GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Group Editors raked in nine top accolades at the Avbob Forum for Community Journalists Excellence Awards 2022 at the Cape Sun in Cape Town on Friday evening, 4 August.

The highly sought-after national FCJ Excellence Awards rewards the very best of journalism, photography and design at community newspapers countrywide. At 527, the individual entries had doubled from last year.

Group Editors' staff members are ecstatic, and particularly proud of Blake Linder, news editor of Knysna-Plett Herald, and journalist Kristy Kolberg of George Herald who each scooped a first place - Kolberg was named best headline writer in the country, while Linder took the top spot in the sport writer category - a massive achievement at age 24. 

Hugo Redelinghuys, editor of South Cape Forum, took second place in the sport writer category and his sport photographs were highly commended.

Caxton group editor Irma Green with South Cape Forum editor Hugo Redelinghuys, who was honoured for his sport writing and photographic skills.

Best paper

Adding to Linder's individual first prize, Knysna-Plett Herald was named the country's best newspaper in the sold category for community newspapers with a circulation under 5 000. A huge thank you goes to former Knysna-Plett Herald editor, Chris du Plessis, who retired last year and whose front page talents are legendary.

Knysna-Plett Herald came third in the best front page category, and credit also goes to Periëtte Nel (Senior Graphic Designer & Layout Artist), the lady who gives birth to the vision of the Knysna-Plett Herald editorial team with her impressive design talents.

George Herald, under the leadership of editor Lizette da Silva, was awarded a fabulous third place in the highly competitive category for sold newspaper with a circulation of over 5 000 copies. And, not only is George Herald's Kristy Kolberg a pro when it comes to the use of catchy words, her news photography skills were also highly commended by the judges.

Kristy Kolberg (right) of George Herald is the best headline writer in the country, and also received an award for her news photographs. With her is Minette Ferreira, general manager of lifestyle and news at Media24.

Columns and digital

Eugene Gunning of George Herald impressed with his insightful and touching columns and bagged third place in this challenging, creative category.

Alet Engelbrecht, previously of Mossel Bay Advertiser, and Jannie du Plessis, also of the Advertiser, were both nominated in the best digital reporter category.

Engelbrecht, who resigned at the end of July, was awarded second place for her excellent video and digital skills and achieved fourth spot in the column writing category.

Caxton group editor Irma Green hands Eugene Gunning of George Herald his award for his excellent columns.

Alet Engelbrecht, previously of Mossel Bay Advertiser, was awarded second place for her excellent video and digital skills, and fourth spot in the column writing category.

Servaas de Kock smiles

Group Editors operations director Servaas de Kock is extremely proud of his team. "Walking away with numerous accolades is incredibly heartwarming.

"I feel immense pride in our individual winners, yet I am fully aware that this achievement is a team effort. Thank you for all the hard work behind the scenes in creating our excellent printed and digital products. It is great to see that we are benchmarking against the finest local media brands in the country."

FCJ executive director Marietta Lombard said that Avbob's financial support allowed the FCJ to further enrich its offering.

"This support enabled the forum to re-introduce the industry to the 'No Guts, No Glory' regional seminars - the Western Cape will host its seminar soon. The forum has been able to contribute significantly to the upliftment of community journalism simply because of the trust in the work done by the forum and community journalists."

Avbob CEO Carl van der Riet with George Herald editor Lizette da Silva, whose publication came third in the Newspaper of the Year category.

Community journalism is key

In his address, Avbob CEO Carl van der Riet said Avbob is deeply rooted in the communities in which they operate. 

"This is reflected in our support for community journalism. We applaud the work you do to keep our communities informed. Your work is an essential contribution to the building of a transparent and free society," he said.

Estella Naicker of both Northern Natal News and Newcastle Advertiser was named Journalist of the Year, Emily Bain of Northcliff Melville Times won the Alet Roux Award for Upcoming Journalist of the Year and Wayne van der Walt of Highvelder was named Photographer of the Year.

Hermanus Times received the Avbob Best Community Involvement Award for its Nomzamo Educare Centre project.

The forum hosted its national seminar prior to the gala dinner with guest speakers Max du Preez and Press Council executive director Latiefa Mobara. The FCJ commends and thanks the judges and the convener, André Gouws, for the phenomenal work in judging this year's entries.

Group Editors managing editor Ilse Schoonraad (middle) and designer Periëtte Nel were ecstatic when they received the best newspaper award on behalf of Blake Linder of Knysna Plett Herald, who could not attend the awards function. With them is Avbob CEO Carl van der Riet.

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