Group Editors polish their dancing shoes

GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - Group Editors' journalists, editors, graphic designers and digital team members are looking forward to attending the prestigious Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards taking place tomorrow evening, Friday 22 August, in Stellenbosch.

The Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) is a national platform dedicated to fostering excellence in printed and online community journalism.

This year, the Avbob FCJ Awards 2024 received an impressive 541 entries from community newspapers across South Africa.

As publisher of local newspapers across the Southern Cape, Group Editors excelled in 10 categories, with numerous nominations for each of its printed newspapers, as well as group and individual nominations in the different writing, photographic and digital categories.

George Herald, Knysna-Plett Herald, Mossel Bay Advertiser, Oudtshoorn Courant and Suid-Kaap Forum are all nominated in the category Best Paid for Newspaper of the Year, with George Herald and Suid-Kaap Forum also in line to nab the award for the Best Back Page.

"Community newspapers shone brightly in 2024, covering vital local news, while major events like the George building collapse, unrest in Mozambique, and the drug crisis, captured national and international attention," says FCJ convening judge, Dr. André Gouws, senior lecturer in languages and cultural sciences at Akademia.

Group Editors CEO Servaas de Kock and Group Editor Suzette Herrer, will join their team's flash visit to the Boland, rooting for our newspapers at the award ceremony at the Protea Hotel Stellenbosch and Conference Centre in Techno Park.

As the team pack their bags in George, they are leaving plenty of room for trophies and certificates, so please keep your fingers crossed!In front are Group Editors digital team leader Beatrice Esterhuysen and George Herald journalist Alida de Beer. At the back: Michelle Pienaar (George Herald journalist), Lizette da Silva (George Herald editor), Kristy Kolberg (George Herald journalist), Jeff Ayliffe (Group Editors content creator) and Group Editors graphic designers Periette Nel and Annalene Lindeque. Photo: Cameron Squire

Writing: Digital reporting

George Herald Team (Lizette da Silva, Kristy Kolberg, Alida de Beer and Michelle Pienaar)
Group Editors Digital Team (Ilse Schoonraad, Beatrice Esterhuysen, Dot Ings, Esté Smit, Cameron Squire, Wyndham Ewerts and Jannie du Plessis)
Jeff Ayliffe, George Herald
Kristy Kolberg, George Herald

Writing: Editorial comment