Legal Journalist of the Year

AWARDING OUTSTANDING LEGAL JOURNALISM

The Webber Wentzel Legal Journalist of the Year Award recognises outstanding work in the field of legal journalism. It was founded in 1999 to acknowledge the role played by journalists in promoting knowledge of the judiciary and understanding of the country’s civil and criminal justice systems.

THE PRIZES

No runner up prizes will be awarded.

WHO MAY ENTER

Any journalist reporting on legal issues in the print or electronic media in the Republic of South Africa.

THE AWARDS CEREMONY

The winners will be announced at an award ceremony to be held at Webber Wentzel, 10 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Johannesburg on Wednesday 9 November 2011 from 12h30 to 14h00. The guest speaker at the ceremony will be Ferial Haffajee, editor of the City Press newspaper.

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES

Entries must be received by no later than 17h00 on Wednesday, 12 October 2011 (Proof of publication must be included).

JUDGES:

John Campbell has been a practising advocate since December 1989 and has appeared in various fora including the Constitutional Court, the High Court, the Competition Tribunal, the Advertising Standards Authority and the Independent Electoral Commission. John has also served as an assessor on the Labour Appeal Court, an Arbitrator under the aegis of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa and has done a wide variety of pro bono work. He has had numerous articles published and is the co-author of Competition Law (Juta, 2002).

Franz Krüger is adjunct professor and director of the Wits Radio Academy. He is also the ombud for the Mail & Guardian, a member of the SA Press Appeals Panel and the editor of www.journalism.co.za. His book Black, white and grey: journalism ethics in South Africa was published in 2004, while a second title, The Radio Journalism Toolkit, was published in 2006. Both are widely used as prescribed text at colleges and universities in South Africa and abroad.

JUDGING CRITERA:

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. Balanced and objective 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.

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSIONS:

Entrants should submit no more than four articles published between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011 in the print category and no more than four DVDs, CDs, video clips or cassette recordings of broadcasts (TV or Radio) made between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2011. The four articles or broadcasts may be on individual topics or part of a series of articles or programmes. Submissions should be accompanied by a brief synopsis of their content, together with the reasons for their selection. Editorial commentary submissions should be accompanied by a letter from the entrant’s editor confirming that the material is the entrant’s own work. Radio entries should not exceed 20 minutes in length.

2008 - 2010 WINNERS:

2010
Print media: Franny Rabkin: Business Day
Electronic media: Michael Duffet: Face to Face Films

2009
Print media: Franny Rabkin: Business Day
Electronic media: Hazel Friedman: SABC

2008
Print media: Rob Rose: Financial Mail
Electronic media: Sasha Wales-Smith: SABC

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION FORM.