Cell phone company offers lucrative media prize

Cape Town- South Africa (PANA) -- Cell phone giant, Vodacom, is offering South Africa's most lucrative media prize in a new competition to honour excellence in journalism.
The decision to provide valuable prizes is born out of Vodacom's commitment to the power of communication and its belief in the crucial contribution journalists make to the betterment of society.
Total cash prizes of R450,000 (45,000 USD) will be on offer in the Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2002 competition.
This includes a grand prize of R100,000 in cash for South Africa's most outstanding journalist.
The winner of the grand prize and the title Vodacom Journalist of the Year, will be announced at an Award Ceremony on 2 November.
Other cash prizes totalling R350 000 will go to 50 other prize-winners in this new competition which aims to carve its name among the most prestigious journalism awards on offer.
Journalists have until 31 July 2002 to enter the competition and submissions must be material broadcast or published between 1 January 2002 and 30 June 2002.
"This new awards programme will reach right across the length and breadth of South Africa and across all forms of media to find the work which epitomises the excellence of South African journalism," said Joan Joffe, Vodacom's Group Executive.
"In a fast changing world it is important to recognise the contributions made by journalists in print, radio, photography and television in South Africa.
"The Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award is a national initiative aimed at honouring outstanding journalists who report with insight and clarity in the face of political, social or economic pressures," said Joffe.
An independent judging panel comprising some of the country's best known and respected academics and former media personalities will adjudicate the awards and the results will be audited by De Loitte