Roll of honour for the ZO

ONCE again proving its worth in the media industry, the Zululand Observer was crowned winner in no fewer than four categories at the annual Caxton Excellence Awards on Thursday.

Both the ZO and Eyethu Bay Watch were finalists in the Best Front Page of the Year category, while graphic layout artist Benice Gertzen claimed top honours in the Ad Designer of the Year category.

The judges complimented Benice’s typography, use of modern ideas and top-class design concepts, for which she was awarded a prize of R10 000.

In the Best Written and Designed Large Advertisement category, the ZO once again came out tops, with the team of Wannita Smith and Gertzen taking the win for their feature ‘Avis: Are you going to visit your family in rural Zululand?’.

This team was also finalists in the Best Written and Designed Advertorial Promotion category.

‘Discover Zululand’, a feature focusing on the many interesting things to do in and around this beautiful part of the country, was created by Theresa Botha (creative), Tanya Smit (sales) and Mari Scott (editorial). The judges named them winners in the category for Best Major Advertisement Feature for their work, saying the content was relevant, with the design complementing the feature.

Motoring journalist and ZO contributing columnist Val van der Walt was named a finalist in the Best Regular Column category for his humorous and honest musings on a variety of unusual life experiences.

The ZO is a community newspaper – your community newspaper – and that is why the editorial staff are proud to have won the Best Community Involvement award, for their Pet Selfie print and online feature.

Focusing on creating awareness and rallying support for the SPCA, the feature was headed up by Tamlyn Jolly, who involved our readers by focusing on their moments with their own beloved pets.

In the photographic categories, journalist Larry Bentley was a finalist in the Best Human Interest Photo category.

Hard news reporter Orrin Singh was a finalist – and earned a special mention – in the Multimedia Journalist of the Year category.

The judges said he provided excellent context, good follow-ups and thorough investigations into stories that translated well in both print and online.

Editor-in-Chief Dave Savides said the awards reflected well on the editorial and advertising quality the ZO brings to its readers and clients.

‘The competition enables us to benchmark ourselves against scores of local newspapers in the country.

‘To know that we are consistently in the top echelons is reassuring to all and a source of pride to us.’

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