News value:
Relevance, context, breaking news

• Was the journalist the first to break the news?
• Did the journalist present a new, fresh and insightful angle on a story?
• Was the story relevant within the broader societal agenda?
• Was it well contextualised within this relevance?

Impact:
Significance, benefit to society

• Was it of sufficient significance to have an impact on the public?
• Did the story lead to action in the broader sense? E.g. from an industry body, group of consumers, government
• Did it make a positive contribution to society?

Rigour in reporting:
Depth and breadth, accuracy, reliability, thoroughness

• What was the depth of the research conducted by the journalist?
• Did he/she display imagination or resourcefulness in conducting the research?
• Did he/she consult a wide and balanced range of credible sources?
• Are the facts in the story accurate? Is this accuracy evident?

Analytical value:
Insight, analysis, interpretation

• Did the journalist probe the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind the story?
• Did the journalist conduct sound and insightful analysis of the subject matter?
• Did the story indicate that the journalist had an extremely deep knowledge and understanding of the issue or subject matter?
• Did he/she present this interpretation in a clear, concise and credible manner?

Originality:
Enterprise, discovery, originality of subject, originality of initiative, surprising angle

• How original or unique was the subject matter?
• Did the journalist find an angle which was unexpected?
• Did the journalist display enterprise and initiative in finding the topic?
• Did the journalist execute the story in a unique way?

Integrity:
Balance, fairness, independence, transparency

• Did the journalist present a balanced story by consulting all appropriate sources on all sides?
• Did he/she give all sources equal weighting in the final report?
• Was he/she transparent about his sources and methods?
• Are his/her views independent of any third party agenda?
• Did the journalist distinguish between fact and comment?

Specialist knowledge:
depth of understanding of subject matter

• Did the journalist display deep understanding of the subject matter?
• Did the report/s make a positive contribution to the category (business, economy, financial markets, consumer financial education, the Africa growth story)?

Storytelling - written:

• Did the journalist succeed in presenting the topic in an understandable, accessible way?
• Did the writer display quality language use? Judge in terms of style, tone, grammar, sentence construction.
• Did the journalist display a deep understanding of how to use the written word to communicate effectively with readers?
• Was there a strong, compelling introduction to the story?
• Was there a well-developed focus and theme?
• Was the story well-organised and structured?
• Was the writing lively and engaging?

Storytelling - visual:

• Did the journalist succeed in presenting the topic in an understandable, accessible way?
• Did the reporter make exceptional use of the medium through, e.g. innovative techniques?
• Did the journalist display a deep understanding of how to communicate effectively with viewers?
• Was there a strong, compelling introduction to the story?
• Was the narrative clear, concise and grammatically accurate?
• Was the story well organised and structured?
• Was the broadcast lively and engaging?

Storytelling - audio:

• Did the journalist succeed in presenting the topic in an understandable, accessible way?
• Did the reporter make exceptional use of the medium through, e.g. innovative techniques?
• Did the journalist display a deep understanding of how to use their voice to communicate effectively with listeners?
• Did the report have a strong audio impact?
• Was there a strong, compelling introduction to the story?
• Was the narrative clear, concise and grammatically accurate?
• Was the story well-organised and structured?
• Was the broadcast lively and engaging?

Storytelling -multi-media:

• Did the report have a strong combined impact across digital, written, visual, audio channels?
• Did the journalist succeed in presenting the topic in an understandable, accessible way?
• Did the journalist display a deep understanding of how to connect with audiences in all mediums used?
• Did the reporter make exceptional use of the mediums through, e.g. innovative techniques?
• Was there a strong, compelling introduction to the story?
• Was the narrative clear, concise and grammatically accurate?
• Was the story well organised and structured?
• Was the multi-platform story-telling lively and engaging?