In a year characterised by the sheer volume of weighty financial news stories, Ms Susan Comrie of amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism was last night named the 2016 Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year at the awards gala in Johannesburg.
Comrie also won the Business and Companies and Print Financial Journalist of the Year categories for her submission of a series of investigative pieces on a state-owned entity. Presenting the coveted Sanlam Financial Journalist of the Year award to Comrie, the adjudication panel said they had been struck by the writer’s capacity to turn a complex story into a series of accessible pieces that reflected her own understanding of the issue and her innovative narrative and use of the medium.
Commenting on the 2016 entries, convenor on the panel, Mr Peter Vundla said: “It is clear that the much-talked about state capture is not just about politics but indeed about the economy and the political economy because of its far reaching impact.”
Veteran journalist, Ms Ann Crotty, who the judges referred to as the doyen of financial journalism, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award. “She has kept her passion for detail, especially in analysing annual financial statements. This unique professional characteristic shows in her investigative work even today. In recent years, she has used her knowledge of companies to extend her coverage to issues of social justice,” the panel said.
Mr Aviwe Mtila of CNBC Africa won the Best Newcomer award. Just two years into financial journalism, Mtila entered for three categories, including the Financial Markets one in which he was one of only 10 entrants.
Other winners last night were:
· Ms Claire Bisseker (Financial Mail): Economy
· Mr Rob Rose (Financial Mail): Financial markets
· Mr Ryk van Niekerk (Moneyweb): Consumer financial education and Radio Financial Journalist of the Year
· Ms Joy Summers (M-Net Carte Blanche): Television Financial Journalist of the Year
· Craig McKune (amaBhungane): Online Financial Journalist of the Year
· Ancillar Mangena (Forbes Magazine): The African Growth Story
Speaking at the awards presentation, Sanlam Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ian Kirk said: “At a time when South Africa faces a myriad of challenges, the role of financial journalists, in particular, is important in supporting the country in the efforts to build the sustainable and inclusive growth which we must all strive for.”
Kirk added: “That is why Sanlam has continued to support the Awards and other initiatives aimed at contributing to the advancement of journalism, either through training or recognition. I therefore hope that an initiative such as these awards conveys our modest acknowledgement of this role that you, the media, play in the bigger narrative of our society.”
Comrie says: “It is a vote of confidence when a financial expert like Sanlam recognises your work. I am honoured to be awarded amongst veterans in financial journalism, people who I’ve looked up to throughout my career. My winning stories on Optimum Coal and Eskom’s relations with the Guptas show that investigative stories are rarely not financial stories. It’s exciting times for financial journalists and I look forward to coming back again next year, this time with the amaBhungane team effort on state capture and all the other stories I have written in 2017.”
The African Growth Story was introduced in 2013 and is open to journalists who practice in Africa and whose work is published and/or broadcast on the continent. This year’s winner, Ms Ancillar Mangena from Forbes Africa magazine, was last year’s Best Newcomer Mangena’s work stands for everything the award embodies, highlighting the continent’s economic awakening as well as the obstacles and challenges to growth in terms of investments, infrastructural development and economic progress.
For more information visit http://bit.ly/SFJOY
· The Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism have celebrated exceptional financial journalism since 1974.
· They were established – and are still sponsored – by leading Pan-African financial services provider, Sanlam.
· They carry a purse of more than R300 000, the winner of each category receives a prize of R25 000 while the overall winner receives an additional R35 000, and the best newcomer merit winner a prize of R20 000.
· The judging panel uses the following criteria to review entries: news value, impact, rigour in reporting, analytical value, originality, integrity, specialist knowledge and story-telling.
· The 2016 panel was:
· Mr Peter Vundla: Convenor
· Ms Caroline Southey, editor of The Conversation Africa
· Mr Charles Naudé, retired editor of Sake24
· Prof Franz Krüger adjunct professor of journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand
· Mr Jabulani Sikhakhane, divisional head: The South African Reserve Bank
· Ms Maud Motanyane, chairperson of Kagiso Media
· Prof Nixon Kariithi, CEO of Tangaza Africa Media
· Ms Paula Fray, managing director of frayintermedia
· Mr Ulrich Joubert, independent economist
· Journalists can enter all categories but may only submit one entry per category.
· Winners in the special awards category are selected by the judges and are not entered for.
· Bodies of work must provide a minimum of three and a maximum of five samples of work.
· All reports submitted must have been published between 1 January and 31 December 2016.
ABOUT THE SANLAM GROUP
Sanlam is a leading financial services group listed on the Johannesburg and Namibian Stock Exchanges. Established in 1918 as a life insurance company, the South Africa-based Sanlam Group has transformed into a diversified financial services business.
Through its business clusters – Sanlam Personal Finance, Sanlam Emerging Markets, Sanlam Investments, Santam and the newly established Sanlam Corporate – the Group provides comprehensive and tailored financial solutions to individual and institutional clients across all market segments. The Group’s areas of expertise include insurance (life and general), financial planning, retirement, investments and wealth.
The Group has a direct stake in operations based in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Mauritius, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, India, Malaysia and the United Kingdom and has business interests in the USA, Australia, Burundi, Lesotho and the Philippines. Through a strategic stake in the Saham Finances Group, it has exposure to insurance operations in Morocco, Angola, Algeria, Tunisia, Niger, Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. For further information, visit www.sanlam.com or follow us @sanlam.
