Its flagship magazine, Leadership, brought home the Silver Award for the Best Cover Photograph for its December 2011 edition and finished 5th in the Best Single Issue category - the competition's most comprehensive award. The magazine (editor: Robbie Stammers; art director: Brent Meder) is no stranger to winning awards and boasts three previous Tabbie Awards and 11 Pica Awards.
The judges said the December 2011 award-winning cover photograph of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, tells a story all on its own. Additional commentary by the judges included, "The expression on his face is capturing and draws the reader right in. The large amount of additional copy was placed in such a way that it's not distracting and it frames the photograph nicely."
The black business leadership magazine, BBQ (Black Business Quarterly), was awarded the 20th place in the Best Single Issue category. Editor David Mwanambuyu, designer Tariq Cassim and art director Brent Meder were elated at the announcement.
First-time entrant Leadership in HIV/Aids, now called Leaders in Wellness (editor: Nadia Gamieldien; designer: Charlie Kershaw; art director: Brent Meder) got an Honourable Mention in the Best Cover Illustration category.
Another first-time entrant, the corporate social responsibility title, Ubuntu magazine, came in at 8th in the Best Feature category. The accolade in this category goes to Ubuntu editor Tracee Harvard for her contribution titled 'The Ubuntu Girl', an article about Sonja Kruse who has been travelling around South Africa to prove that the spirit of ubuntu does indeed exist among the people of the Rainbow Nation.
Cape Media MD, Robert Arendse says that considering nearly 500 publications entered the competition, with nominations from top magazines from all over the world, this is quite an achievement for the company. "It proves that the standard of South African magazines, as well as our editors and designers, are as good, if not better, than the international magazines we often aspire to."
