"I believe the increase in entries is a result of these road shows," says Mathatha Tsedu, Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards judging panel convener, adjunct professor in the journalism department at the University of the Witwatersrand and an SABC board member.

"Once editors and journalists were aware of the Awards, they realised the importance of it and they took the trouble to enter," adds Tsedu. 

He says that it has been decided that in 2019, a marketing campaign will be launched and that it will use multiple approaches.

"However, nothing beats the encouragement of editors to their staff to enter. The rise in entries coincides with the slight increase of 0.8% in the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) of total newspaper circulation," he adds. 

"This is not surprising if we look at some of the big stories that have been coming out of the media. The whole atmosphere of the country has changed, and people are once again interested in what journalism is producing," he says.

Judging took place on Thursday, 17 May and Friday, 18 May. The prize-giving function is on Thursday, 13 September.

The winners are awarded R15 000, a trophy and a certificate. All finalists receive certificates. Commendation Certificates may be awarded at the judges’ discretion.

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