GEORGE NEWS - Group Editors’ journalists and publications once again proved their strength on the national community journalism stage, bringing home an impressive collection of awards at the 2026 Avbob Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) Gala Awards.
The prestigious awards ceremony took place at Menlyn Maine in Johannesburg on Friday 21 August, celebrating excellence, dedication and outstanding work by community journalists across South Africa.
Three Group Editors publications, George Herald, Mossel Bay Advertiser and Knysna-Plett Herald, were among the award winners, and George Herald journalist Michelle Pienaar took the coveted Journalist of the Year title.
Pienaar also secured second place for digital reporting, third for mobile photography, third for headlines and second for local government/municipal reporting.
Her George Herald colleague Kristy Ayliffe (née Kolberg) was named the winner in mobile photography and placed fourth in story of the year.
George Herald was further recognised second for best sold newspaper.
For Mossel Bay Advertiser, editor Louise Karsten was placed second in editorial comment and columns, while the newspaper took second place for best back page and fourth place for best newspaper.
Knysna-Plett Herald editor Wyndham Ewerts placed third in headlines and fourth in editorial comment and columns.
Suid-Kaap Forum, another Group Editors publication, secured second place in the free newspaper category.
A tradition of excellence
These results add to an already strong record of achievement for Group Editors at the FCJ Awards. Group Editors’ publications have a history of strong performances as these journalists and newspapers regularly feature among the country’s top performers at the national awards.
Group Editors CEO Servaas de Kock said the recognition was a significant achievement for the company and its journalists. “It is an incredible privilege to receive recognition on a national platform, and I am proud of every finalist and winner who performed so well last night,” he said.
Municipality congratulates George Herald
George Municipality has congratulated the George Herald team on the newspaper’s achievements at the awards.
“Congratulations to the entire George Herald team on these outstanding achievements,” said acting communication manager Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe.
“On behalf of George Municipality, I extend our heartfelt congratulations to Michelle Pienaar, Kristy Ayliffe and the entire team on this well-deserved recognition.
These awards are a wonderful reflection of the quality, dedication and commitment to community journalism in George and the Garden Route. Your work plays an important role in keeping our communities informed and connected. Well done, George Herald!
“We are proud to have such talented local media professionals telling the stories of our community. Keep flying the Garden Route flag high!”
Michelle Pienaar (Journalist of the Year) with Avbob CEO Eugene Strauss.‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
