The awards have been presented under the auspices of the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) for over two decades now and are widely considered as the “Oscars” of the local and community media industry.
At the FCJ Excellence Awards local and community newspapers from all over the country and across all media houses compete against each other to award the best of the best in South Africa.
In the judges’ report they state the following: Our general impression is that the local newspapers are still very much alive in South Africa. They are indeed serving their communities very well.
The awards recognised work published in 2017.
General
News
Sport
Photographer of the Year
Digital reporting
Headlines
In top eight:
Johnny Masilela, The Beat
Madré Marais, Kalahari Bulletin
Pieter Delport, Bloemfontein Courant
Roelien Vorster, Roodepoort Northsider
Wouter Pienaar, Potchefstroom Herald
Editorial comment
In top seven:
Danie Keet, Eikestadnuus
Hennie Stander, Potchefstroom Herald
Lise Beyers, Paarl Post
Tasmin Cupido, District Mail
Columns
In top ten:
Cornelia Carstens, Mosselbaai Advertiser
Jan-Hendrik Coetzer, Hermanus Times
Johnny Masilela, Die Pos
Marlene Jordaan, Worcester Standard
Michelle van der Spuy, Eikestadnuus
Raymond Willemse, District Mail
Tobie van den Bergh, Middelburg Observer
Sport
In top ten:
Carli Koch, Lowvelder
Earl Haupt, People's Post
Ettienne van Rensburg, Vaalweekblad
Joe Dreyer, Far North Bulletin
Raymond Willemse, District Mail
Tandy-Lee Marinus, Paarl Post/Worcester Standard
Wouter Pienaar, Potchefstroom Herald
Human interest
In top ten:
Alida Buckle, Weslander
Bianca du Plessis, Hermanus Times
Lauren O’Connor May, Northern News
Lise Beyers, Paarl Post
Nadine Williams, Eikestadnuus
Nielen de Klerk, TygerBurger
Tshifhiwa Mukwevho, Limpopo Mirror
Investigative reporting
In top four:
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Hard news
In top twelve:
Alida Buckle, Weslander
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Hazel Allies-Husselman, Athlone News
Karen Watkins, Constantia Bulletin
Ronél van Jaarsveld, Die Pos
Samantha Lee, People’s Post
Tamlynne Thompson, The CapeTowner
Trish Goosen, Weslander
Yolande du Preez, False Bay Echo
Alet Roux Award
It is awarded to the best newcomer - a journalist with less than three years' experience.
Journalist of the Year
In top ten:
Andries van Zyl, Zoutpansberger
Bianca du Plessis, Hermanus Times
Dustin Wetdewich, Potchefstroom Herald
Jamey Gordon, District Mail
Joe Dreyer, Far North Bulletin
Marianke Saayman, Potchefstroom Herald
Tamlynne Thompson, The CapeTowner
Newspapers
Front pages
Independent commercial newspapers
Corporate-owned free newspapers
Corporate-owned paid newspapers
Newspaper of the year
Independent commercial newspapers
Corporate-owned free newspapers
Corporate-owned paid newspapers, circulation less than 10,000
– Hultzer trophy
Corporate-owned paid newspapers, circulation more than 10,000
– Cronwright Trophy
The FCJ congratulates all the winners on a job well done and looks forward to next year’s competition and entries.