Newsrooms don’t look like they used to. Long gone are the days of smoke spiralling from ashtrays in crowded newsrooms, journalists furiously hammering away at keyboards and the sweet smell of drying ink as papers stream from rolling printing presses. It is a romantic, nostalgic image, one irrevocably changed by the digital age. But none of the magic of this essential profession is gone.
This was evident once again at the National Press Club’s (NPC) 2024 Newsmaker and Journalist of the Year Awards, held in Pretoria on Friday 25 April, of which the North-West University (NWU) is the main sponsor.
The Government of National Unity (GNU) was named the Newsmaker of the Year and there is no denying that the GNU hogged the limelight in 2024.
The theme of the evening was ‘Storytelling at its best’ and according to Prof Daryl Balia, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Information Technology and Potchefstroom Campus, a phrase that may sound poetic but is in fact the lifeblood of our democratic society.
“It is through storytelling that we understand who we are, where we come from, what we aspire to be and the challenges we face together. And it is through journalism, one of the most disciplined forms of storytelling, that this national narrative is written and rewritten every single second, minute, hour or day,” he said in his keynote address at the event.
Prof Balia went on to say that the NWU’s investment in the NPC reflects its belief in rewarding journalistic excellence, as it aligns with the University’s core values and principles of transparency, engagement, transformation and impact.
“We do this because we recognise that a strong, independent, and well-resourced media sector is a necessary counterpart to a thriving academic community. Universities have the tools of research, and the media have the tools of reach, and both must be guided by responsibility and purpose. The media plays a crucial role in determining the legitimacy of leadership, and it does so by shaping and influencing public opinion. Last year, South Africa once again demonstrated that we are a country where democracy thrives. Once again, we have shown that we can look beyond our differences and seek common goals. For this system to flourish as it has, we need accountability measures, and here we would like to applaud your steadfast approach to ensuring that honesty and transparency prevail in all aspects of society.”
News 24’s Sikonathi Mantshantsha was named the National Press Club-North-West University (NWU) overall Journalist of the Year, while NWU graduate Brigadier Athlenda Mathe of the South African Police Service was named Spokesperson of the Year.
The other winners were:
Category 1 - Print/Online: News: Norman Masungwini - City Press
Category 2 - Print/Online: Features/Investigative Journalism: Sikonathi Mantshantsha - New24 Investigations
Category 3 - Print/Online: Photojournalist: Felix Dlangamandla - Daily Maverick
Category 4 - Radio: News: Chanel September - Jacaranda FM
Category 5 - Radio: Features: Chanel September - Jacaranda FM
Category 6 - TV: News: Yusuf Abramjee eNCA
Category 7 - TV: Features/In-Depth: Kate Berry - Carte Blanche
Category 8 - TV: Cameraperson: Lee Saunders - The Devi Show, eTV & eNCA
Category 9 - Community News: Print/Online: Dimakatso Modipa - Tshwane Talks
Prof Daryl Balia
