categories best impact story and best hard news story.

Journalist Michelle Pienaar with her awards.

Kristy Kolberg took the laurels in the best hard news story of the year category and was runner-up in the journalist of the year category. Kolberg also came second in the best sports photographer category. Hugo Redelinghuys was named best sports photographer of the year, in which category he also took the third place.

George Herald editor Lizette da Silva took first place in the best front page category, with Suid-Kaap Forum editor Wilma Adamson second and Oudtshoorn Courant editor Hannes Visser in third place.

The proud winners: Hugo Redelinghuys, Luretha Cronje, Michelle Pienaar, Lizette da Silva, Kristy Kolberg, Liandra Clasquin and Lisa Oudejans.

George Herald staff and partners, from left, seated: Lorraine Verhagen, Jaco Snyman, Janien Gericke (admin manager), Anton Verhagen, Elize Volschenk (RNA). Back: Cecile Snyman, Callie and Lo-An-Nel Breytenbach, Sheron Meas, Riaan Gericke and Jacques Volschenk (admin).

Best sales
George Herald's Rozanne Olivier excelled in the advertising sales division. She received the award for exceptional sales performance of the year as well as best digital sales executive of the year.

Lisa Oudejans received the award for designer of the year, Luretha Cronjé for advertisement of the year as well as online advertisement of the year, and Liandra Clasquin won the section for best feature / supplement of the year.

Group Editors operations director Nicole Rimbault said in her speech that, while most newspaper groups around the world are retrenching staff and seeing a continuing drop in revenue, Group Editors has been extremely fortunate.

"It has been difficult - there are challenges, but we continue to be the voice of our communities. Our brands, be it in print or digitally, are still recognised as the authoritative voice of each town."

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She said advertisers still see great benefit in local newspapers. She commended the staff for their effort.

"I trust that in the year to come we will continue to work together as the great team that we are."

George Herald staff enjoying themselves. From left, seated: Ashley and Tanya Watson (online editor), Wessel van Heerden (digital coordinator) and his wife Mariëtte. Back: Yaseen Gaffar (Knysna Plet Herald journalist), Dot Symons (online sub-editor), Reinier Snyman and Alet Grobler (admin department).

Members of the George Herald sales team. From left, seated: Engela Snyman, Julinda Aucamp and Rozanne Olivier (top salesperson) with her husband Naas. Back: Lizanne Schraader with husband Ryno and Ilana van der Merwe and husband Ig.