Winners of the SAB Sports Media Award 2019
The awards aim to recognise journalists who excel in reporting South African sport across the written word, digital, photography, video and audio.
Sports journalists were honoured for their excellent reportage in various sporting codes in South Africa, Africa and worldwide during the annual 39th SAB Sports Media Awards ceremony at the Wanderer’s Club, Johannesburg, on December 4.
The awards aim to recognise journalists who excel in reporting South African sport across the written word, digital, photography, video and audio.
Over the last few years, the SAB has made a commitment to keep these awards in line with best global practices, listening in earnest to the feedback received from the sports media in the country, past judges, entrants and winners, to ensure they are reflective of both the local and global media landscape.
“The judges were all extremely passionate about the industry,” said convener of the judges, John Perlman.
“Comments from the judges included remarks that some of the entries were simply breath-taking and restored [their] faith in South African journalism.
“Because of unrelenting pressure of daily shows, hourly bulletins and the beast of the 24-hour news cycle, a lack of creativity and originality has crept in.
“Whether positive or negative, these sentiments reflect a desire to see South African sports journalism flourish. We aim to encourage new entrants into covering sport – increasing competition and further increasing quality of sports reporting,” added Perlman
SAB director of external communications Africa Zone Refilwe Masemola said: “We are very proud of our deserving journalists who have done some excellent work.”
Winners in each category received a cash prize of R15 000. The winner of the photography sub-category Action Shot of the Year and the Newcomer of the Year in each category received R5 000.
The ceremony also saw soccer and rugby commentator Mthuthuzeli Scott inducted into the SAB Sports Hall of Fame. It also acknowledged sports freelance writer Simnikiwe Xabanisa as the Sports Journalists’ Journalist of the Year.
The SAB Sports Media Award winners for 2019 are:
Integrated media awards
• Winner – Lloyd Burnard, News24.com
• Newcomer of the Year (photography, written, video and audio media), joint award to Ahmed Kajee and Michael Pedro, both from EWN
Audio media awards
• Sports Commentator of the Year – Johan Le Roux, Radio 2000.
• Sports Presenter of the Year – Thabiso Mosia, SAfm.
• Sports News Reporter of the Year – Mosibodi Whitehead, Kaya FM
• Sports Producer of the Year – Jody Hendricks, RSG.
• Newcomer of the Year – Sibusiso Mjikeliso, TimesLive.
Written media awards
• Sports Feature Writer of the Year – Sibusiso Mjikeliso, freelance.
• Sports Columnist of the Year – Simnikiwe Xabanisa, City Press and SA Rugby Mag.
• Sports news reporter of the Year – Marizanne Kok, Beeld and Rapport.
• Newcomer of the Year — Lorenz Kohler, Kick Off.
Photography awards
• Sports Photographer of the Year – Sydney Seshibedi, Gallo Images.
• Action Shot of the Year – Wessel Oosthuizen, Saspa.
Video media awards
• Sports Commentator of the Year- Matthew Pearce, SuperSport.
• Sports News Reporter of the Year – Ronald Masinda, eNCA.
• Sports Producer of the Year – Tyrone Bailey, SuperSport.
• Sports Presenter of the Year – Julia Stuart, SuperSport.
• Newcomer of the Year – Benjamin Leshoro, Newzroom Afrika.
General awards
• Journalists Journalist of the Year – Simnikiwe Xabanisa, freelancer.
• Hall of Fame – Mthuthuzeli Scott, SABC.
