In a time where digital channels are seamlessly integrating into daily life, Food For Mzansi continues to tower above many others. This fact was amply demonstrated at the 15th annual IAB South Africa Bookmark Awards, hosted at Vodaworld in Midrand, Gauteng. The agricultural news platform had the honour of receiving not one, but two prestigious awards.
With all eyes on the ceremony, Food For Mzansi’s website was awarded bronze in the highly competitive “Specialist publisher sites” category, showcasing its substantial digital publishing prowess. The only other winner in this category was News24 who received silver.
Further enhancing the evening’s triumphs, the 2022 Mzansi Young Farmers Indaba snatched the sole category victory in “Live event content,” bringing home another well-deserved bronze.
Food For Mzansi, along with its sister publication, Health For Mzansi, stirred up a storm with their nominations, both landing on the shortlist across three categories. The extensive nominations, amounting to an impressive six in total, featured recognition for the Farmer’s Inside Track newsletter, Stories of Change newsletter, Health For Mzansi newsletter, and the Health For Mzansi website.
Celebrating talent and innovation
Razia Pillay, the chief executive of iAB South Africa, praised the evolutionary trajectory of the Bookmarks, reflecting the dynamic shifts occurring within the industry.
“The industry, despite challenges such as load shedding, is producing award-winning work on both a local and international stage,” she declared.
The jury president for the IAB South Africa Bookmark Awards and group executive for marketing and corporate affairs at Nedbank, Khensani Nobanda, lauded the range of talent displayed in the competition. “The Bookmark entries prove that South Africa and Africa are creating their best work, and that truly excites me,” she expressed.
Nobanda additionally highlighted the array of winners and the importance of the finalists’ showcase, a novel initiative that preceded the awards. This platform played a crucial role in fostering an understanding and appreciation among industry participants for the creative thinking behind the finalist entries.
“We are sincerely honoured by the recognition we’ve garnered at the IAB South Africa Bookmark Awards,” stated Ronelle Louwrens, a senior executive at the Food For Mzansi Group. “This acknowledgment is more than a victory for Food For Mzansi; it marks a forward-thinking shift in the digital news media and marketing industry towards fostering innovation and nurturing new talent.”
Louwrens stated that Food For Mzansi remains committed to leading change, and these awards affirm their efforts.
“We wholeheartedly believe that our work sets a benchmark, one that we hope will kindle a new era of journalistic innovation, interwoven with digital creativity and resilience within South Africa and far beyond.”
