The winners of the 2009 Webber Wentzel Legal Journalist of the Year competition have been announced. Franny Rabkin from Business Day took first place in the print category, and Hazel Friedman from SABC won the electronic media category.
First place winners received R50 000 each.
Prakash Naidoo from Financial Mail and Sunday Time's Kim Hawkey were runners up in the print category. Stephen Grootes and Mandy Wiener both of Primedia's Eyewitness News were runners up in the electronic category.
This is the 11th year that leading corporate law firm Webber Wentzel has sponsored the competition.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Peter Grealy, partner at Webber Wentzel, said that the awards underlined the high standards of legal analysis and reporting in South Africa. “It’s vital that we acknowledge the role played by journalists in promoting knowledge of the judiciary and understanding of the civil and criminal justice system.”
The judges were: Professor Tawana Kupe from Wits University School of Literature, Language and Media Studies, and Franz Kruger, a senior Lecturer in Journalism at Wits University, Ombudsman at the Mail & Guardian and editor of www.journalism.co.za.
Print media category
Winner: Franny Rabkin, Business Day
The judges said that Rabkin's “Her work deals with some of the major legal controversies we have seen over the past year or so, but goes beyond the immediately obvious, and unpacks some of the legal controversies behind stories in the news. It takes a sophisticated understanding of the law to spot – and write about – the different interpretations of the meaning of prosecutorial independence on display in a range of rulings, as she does in ‘Zuma saga puts constitution to the test’.”’
Electronic media category
Winner: Hazel Friedman, SABC3, Special Assignment
The judges said “In the pieces she tackles the heinous crimes of child sexual abuse in ways that are deeply informative and ethical.”
Judging Criteria
Quality of reporting that demonstrates the ability to understand, interpret and provide in-depth analysis or comment on legal issues and developments that impact on society and people’s lives. Balance and objectivity in reporting and clarity in terms of representing how the given issues impact on or affect the future. Ability of the entrant to report on one or more aspects of the legal issues and proceedings.
2008 Winners
Print media: Rob Rose: Financial Mail
Electronic media: Sasha Wale-Smith: SABC3, Special Assignment
The Judges:
Franz Kruger
Senior lecturer in journalism: Wits University.
Ombudsman: The Mail and Guardian.
Editor: www.journalism.co.za.
Author: Black, White and Grey (Ethics in Journalism) Radio Journalism toolkit.
Correspondent: Canadian, Dutch, American and British radio.
Tawana Kupe
Professsor: School of Literature, Language and Media Studies: Wits University.
Founding Head of Media Studies: Wits University.
Introduced BA Hons degree in Media Studies.
Lecturer: Media Theory: Department of Journalism and Media Studies: Rhodes University. Research projects include the relationship and correlation between systems of governance and the role of the press in Southern African countries.
