Lizeka MDA TO Judge In 2025 Sanlam Group Financial Journalism Awards

Sanlam says Mda joins as the awards celebrates its 50^th anniversary in 2025, with the competition attracting a record 237 entries compared to 171 in 2024. The 50^th anniversary gala ceremony will be hosted in Johannesburg in October.

Mda is a veteran journalist and media trainer with 30 years of experience, including editorial and commercial publishing. Her career includes roles as a Senior Writer for the Mail & Guardian, Deputy Editor at City Press, Executive Editor at The Star and Editor-in-Chief of Sawubona magazine. Further, Mda is a Nieman Fellow of Harvard University, a Ron Brown Fellow of the National Minority Business Council in New York and has served on the executive board of the South African National Editors Forum and the Appeals Panel of the Press Council, adds the company. 

Mda says, "I am delighted to join the independent judging panel of the Sanlam group Financial Journalism Awards in this jubilee year of the event. I look forward to collaborating with the members of the panel and to contribute to the further success of the awards, while advancing financial journalism across Africa."

According to Sanlam, she joins the panel chaired by Kenya's Professor Nixon Kariithi with nine other experienced media professionals, including: 

• Angela Agoawike (Nigeria)
• Charles Naudé (South Africa)
• Emily May Brown (Namibia)
• Freddie Rayborn Bulley (Ghana)
• Aggie Asiimwe Konde (Uganda)
• Tom Indimuli (Kenya)
• Ulrich Joubert (South Africa)
• Professor Ylva Rodny-Gumede (South Africa), and
• Musa Zondi (South Africa).

Sanlam concludes that the Excellence in Financial Journalism Awards has been recognising exceptional financial journalism in Africa since 1974. The awards are open to African journalists in print, online, radio and TV media who are based in Africa, working in an African news organisation and publish or broadcast their financial stories on the continent.

For more information, visit www.sanlam.co.za. You can also follow the Sanlam Group Awards for Excellence in Financial Journalism on Facebook or on X.

*Image courtesy of contributor