Just more than ten months after Food For Mzansi was officially launched, the agricultural news lifestyle platform was nominated for no less than two international awards by WAN-IFRA, the global organisation of the world’s press.
Organisers of the prestigious African Digital Media Awards 2019 announced earlier today that Food For Mzansi was nominated as both Africa’s Best Digital News Start-up as well as Best in Social Media Engagement. Entries were submitted from across Africa, including Burundi, Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Kenya and Egypt.
The judges noted an increase in the number of projects submitted as well as a wider range of finalists from more countries on the continent.
Nick Tjaardstra, Director Europe & Africa of WAN-IFRA, says, “We’re really excited by the diversity of projects this year, especially among the startups. As expected, there was a strong showing from the big media players in South Africa – and that’s something to inspire news publishers across the continent. The projects on the shortlist include some great case studies in growing digital revenue from both advertising and subscriptions.”
Food For Mzansi was nominated alongside other leading media movers and shakers. In the category for Best Digital News Start-up, the other nominees are The Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh Xperience as South Africa’s first WhatsApp news channel, and the Mail & Guardian Data Desk. In the category for Best in Social Media Engagement, Food For Mzansi was nominated with BBC Media Action’s Arewa Facebook page.
Food For Mzansi was started by award-winning journalists and media entrepreneurs Ivor Price and Kobus Louwrens, the joint owners of Farmers For Change (Pty) Ltd. The Food For Mzansi brand is digitally supported by YehBaby Digital Creatives and Brand Managers, a Paarl-based digital and social media agency.
According to Price the team was “quite surprised, and of course, rather pleased” with the two nominations. “We are grateful for the international recognition not only for our work in journalism, but also in agriculture. Ultimately, we are doing it for the love of the land.”
Louwrens adds that Food For Mzansi remains committed to innovative storytelling and great journalism. “We would like to express our sincere appreciation to VKB as well as our other project partners, and especially to the almost six million people who have digitally crossed our path since our inception.”
WAN-IFRA’s African Digital Media Awards is described as the most prestigious competition in the industry for publishers to benchmark their digital offerings. The competition draws innovative publishers from all over Africa who submit their engaging digital media campaigns and content to see where they stack up against their peers.
