Investigative journalism plays a key role in sustaining democracy. Through the efforts of investigative journalists, ordinary people are informed of the excesses of those with power and influence, whoever they may be. If it were not for investigative journalists, South Africans would never have known the extent of state capture, for example, and this phenomenon would never have been addressed. Investigative journalism has the potential to highlight wrongdoing and hold people with power to account in politics, the economy or any other area of society. We seek to honour those who are leading the pack in terms of investigative journalism, irrespective of the topic or the medium they use. In this category, we do not look only at whether a publication broke a story, but also at the energy, innovation and care they showed in pursuing it, the importance of the story, the impact achieved and whether they continued to keep it in the public eye through persistent investigations.
In a country as diverse as South Africa, it is not unusual to experience a multitude of different opinions on any one issue. South Africans are extremely opinionated and consume media as much for its refreshing opinion writing as for news and investigations. Social media has developed a new breed of social and political commentators, not always based on relevant facts or information. In this category, the judges will seek to reward those who present their opinion in the most refreshing and innovative manner, based on proper research, whether they express themselves through columns, op‐ed pieces or editorial cartoons. Official newspaper editorials are excluded from this category because they represent the official opinion of the publication and not an individual.
Good writing is an art that can mean the difference between survival and damnation for media organisations. Features is a broad category that includes news and general feature articles that go beyond reporting but introduce elements of innovative writing, without impacting on the veracity of the reporting. The judges will seek to reward eloquent turns of phrase, descriptive writing and the ability to bring subjects to life, irrespective of news values. In this category, more than any other, we reward good writing, storytelling and command of language.
Lifestyle journalism has become an important addition to the traditional news format. With the exponential growth in the appeal of this content, especially on the digital and online platforms. Changes in our economic, cultural and social strata now more than ever require uplifting stories – stories that inspire and motivate. Breaking news around celebrities, ordinary people (zero-to-hero stories), politics, art and entertainment, including film, all require a skill for presentation and a knack for storytelling in this genre. Individuality, self‐expression and quality of life are important fundamentals in this category, together with events and entertainment, food, leisure, fashion, health and fitness, consumerism and music. In this broad category of infotainment, the judges will focus on stories that still maintain credible journalism integrity while at the same time drawings on the light‐hearted and humorous with creative storytelling capability.
At its best, sport unifies and inspires the nation – but it can also bring division, disaster and dissent. The many moods of our people can be reflected in sports journalism as it celebrates the glory and elegance of great sporting achievements, analyses, questions or even mourns great sporting heroes. The judges are looking for eloquent and lucid, in‐depth sports journalism that goes beyond reporting on results and numbers, but brings unusual and innovative perspectives. Your winning entry could be hard news, investigative or a feature, as long as it is based on sport.
Financial and economic news and features reflect the reality behind the dreams, aspirations and promises of governments, corporates, entrepreneurs and every household in the land as they hit the bedrock of reality. Overspending comes back to haunt you, whether you are a director‐general of a government department or an ordinary person trying to juggle what you owe. Forces beyond one’s control – from international war and volatile fuel prices to a pandemic that decimated global economic growth – can crush the best strategies. Unethical or corrupt conduct in a supply chain can leave those who should have benefitted counting their losses. Good financial and economic journalism keeps politicians and civil servants, businesses and citizens well informed so that better choices can be made to enhance our collective and individual present and future. The judges are looking for in‐depth features and investigations in any SA journalistic medium or media that combine excellent storytelling with illuminating insights into the stories underpinning financial and economic news.
In its broadest sense, politics is that branch of science that deals with or is involved in the area of power contestations. For the purposes of this category, we confine ourselves to power exercised by government authority. Among others, this will include parliamentary processes, extra‐parliamentary organisations such as political parties, and of course bodies/institutions that seek to influence the direction of how a government and/or a country is run, for example, labour unions. Entries for this category will cover, primarily: government power and how it is pursued at that level; organisations or bodies whose primary mission is the exertion of influence on government to adopt a particular posture or direction; political figures unless the individual is manifestly involved in areas that have nothing to do with their exercise of power such as family customary activities; pressure groups and union federations; citizen activism that specifically seeks to change the direction of government, or exert pressure on government authority to act or behave in a particular way, whether in relation to governance generally or a specific issue such as non‐delivery of services.
The judges will be looking to reward stories about politics that are well reported and made a difference to society, either by leading to prosecution of offenders, the resignation of a perpetrator, changes in legislation or the establishment of a commission of inquiry, among others. The winning entry could be a hard-news piece, an investigation or a feature.
In the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, South Africa has become a paradigm of the global south’s environmental dilemmas. Extreme weather conditions from drought to flooding already disrupt human and broader environmental sustainability. The spotlight shines on the clash between this country’s unresolved socio‐economic issues and its status as a globally recognised hotspot for biodiversity. It also shines, for instance, on South Africans’ constitutional right to a healthy environment – in defence of which citizens have come out on the streets to make their voices heard. All levels of South African society are being challenged to find innovative and ingenious ways of balancing conservation and sustainable solutions against development and exploitation. In this category, the judges are looking for in‐depth features and investigations in any SA journalistic medium or media that report evocatively and with insight on the challenges and solutions of planning a sustainable future for South Africa and its heritage.
The manner in which news is broken or reported live has changed in an era of 24‐hour television news channels, internet television and radio shows, and social media. People no longer look to traditional media as a source of breaking news. The judges will be looking to reward journalists who are first – and correct – with breaking news, but also with live reporting, whether this is on television, radio or on social media platforms. We will seek to reward those who break important news stories despite obstacles being thrown in their way, from a lack of resources or what may appear to be unrealistic deadlines to stonewalling sources.
Telling a vital story with a single picture or series of pictures, capturing a specific moment in time that will enlighten, enrich, even enrage the audience, are some of the ways in which the valuable and sometimes life‐threatening work of South African photographers illuminates our country’s past, present and future. An entry may consist of a single photograph or a photographic essay published on any or all platforms of South African media. The judges are looking for the South African pictures that really are worth a thousand words.
From the advent of an Online Journalism category and the introduction of Social Media Journalism in 2011 to the arrival of Data Journalism and Multi‐Platform categories in 2018, the awards have constantly embraced change in the evolving media landscape. As most journalism acquired a digital or interactive component, and with data analysis and multi‐platform use became essential rather than specialised areas, such recognition had to evolve again. Innovation in Journalism embraces digital, social, analytics and cross‐platform use. The judges will look for cutting-edge use of digital methods and media, which utilise both existing and emerging tools in telling or breaking a story. In particular, it will aim at rewarding stories that contribute to redefining how we practise and produce journalism.
The Vodacom Young Journalist Award is run in support of developing journalism in South Africa and nurturing newsroom talent - there is no room for failure in sound journalistic storytelling. The future of our country relies on the dedication of journalists to uncover the truth, spark conversations, and drive positive change. The national winner of this award receives an all-expenses paid course to fast-track their development in journalism.
The Lifetime Achiever is decided by the judges, based on their assessment of a person who has made an invaluable contribution to the industry over many years. This is the only category where nominations are not actively sought from others in the industry. There is no financial prize associated with this prestigious award.