We are getting to that time of the year when many people, but especially newspaper editors, are beginning to reflect on the year that has flown by. As we in the newsroom look at the front pages of the past year we cannot help thinking about the big stories, big events and most important of all, big people who have defined 2009.
We are getting to that time of the year when many people, but especially newspaper editors, are beginning to reflect on the year that has flown by. As we in the newsroom look at the front pages of the past year we cannot help thinking about the big stories, big events and most important of all, big people who have defined 2009.
So we have decided to nominate a Grocott’s Mail Newsmaker of the Year. There are only two qualifications for this title: the person has to have made the news, and has to have resided in Makana for most of the year. We will not present the award to an organisation or team.
The Newsmaker award is not like the Citizen of the Year nor is it similar to the Civic Awards; we prefer to model our effort after Time magazine’s Person of the Year. In other words the nominee does not necessarily have to be a virtuous person.
The Newsmaker of the Year could easily be someone who has caused controversy. We would like to invite readers to send in nominations for this award. You can send us an email, an SMS, leave a comment below or drop a note at the front desk of our offices. You can also vote in our online poll.
Here are our suggestions: Ismail Mahomed – Director of the National Arts Festival; Vumile Lwana – Mayor of Makana; Pumelelo Kate – Former Mayor of Makana; Ntombi Baart – Municipal Manager; Rob Beer – property developer; Garth Cambray – environmentalist; Michael Whisson – municipal councillor; Dr Saleem Badat -Vice-chancellor of Rhodes University; Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali; and Colonel Sanders – Face of KFC.
The final selection will be made by the editorial staff of Grocott’s Mail, however, we will be taking votes, nominations or arguments provided by readers into consideration. Please share your thoughts with us.
