The public can now vote for their favourite Newsmaker of the Year 2013 with the annual event having been launched last week.
The event sees KZN-linked individuals or events that most grabbed the headlines and shaped the news battle it out for the top spot as members of the public vote for their favourite candidate.

This year’s candidates are:

• Chad le Clos – 2012 Olympic gold medalist (SMS 1)
• The KZN response to storms havoc (SMS 2)
• The World-class economic summit (BRICS); and soccer tournament (AFCON) – hosted by Durban and KZN (SMS 3)
• The KZN road to Mangaung – ANC president Jacob Zuma’s re-election (SMS 4)

The public can vote for their chosen newsmaker by sending an SMS to 34382. Each SMS costs R2.00.

Hashim Amla, South African cricket hero and sporting sensation, won a landslide victory in 2011 becoming the first KZN Newsmaker of the Year while provincial soccer team Amazulu FC took the crown last year (2012) with over 12 000 votes.

Guests at this year’s media launch included Councilor Logie Naidoo; eThekwini Speaker, Professor Ahmed Bawa; DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal and Judy Sandison; SABC KZN Managing Editor, members of the media as well as staff and students from DUT.

The media launch was held at the DUT Hotel School Restaurant. Media freedom was in the spotlight during the event, with speakers urging the media and society to “jealously guard media and speech freedom”. Prof Bawa also called on universities to take up pertinent issues such as media freedom, saying they (universities) cannot keep quiet while the media gets muzzled.

“There are things that universities have to do apart from their core function. Universities also have to take a stand on a number of pertinent issues in our society. We have to safeguard freedom of speech; the right to have your say. Once those elements of our constitution start to erode, it’s only a matter of time before academic freedom and institutional autonomy are also eroded. We must stand up and argue for those rights,” said Bawa, adding that the annual event is also a statement for DUT to make about the importance of media freedom.

Mary Papayya, DUT Journalism Board Chairman and KZN Newsmaker of the Year Convenor said the nominees received the lion’s share of the news coverage across all KZN media – print, radio and television. “The stories came in varying forms ranging from hard news, to feature stories and in-depth reports. The judges also acknowledge and commend our editors and journalists for their important role in our region and democracy,” she said.

Alan Khan, Senior Director: Corporate Affairs at DUT said the event allowed DUT to be at the forefront of platforms of critical engagement and dialogue. “The university has a good track record of excellent partnerships with all sectors, including business, community and private entities. This partnership with the city allows us to contribute to debate and dialogue and to build a healthy democracy. It is a good platform for public engagement for our City and Province,” he said.

Councillor Naidoo, who represented eThekwini Municipality Mayor James Nxumalo, said the Newsmaker event was a great partnership between the media, City and DUT. “This isn’t about announcing a Newsmaker. It’s a celebration of our democracy and a recognition of who we are, where we are coming from and where we’re headed. This year also features great candidates (as previous years). It’s about the people and events that made the fabric of our province,” he said.

The judging panel consists of Mary Papayya, Dr Rene Smith; DUT Faculty of Arts and Design Deputy Dean (Acting), David Canning; Training Editor at Independent Newspapers KZN and Sandison.

Proceeds from this event go towards a bursary for studies in Journalism at DUT.

– Sinegugu Ndlovu

Pictured at the Newsmaker of the Year 2013 media launch are (from left): Ravi Moodley from the eThekwini Municipality, Alan Khan; Director of Corporate Affairs at DUT, Maud Blose; DUT Journalism Programme Co-ordinator, Judy Sandison; SABC KZN Managing Editor, Councilor Logie Naidoo; eThekwini Speaker, Mary Papayya; DUT Journalism Board Chairman and KZN Newsmaker of the Year Convenor, Dr Rene Smith; DUT Faculty of Arts and Design Deputy Dean (Acting) and Prof Ahmed Bawa; DUT Vice Chancellor and Principal.