Vodacom has announced the launch of the sixth annual Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award 2007.

Entries are now called for and the deadline for closing of entries is midnight July 18 2007. Regional Finals will be held around the country from August 30 with the National Awards ceremony to be held on November 4 at Vodaworld, Midrand, Gauteng.

Judges will award a Grand Prize of R100,000 to the journalist whose individual piece of work merits the title of Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2007. Category winners will receive cash awards and certificates. There are 13 categories which cover all aspects of media, print, online, television, radio, cartoonist and photography.

In the online section, entries are permitted in Sport, Photography, Community Media and Financial/Economic categories only.

Entry is open to all South African journalists including freelance and is for material published or broadcast between May 1, 2006, and April 30 2007. A certificate and cash prize of R5,000 will be awarded to the winner in each regional category. Regional winners are automatically entered into the overall national competition and will attend the National Award ceremony. National winners will receive a cash prize of R10,000 and a certificate.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a journalist who has made a meaningful contribution to the profession. The winner will be selected at the sole discretion of the judges.

Editor’s choice category is for most promising journalist and is to be submitted by the editor. Prize includes international exposure to a three month scholarship to a Journalism School in Europe, with all travel and subsistence expenses paid. More information at www.vodacom.co.za