GABORONE – The BIHL Group continues to drive opportunities to enhance support and growth of the media industry, including leveraging those through Sanlam, a shareholder in the Group. In this vein, the Group is pleased to announce an open call for entries for the 2021 Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism to qualifying members of the media across Botswana. The renowned platform is one of the leading prizes in Africa recognising exceptional business journalism since 1974.
The awards are open for works in print, radio, television, and online media, open to all recognised members of the media with a focus on finance or business. Applicants must be working in a Botswana news organisation, publishing or broadcasting their works on the continent.
Entries must be published between 1 January and 31 December 2021 and submitted through the Sanlam website here: www.sanlam.co.za/sponsorships/media/financialjournalism/enter/Pages/entry-form.aspx.
The link also has detailed information on the eligibility guidelines, criteria on submitted works, and entry rules for the awards. Submissions must include only three pieces of journalistic work in English. The deadline for entries is 28 February 2022. The competition comprises category prizes and special awards, as follows:
| CATEGORY AWARDS | SPECIAL AWARDS |
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The Africa Growth Story category was introduced in 2013 to recognise exceptional business journalism focusing on the growth of the continent in terms of investment, infrastructure development, economic progress, and related topics. Stories should reflect a Pan African outlook and regional integration theme. Winners of the special awards are selected through a rigorous nomination and evaluation process by the independent judging panel.
BIHL Group CEO, Catherine Lesetedi said, “This is an Africa wide platform we are pleased to extend to our partners and colleagues in the Botswana media sector. The role of the fourth estate cannot be emphasised enough, for media play an essential part in sharing news, stories, consumer education and more. This is a sector that has also been sorely affected by COVID-19, and their craft and efforts must be cherished and grown further. We have exceptional talent in journalism, and young talent to nurture too. This is but one means through which we can help foster a culture of excellence and high standards in reporting and I encourage all eligible to submit their entries.”
For over four decades, the awards have been acknowledging the best financial journalism in Africa and have attracted widespread interest from the continent. In 2020, the judging panel received 100 entries from journalists representing more than 40 media organisations. The Africa Growth Story, a popular category in the competition, received 23 entries spanning countries across the geopolitical and economic blocks of the continent.
Beyond the recognition of being named a winner, there are also key prizes for the various awards levels, being:
*Category winners receive R25 000
*First runners-up receive R15 000
*Second runners-up receive R10 000
*Best Newcomer receive R20 000
*Sanlam Journalist of the Year receive R35 000
As part of the prize money, the winner is hosted by Sanlam Group Communications to visit an operation of Sanlam international office, usually India, Kenya, or Morocco.
- Sanlam Lifetime Achievement award recipient does not receive a cash prize
- All winners receive a certificate of recognition
The judging panel consists of Nixon Kariithi (chair of the panel), Paula Fray (expert media trainer), Charles Naude (retired business editor), Ulrich Joubert (retired independent economist), Ylva Rodny Gumede (head of the division for Internationalisation and professor in the school of communication at the University of Johannesburg) Angela Agoawike (communications consultant based in Nigeria), Tom Indimuli (media consultant based in Kenya), and Emily May Brown (media lecturer at Polytechnic of Namibia).