The Ritz: one step closer to the Pulitzer!

The 2007 Telkom ICT Journalist if the Year awards were held at the Summer Place in Hyde Park last night, and I had the privilege to join the festivities.

Here a list of the evenings highlights:

The venue: Summer Place, Hyde Park is a magnificent venue, boasting massive gardens and an even more colossal fountain / pool which I want to own one day!

The Inside decoration further provided some remarkable décor, and a rather modest sized ball / dining room with three large screens providing the visual entertainment.

The dress code, which stated “Black Tie” was held up by most, and did enhance the style of the evening…

Then there was the food, the wine, the people, the entertainment, and, more food, wine, people, and entertainment…and finally…the awards! The awards ceremony was great. It was concise, to the point, not too drawn out, and even though it being a black tie event, the occasion was relaxed, yet very professional.

Here is where this post becomes more personal, because:

One of my dearest and closest friends, the one and only Carly (also known as The Ritz, or simply Schnitz), walked away as a winner (once again!) with the highly acclaimed 2007 Telkom Student Journalist of the Year Award. This is an amazing achievement, one that is highly respectable, and an amazing moment to be a witness of, well done my friend :)! See pics here.

Then there were the, as always fun and engaging conversations with the Mahers. Dan is close to popping (can’t wait to meet nugget) and my former mentor and good friend Vincent Maher, presented the overall winner of the night, and as always was great company to be with. A big up goes to Vin (and Rhodes), as 4 Rhodes graduates walked away either as winners or runner ups.

The evening ended in celebrations; Carly was knocked out by all the excitement (and maybe a few glasses of wine), and all in all it was an extraordinary evening. There is nothing more enriching than celebrating and enjoying life’s momentous occasions with friends!

Other special mentions, runners up and winners were:

• Bronwyn Nielsen – Overall Winner
• Lesley Stones – Winner: Mainstream Newspapers
• Thabiso Mochiko – Runner-Up: Mainstream Newspaper
• Brian Bakker – Winner: Magazine
• Helene Le Roux – Runner-Up: Magazine
• Duncan McLeod – Runner-UP: Magazine
• Steven Cholerton – Special Mention: Magazine
• Bronwyn Nielsen – Winner – Television
• Carol Albertyn & Victoria Cullinan – Runners-Up: Television
• Sumitra Nydoo – Runner-Up: Television
• Kerryn Stapp – Special Mention: Television
• Nafisa Akabor – Runner-Up: Community / Citizen Journalism
• Nadine Spires – Special Mention: Community / Citizen Journalism
• Hilton Tarrant – Winner: On-Line Journalist
• Nicola Mawson – Runner-Up: On-Line Journalist
• Damaria Senne – Runner-Up: On-Line Journalist
• Dave Glazier – Winner: New Journalist
• Kimberly Guest – Runner-Up: New Journalist
• Carly Ritz – Winner: Student Journalist

Well done to everyone!

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