South Coast SUN was recently voted as the Newspaper of the Year in its category at the Forum for Community Journalists (FCJ) virtual awards ceremony. The newspaper also won the coveted Best Frontpage in its category at the event. The South Coast SUN’s sister newspaper, Southlands SUN, was a finalist in both the Best Frontpage and Newspaper of the Year categories.
The Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) is an independent, non-profit, non-racial, and voluntary organisation (registered as a Section 21 company) striving to promote and express the interests of all journalists employed on a permanent or freelance basis at regional community newspapers, magazines and online community publications in South Africa. Representing hundreds of journalists from among the estimated 500 community newspapers across the country, the FCJ takes great pride in its duty to safeguard press freedom as the corner stone of any healthy democracy. The national management committee (Board of Directors) also comprises a group of volunteers. The other big initiative is the FCJ’s prestigious annual local media excellence awards. This event is regarded as the “Oscars” of the South African community press industry and was known as the Sanlam/MDDA Community Media Awards until 2014.
“It’s a huge honour to be nominated as a finalist in two of the top awards namely the Newspaper of the Year and Best Frontpage,” said managing editor, Roelien D’Amico. “To win two of the top awards is almost unbelievable. I am extremely proud of every single person in my office.
This award would not be possible if we did not work together as a team. “A lot of planning, sweat and tears go into producing a newspaper on a weekly basis. I am honoured to be part of the SUN team.” The virtual awards were held on Friday, 26 February.
Listen to a message from the executive director of the FCJ, Hugo Redelinghuys about the awards, as well as the announcement made of the SUN’s big win.
