By: Gofaone Motsamai
Prof Gilbert Motsaathebe of the North-West University (NWU) serves as a longstanding judge at the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards. As an academic at the NWU with extensive experience in the media industry, Prof Motsaathebe has served as a judge at these awards since 2021, contributing his expertise and commitment to upholding excellence in South African journalism.
The recent awards saw more than 1 200 entries across 12 categories, with a distinguished judging panel convened by Ryland Fisher. The panel included notable figures such as Arthur Goldstuck, Patricia McCraken, Neo Ntsoma, Dr Elna Rossouw and Jovial Rantao, among others.
Prof Motsaathebe highlighted the remarkable combined experience of the panel. “It is indeed an honour for myself as a judge and the institution I am affiliated with. It is particularly an honour to work with highly esteemed fellow panel members who had illustrious and impeccable careers in journalism. Combined, we have over 400 years of journalism experience,” Prof Motsaathebe shared.
Reflecting on the judging process, he explained that it is a rigorous and thorough exercise. “The process involves going through over the entries of varying quality to decide the winning entries. Each judge conducts their own selection independently over a period of a few weeks before the judging panel convenes to make a final selection,” he noted.
Entrants compete across 12 categories, including Investigative Journalism, Politics, Live Reporting and Breaking News, Opinion, Lifestyle, Features, Photography, Sport, Financial and Economics, Sustainability, Innovation, and the Young Journalist of the Year Award. Journalists also enter from five regions: Gauteng; Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo; KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga; the Western Cape; and the Eastern Cape.
“One of the most pleasing things about this process is seeing the quality of journalism reflected in many of these entries. This makes one very proud indeed to be involved with this premier competition,” said Prof Motsaathebe.
Prof Gilbert Motsaathebe.
