Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2009 Winner

Nomsa Maseko was named the 2009 Vodacom Journalist of the Year winner and received R125 000 for Xenophobia in Gauteng on Talk Radio 702's Eyewitness News With her is judge Robin Sewlal, left, and Romeo Kumalo, right, Executive Director: Commercial (Vodacom SA).

Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2009 Radio News Winner

Nomsa Maseko (centre) was named radio news journalist of the year at the annual Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards for Xenophobia in Gauteng on Talk Radio 702's Eyewitness News. She received the award from Romeo Kumalo, left, Executive Director: Commercial (Vodacom SA) and judge Rich Mkhondo, right. Said the judges of the winning piece: "A journalist or reporter putting together a radio newscast has to figure out how they can incorporate the kind of news the public is looking for, not just to report the headlines of the day or to use a reference or two sourced from their network. The challenge is to localise those issues. The world becomes smaller all the time, and there are many ways to take national and international stories and make them relevant for local audience with the core mission still being journalism and informative reporting. Nomsa Maseko did exactly that. She managed to get the listener hooked in her subject, xenophobia, by telling the plight of victims in such a way that one felt emotionally affected."

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award - nominated by the judges - was awarded to veteran journalist Khaba Mhhize. PIC BY LETTIE FERREIRA

Khaba Mkhize (center) received the lifetime achievement award at the annual Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards. He received the award from Romeo Kumalo (right), Executive Director: Commercial (Vodacom SA) and judge Maud Motanyane (left). Said the judges: "Khaba Mkhize is recognised for his relentless contribution to great journalism during the pre- and post-democratic phases of our country's history. He is an award winning and well respected journalist in SA, on the continent and abroad. He began as a cub reporter at The Natal Witness in KwaZulu-Natal nearly 30 years ago and went on to become one of the publication's most revered and celebrated editors. He epitomised the credibility of the traditional craft of journalism. He brought honour to those he worked with. He is a prolific writer whose contributions have graced some of the most influential news publications in our country and abroad. He is an author, artist, poet and a cultural commentator. His name is synonymous with a passion for great story telling, fearless reporting, a more than worthy contribution to the transformation of newsrooms and to media freedom during an era of apartheid's most fierce and draconian stranglehold on the fourth estate. Even so, his role went beyond KwaZulu-Natal and the realm of reporting. He contributed to debates and discussions that would go on to have a profound realisation in our democracy. He was one of the few media leaders of his time who understood the great gift of story-telling and its ability to reflect the truth when it mattered most. Yet, it was his humility and quest for unselfishly teaching, mentoring and nurturing young journalists that makes him one of the most respected media icons of our country today."

To read the Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2009 winner press release click here.