The judges applauded the winners for compelling, eye-opening, and in-depth projects in all eight categories.

winners Digital Media Awards 2019: from left to right: Zamantungwa Khumalo, Mail & Guardian; Jerusha Sukhdeo-Raath, 24.com; Chris Roper, Code for Africa; Fernando de Yarza López-Madrazo, WAN-IFRA President; Rowan Polovin, Daily Maverick; Kobus Louwrens, Food for Mzansi and Ivor Price, Food

“We’re really excited to see the success of African news startups like Daily Maverick and Food for Mzansi, alongside impressive projects from bigger players like the BBC and Media24.” said Vincent Peyrègne, CEO, WAN-IFRA, after meeting the winners. “These awards show the potential for digital news to be not only engaging and innovative, but also financially sustainable.” 

WAN-IFRA extended a special thanks to the judges. The judges included a panel of thought leaders across the continent. They included:

• Sheena Adams, Accountability Lab Global Communications Manager, South Africa;
• Astrid Ascar, Consultant & Trainer, South Africa;
• Catherine Gicheru, Country Lead, Code for Kenya, ICFJ Knight Fellow, Kenya;
• Dapo Olorunyomi, Premium Times Newspaper Publisher and CEO, Nigeria;
• Herman Manson, Founder and editor, MarkLives.com, South Africa; 
• Jude Mathurine, Independent consultant & New Media lecturer, Media and Communications Department, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa;
• Murithi Mutiga, International Crisis Group Horn of Africa Project Director, Kenya;
• Anna Nimiriano, Juba Monitor Editor in Chief, South Sudan;
• Angela Quintal, Committee to Protect Journalists Africa Program Coordinator, USA;
• Chris Roper Deputy CEO at Code For Africa, South Africa;
• Gus Silber, Award-winning journalist, author, scriptwriter, speechwriter and media trainer,
• South Africa and Nomusa Taylor-Dube, Senior Strategy Consultant, Kenya.

This year’s winners for the 2019 African Digital Media Awards are:

Best Data Visualisation – Dominion, Code for Africa, South Africa. Runners-up: News24 elections: live data coverage, Media24, South Africa 

Digital News Start-up-Farmers for Change, Food for Mzansi, South Africa. Runner-up: The Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh Xperience (#SMWX), The Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh Xperience, South Africa 

Best Digital Project to Engage Younger and / or Millennial Audiences - M&G 200 Young South Africans, Mail & Guardian, South Africa. Runners-up: Netwerk24 Die Student, 24.com, South Africa 

Best Native Advertising / Branded Content Campaign –The Anthem Project,24.com, The Anthem Project, South Africa. Runner-up: I'm a First Grader, Media24, South Africa 

Best News Website or Mobile Service –Daily Maverick, Daily Maverick - South Africa. Runner-up: Netwerk24.com, 24.com - South Africa 

Best Paid Content Strategy (incl. pay wall, membership or crowd funding models) - 2019 – Maverick Insider, Daily Maverick, South Africa. Runner-up: Vrye Weekblad, Tiso Blackstar Group (Pty) Ltd, South Africa 

Best Use of Online Video (including VR) -Buried Truth: Unearthing the story of murdered farmworker Adam Pieterse, News24, Media24 - South Africa. Runner-up: How a gifted young girl was kidnapped and murdered: The Siam Lee story, Tiso Blackstar Group (Pty) Ltd, South Africa 

Best in Social Media Engagement - BBC Media Action Arewa Facebook page, BBC Media Action – Nigeria. Runner-up: Food for Mzansi, Farmers for Change, South Africa 

The winners of the African Digital Media Awards are automatically entered into the World Digital Media Awards competition, to be announced in Spain during the World News Media Congress on June 17-19, 2020

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS CONTACT:

Nhlanhla Kubeka, Account Manager frayntermedia

Tel: +27 11 888 0140, Cell: +27 79 847 8975, Email: nkubeka@frayintermedia.com

Nick Tjaardstra, Director Europe-Africa & Global Advisory at WAN-IFRA

ABOUT WANT-IFRA

WAN-IFRA is the World Association of News Publishers. Its mission is to protect the rights of journalists across the world to operate free media, and provide its members with professional services to help their business prosper in a digital world and perform their crucial role in open societies. With formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, it derives its authority from its global network of leading news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and its legitimacy from its 80 national association members representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries. www.wan-ifra.org