Investigative journalist, Lindokuhle Xulu of Financial Mail, has scooped the Financial Journalist of the Year award at the Sanlam Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism which were presented in Johannesburg on Tuesday night. Xulu won for his Moneyweb investigative and analytical coverage of the Wendy Machanik Property Holdings story.
In addition to taking top honours, Xulu also won first prize in the Markets & Companies (dailies & online) category and was first runner-up in the Economy & Industry (dailies& online) category. In 2010, Xulu won title as best newcomer in the Awards.
Comments Mr Peter Vundla, convener of the judging panel and chairman of AMB Capital Limited: “Lindo fulfilled most of the adjudicators’ expectations in serving the information needs of a very diverse audience. Using multiple forms of media, he has contributed to shaping opinions by simplifying complex matters and thereby expanding the understanding of financial matters in South Africa. His work was offered across topics, gaining momentum as it spread into different mediums – and engaged us in the depth it offered.”
The Lifetime Achievement in Financial Journalism Award was conferred on 1998 Financial Journalist of the Year, Ethel Hazelhurst in recognition of her consistently outstanding work. Hazelhurst is currently a senior economics writer at Business Report.
Phakamisa Ndzamela of Business Day received the Best Newcomer Award and was also the second runner up in the Personal Finance (financial media) category.
Other award winners:
• Joy Summers took the Audiovisual award for her contribution to Carte Blanche.
• Jan de Lange of Sake 24, won for the third consecutive time the Economy and Industry (dailies and online) category;
• Claire Bisseker of Financial Mail, took the honours in the Economy and Industry (magazines and weeklies) category. Bisseker won last year’s award in the special section on the economic implications and effect of the 2010 FIFA World Cup;
• Stephen Cranston of Financial Mail for his collection of entries received an award in the Markets & Companies (magazines and weeklies) category;
• Bruce Cameron of Personal Finance won the Personal Finance (financial media) category for his collection of entries; and
• Patricia McCracken received the Personal Finance (non-financial media) award for her freelance collection.
Initiated by Sanlam in 1974, these are the longest running financial journalism awards in South Africa.
The adjudicators are:
• Peter Vundla, who is the convener and Chairman at AMB Capital;
• Ulrich Joubert, economist at Kruger International;
• Maud Motanyane, Chairperson of Kagiso Media;
• Reg Rumney, Director of the Centre for Economic Journalism in Africa at Rhodes University;
• Caroline Southey, former editor of the Financial Mail and Director of Informal Markets at Standard Bank;
• Hein Swart, former business editor of Die Burger; and
• Marina Bidoli, Partner at Brunswick Group.
