The judging panel of the 2005 Mondi Magazine Awards recently presented the list of finalists in the 14 categories. Every year, the Magazine Publishers Association of South Africa and title sponsor Mondi Business Paper invite magazine journalists, columnists, designers and photographers to enter South Africa's most prestigious and sought-after magazine journalism awards. This year, the response was overwhelming, with 911 entries from 101 different titles, 37 of which are new titles or titles that did not enter the previous year's awards. Journalist and panel convener, Gus Silber, says that “this year's top contenders are distinguished by their vigorous, colourful writing, a lively spirit of enquiry, fresh and zesty perspectives on contemporary life and society, and a grand and breathtaking visual flair.” Silber was assisted in the judging process by Dion Chang, journalist and trends consultant; Alex Dodd, journalist, editor and part-time journalism lecturer at Wits University; Sue Grant-Marshall, journalist and author; Fred Khumalo, Sunday Times Insight and Opinion editor and columnist; Joe Khumalo, journalist; Kim Penstone, magazine editor and media commentator; Joe Thloloe, journalist and chairman of the South African National Editors Forum; and De Waal Venter, critic and author. The following is a list of people who are in the running for their share of R140 000, a Mondi Magazine Awards Golden Nib and a framed certificate: 1. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY: Kevin Bloom for 'War Talk' in The Media; Stephan Hofstatter for 'Land Reform: Time to Mend Fences' in Financial Mail; Ivo Vegter for 'Platinum Royalty' in Maverick; and Irma Venter for 'Power Hungry' in Engineering News. 2. HEALTH & WELLNESS: Justine Joseph for 'What diabetes can do for you' in Shape, Pearlie Joubert for 'Deadly Silence' in Fairlady, David Moseley for 'Anatomy of a Circumcision' in Men's Health; and Laura Tyrer for 'Bird Flu Alarm' in Engineering News. 3. BEAUTY: Ayanda Bikitsha for 'Defining African Beauty' in True Love; Megan Lindow for 'Positively Gorgeous' in Marie Claire; and Shannon Smith for 'Message on the Bottle' in Fairlady. 4. AT HOME: Kerstin Eser for 'New Vintage' in Elle Decoration; Tina-Marie Malherbe for 'Voila Henri' in Visi; Liezel Norval-Kruger for 'Nostalgiese Plaaskersfees' in Rooi Rose; and Laureen Rossouw for 'Soul Food' in House and Leisure. 5. FORESIGHT: Rian Malan for 'Slimjan onder die Adboere' in Insig; Ronel Nel for 'In die Klas' in Insig; Jocelyn Newmarch for 'Turning Townships into Suburbs' in The Property Magazine; and Gillian Warren-Brown for 'Spin a Little Yarn' in Popular Mechanics. 6. COMMENTARY & CRITIQUE: Kay Karriem for 'Aanstap, Bruines' in Insig; Jean Meiring for 'Die Ewige Eierdans' in Insig; Henk Rossouw for 'Pieter Hugo review' in Art South Africa; and Ivo Vegter for 'Wasted Efforts' in Maverick. 7. FASHION: Jenny Andrew for 'Dial SA for Fashion' in Wanted; Robert Bell for 'Ladies in Waiting' in Style Magazine; Jackie Burger and Maranda Engelbrecht for 'Temptation' in Taste; and Kirsty Stoltz for 'Dirty Pretty Things' in FHM. 8. VISUAL IMPACT: Elzilda Becker for Dekat covers in Dekat; Christopher Lee-Jones for 'Anatomy of a Circumcision' in Men's Health; Justin Plunkett for 'Jake White & Mark Shuttleworth' in GQ; and Anton Sassenberg for 'Neo-oude-doos' in Insig. 9. TRAVEL, SPORT & LEISURE: Johan Bakkes for 'Hel Toe' in Insig; Neil Manthorp for 'Cold War' in The Wisden Cricketer; Dana Snyman for ''n Droom van Chroom' in Weg; and Sam Woulidge for 'Love Italy' in Taste. 10. COLUMNS: Frik Els for 'Big Spender' in Finweek; Dave Pepler for 'Liewe Aarde' in Insig; Bruce Pinnock for 'Back of the Pack' in Runner's World; and Josef Talotta for 'The Back Page' in Style Magazine. 11. PHOTOGRAPHY: Melanie Cleary for 'Die Groot Hunkering' in Dekat; Aubrey Jonsson for 'Die Vlieënde Oscar' in Insig; Justin Polkey for 'Hit Men' in Top Billing; and Lefty Shivambu for 'Spitting Mad' in Kick-Off. 12. PROFILE: Michelle Constant for 'On the Money' in SL Magazine; Stephan Hofstatter for 'The Timekeeper' in Men's Health Best Life; Koos Kombuis for 'Melktert om Middernag' in Insig; and Gillian Rennie for 'Raising Thabo' in Fairlady. 13. REPORTAGE: Stephan Hofstatter for 'Platteland Plunder' in Farmer's Weekly; Adam Levin for 'Fashion by the Sea' in Style Magazine; Chris Louw for 'A Farmer's Fight Against Mysterious Cattle Ailments' in Farmer's Weekly; and Dylan Muhlenberg for 'Talking Dirty' in GQ. 14. FEATURES: Karin Brynard for 'Sameswerings, doodskis-rituele, duister geheime' in Insig; Erns Grundling for 'Kent gij dat Volk?' in Insig; Dylan Muhlenberg for 'Cuffed' in SL Magazine; and Grant Warren for 'The Rage Inside Me' in GQ.