Mbabane – Representatives from the Eswatini National Association of Journalists, ENAJ, the Eswatini Editors Forum, EEF, and the Marketing Advertising Research Council, MARC, met with the Independent News team at our Mbabane offices today to discuss the revival of the National Media Awards and the future of journalism in the country.
The meeting formed part of a national roadshow to engage media houses ahead of the awards’ return after more than a decade without the event.
MARC Chief Growth Officer Zethu Dlamini spoke first, explaining that the awards aim to recognise excellence in journalism while also building collaboration across the media sector. She said that all information about the awards, including eligibility, judging criteria, and data privacy, is available on the official website, nationalmediaawards.co.za. She also explained that an entry kit will be provided to media houses, including forms, guidelines, and an interactive PDF that provides detailed instructions on how to submit entries. Entries for this year’s edition close on 13 November 2025, covering work published or broadcast between 1 December 2024 and 30 November 2025.
ENAJ President Lwazi Dlamini said the return of the awards is part of an effort to restore professional pride among journalists and revive a sense of unity in the industry. He said the awards provide an opportunity for journalists to meet, share experiences, and celebrate each other’s work. EEF Secretary-General Jabu Matsebula added that the initiative will also address challenges affecting journalists, including welfare issues and the sustainability of newsrooms. He explained that editors often work under intense pressure and that journalism must be taken seriously as a profession. Matsebula said the awards encourage journalists to do their best for their publication, their work, and their readers, and that recognition through peer-reviewed awards motivates professionals to uphold high standards.
Matsebula noted that print media faces ongoing challenges in sustaining operations as publications around the world continue to close. He said the awards are a way for newsrooms to demonstrate their relevance and maintain quality journalism that withstands industry pressures.
The revived awards will feature fourteen categories, including Journalist of the Year, News Story of the Year, Investigative Reporter Award, Community Impact Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Editorial Leadership Award, and Emerging Reporter Award. Journalists can enter either through self-submission or nomination. Self-submissions require an editor’s endorsement to confirm that the work is original, while nominations apply to categories such as editorial leadership, lifetime achievement, and emerging reporter, which often recognise individuals under the age of thirty or those with limited experience in the newsroom.
Group Chief Executive Officer Wezizwe Ginindza urged journalists to follow the National Media Awards on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn to access entry forms and updates. He explained how to use the pages to navigate to the Enter Now section, where submission forms and instructions are available.
Dlamini highlighted that the awards now include online media to reflect the growing role of digital platforms. She said the collaboration between ENAJ, MARC, and EEF is meant to raise journalism standards, protect the integrity of the profession, and ensure that all entries are transparent and fairly adjudicated.
The officials encouraged journalists to engage with the process, submit their work with proper endorsements, and provide feedback through forms available on the website.
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