Charl Blignaut, Arts Editor of City Press newspaper, has
been named South Africa’s Arts Journalist of the Year for the second consecutive
year. The prize, together with that of six Gold and five Silver Merit Award
winners, was included in the announcement of the recipients of the 2014 National
Arts Festival Arts Journalist of the Year Awards, presented by Business and
Arts South Africa (BASA) in Grahamstown this morning.
At the announcement, Tony Lankester, CEO of the National
Arts Festival, congratulated the winners but raised a note of concern around
the ever-decreasing amount of coverage afforded the arts. “We need our country’s
editors and senior management in the media sector to recognise the importance
of the arts to a developing society such as ours,” Lankester said. “By
whittling away at the amount of coverage the arts gets, and the resources
allocated to covering the sector, the media are contributing to the erosion of
the public’s understanding of the arts and appreciation of the work of our
artists.”
Referring to the awards as a moment for introspection,
Lankester announced that the convenors would embark on a wide-scale
consultation process to re-assess how entries are solicited and categorized.
“We want to consider whether an ‘observed’ award is more appropriate than an
‘entered’ award, and we want to look at how we acknowledge those media which
promote great arts journalism,” he said. Lankester also challenged media owners
to address transformation in the sector, noting that the pool of entries didn’t
represent diversity and a range of voices.
Michelle Constant, CEO of BASA, which presents the awards,
spoke passionately about lobbying publishers and editors saying that
public/private sector engagement was critical for the industry. Constant said
“Arts is a must have in society and in the current economic climate we must
find equitable partnerships.”
Professor Chris Thurman who convened the judging panel
thanked and praised those who had sifted through the entries, saying: “The
landscape of South African arts journalism is a rich and varied one, even if
(and partly because) those contributing to it do so under often difficult
circumstances”.
Thurman revealed the names of those serving on the judging
panel: Avril Joffe, Fred Khumalo, Gwen Ansell, Neo Ntsoma, Andre le Roux,
Herman Wasserman and Ryland Fisher.
Judges named Gold winners and ‘Silver Merit’ Awards in each
category. Two Gold Award winners were announced in the 2014 Features category. Anna
Stielau, who also received Gold in 2013, was commended for writing which shows
formal innovation and strong subject knowledge, providing great pleasure for
her readers. Oliver Roberts in the same category, was singled out for profile
pieces that offer an entertaining narrative account of the interviewer’s
encounter with the subject, but which also show fine insight into the artist
and their work.
A Silver Special Merit Award was awarded to Nick Mulgrew for
his long-form essay and Rob Boffard for Hip-Hop.
In the Review category two Gold Awards were announced. Matthew
Krause for reviews in the writer’s signature style: often ironic, never
sardonic, but treating the work with care and respect and Steve Kretzmann, for
reviews that are candid but courteous, rigorous and don’t shy away from addressing
the “elephant in the room”.
A Special Merit Award in this section was awarded to Eugene
Yiga for his online innovation.
In the News and Investigative section and Gold Award was
awarded to Charl Blignaut for lucid, bold journalism written with passion and
conviction but attempting to remain objective and measured in its
reporting. A Special Silver Merit Award
was awarded to J Brooks Spector for his contribution in art and politics.
In the photography section a Gold Award was awarded to Theana
Breugem for a series of carefully crafted “behind the scenes” photographs
showing the hard work and technical maturity of an enterprising
photojournalist. A Special Silver Merit
Award was awarded to Jesse Kramer for her contribution in theatre.
Finally, Charl Blignaut was named overall Arts Journalist of
the Year for the second time. His portfolio demonstrated the depth and scope of
the journalist’s engagement with the arts in South Africa. Thurman said that Blignaut stood out because
his writing not only informed and responded to national debates but because of
the vigour of his output. Whether writing about theatre, dance, visual arts,
television or heritage, he is eloquent, astute, honest and - not least of all -
witty. He receives R5,000 and the chance
to join a South African production who will be invited to one of the World
Fringe Alliance Fringe Festivals overseas.
All the Gold Award winners receive a R5,000 cash prize and
the Silver Merit Award Winners each receive R1,000.
Entries had to be published
or broadcast in the 2013 calendar year to qualify. In identifying excellence,
expertise and creativity, it is hoped they will promote the practice of arts
and cultural journalism, strengthen its national profile and celebrate its
importance, range, diversity, fluidity and vitality.
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