Business/Companies

This category should cover reporting on companies (listed or private), their performance, leadership, management issues as well as corporate governance.

Reporting on business trends and topical issues of the day is included in this category.

Print, online, radio, and TV media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Writing quality
• Audio/TV production value and visual impact (where applicable)

One entry per category.

An entry must consist of only three articles or audio or video recordings published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

Economy

This category should cover reporting on the economy, political economy and the impact of government policy, international policy and events that influence the economy domestically or regionally.

Reporting on economic and political economic trends and issues are included in this category.

Print, online, radio, and TV media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Writing quality
• Audio/TV production value and visual impact

One entry per category.

One entry per category. An entry must consist of only three articles or audio or video recordings published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

Financial markets

This category should cover reporting on financial markets, such as equity and fixed income markets, commodities, and money markets.

Includes reporting on capital markets, merger and acquisitions, and corporate finance.

Print, online, radio, and TV media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Writing quality
• Audio/TV production value and visual impact (where applicable)

One entry per category.

An entry must consist of only three articles or audio or video recordings published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

Consumer financial education

This category should cover reporting that displays a meaningful commitment to educating ordinary Africans on personal finance. Topics covered can include savings, investments, debt, retirement, financial planning, budgeting, and health insurance. The entries should succeed presenting complex information in an easy-to-follow and engaging way for the consumer audience.

Ultimately, the work submitted should contribute to the betterment of the lives of South Africans by improving their understanding of money management and financial planning abilities.

Print, online, radio, and TV media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Educational/informative
• Simplification of complex information for ease of reading/viewing/listening and understanding
• Rigour in reporting
• Analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Writing quality
• Audio/TV production value and visual impact (where applicable)

One entry per category.

An entry must consist of only three articles or audio or video recordings published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

The African Growth Story

This category should cover reporting that specifically covers the economic progress of Africa, highlighting the economic activity of the continent and its challenges and path to sustainable growth.

Stories should focus on the growth of the continent in terms of investments, infrastructural development, economic progress, and related topics

Stories may focus on a particular country or region but should also reflect a continental perspective.

Print, online, radio, and TV media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Audio/TV production value and visual Impact (where applicable)
• Stories may focus on a particular country or region but should reflect a continental perspective.

One entry per journalist.

An entry must consist of only three articles or audio or video recordings published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

Broadcast: Audio

This category should cover reporting through traditional radio or online audio and platforms on themes covering:

• Business and companies
• Economy
• Financial markets
• Consumer financial education
• The African Growth Story

Only radio media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Scripting quality
• Production value
• Audio creativity

One entry per category.

An entry must consist of only three audio recordings and corresponding transcripts broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

Broadcast: Television/Video

This category should cover reporting through the traditional television or video in other new media platforms:

• Business and companies
• Economy
• Financial markets
• Consumer financial education
• The African Growth Story

Only TV media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Scripting quality
• Production value
• Visual impact

One entry per category.

An entry must consist of only three video recordings and corresponding transcripts broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

Business and the Environment

This category should cover reporting on topics that cover how business is engaging with the environment both in-country and internationally.

Reporting should critically cover and explain in-country and / or wider African responses to environmental change, responses to climate issues, sustainability of physical environments in both urban and rural context.

The best reporting and journalism will build awareness and understanding of the responsibilities and engagements of business with broad environmental matters.

Further, the reporting should help to hold accountable those implementing policy and applying funds to activities and projects.

Print, online, radio, and TV media are eligible.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Clarity and analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Writing quality
• Audio/TV Production value
• Visual impact (where applicable)

One entry per category.

An entry must consist of only three articles or audio or video recordings published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

Business and Society
[i.e. Impact of business practices, policies, transactions on society/communities in terms of sustainability issues]

This category requires reporting that goes beyond recording charitable or social investment activities.

Reporting in this category will cover topics that examine how business responds to the interests and concerns of a range of relevant stakeholders.

The best reporting and journalism will develop understanding of the issues, demonstrate innovating in determining impact, and encourage accountability regarding how business interacts with society.

• News value
• Impact
• Rigour in reporting
• Clarity and analytical value
• Originality
• Integrity
• Specialist knowledge
• Writing quality
• Audio/TV Production value
• Visual impact (where applicable)

One entry per category.

An entry must consist of only three articles or recordings published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

Entries will not be returned.

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?
• Is it contextualised within this relevance?

/20

/20

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?

/10

/15

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

• Is there evidence of 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?
• Is there evidence of accuracy?

/20

N/A

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?

/10

N/A

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?

/10

/20

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/her sources and methods?
• Are his/her views independent of any third-party agenda?
• Did the journalist distinguish between fact and comment?

/10

/15

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)?

/20

N/A

Storytelling – written:

• Did the journalist succeed in presenting the topic in an understandable, accessible way?
• Did the writer display quality and creativity in the use of language? Judge in terms of style, tone, grammar, and 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?

N/A

/30

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 impactful visuals and other innovative techniques to tell the story?
• 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?

N/A

/30

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 sound and other 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?

N/A

/30