North West Media Awards Officially Launched, New Board Members Unveiled

The North West Media Awards 2025 were officially launched on Thursday at the Rustenburg Information Centre, marking a significant milestone in the recognition and celebration of excellence in the province’s media landscape. The launch event also saw the formal unveiling of the newly appointed seven-member Non-Executive Board, entrusted with driving the awards into a new era of inclusivity and professionalism.

Founder and media veteran, Mr. Ananias Ndlovu, addressed stakeholders and media practitioners, highlighting new developments designed to enhance the credibility and reach of the awards. “We’ve introduced a few strategic changes to ensure inclusivity and high standards. Notably, all nominated work must have been produced between July 2024 and June 2025, and entrants must have been operational from January 2025 or earlier,” said Ndlovu.

The North West Media Awards, now firmly established as the province’s premier platform for acknowledging outstanding media work, will continue to feature both judged and public voting categories. The 2025 edition is set to take place under the guidance of a refreshed leadership structure aimed at promoting integrity and sectoral growth.

Key Dates for 2025 Awards:

Nominations Open: 01 – 30 June 2025
Nominee Announcement: 15 August 2025
Public Voting: 01 – 31 October 2025
Judging Period: 01 – 30 November 2025
Awards Ceremony: 05 December 2025

New Board Members:

The newly appointed board brings a wealth of experience and diversity to the Awards. They are:

Mr. Ralph Makhanya
Mrs. Berlina Lekgethwane
Mr. Gili Ramalekana
Ms. Mabu Molefi
Ms. Brenda Ramokopelwa
Dr. Koketso Rakhudu
Mr. Gaisang Mogale

Their roles will include overseeing strategic decisions, upholding the integrity of the judging process, and expanding partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders.

2025 Award Categories:

Judged Categories:

Journalist of the Year
Photographer of the Year
Newspaper of the Year
Newsletter of the Year
Radio Current Affairs Programme of the Year
Communicator of the Year
Poloko Tau Investigative News Story of the Year

Public Voting Categories:

Newsreader of the Year
Radio Programme of the Year
Radio Producer of the Year
Radio Presenter of the Year
Sports Presenter of the Year
Community Radio Station of the Year
Social Media Platform of the Year
Online Media House of the Year
Social Media Influencer of the Year

As the Awards continue to grow in stature, the involvement of both the public and a professional judging panel ensures a balanced, transparent process that truly reflects the diverse voices of the North West media sector.

Stakeholders and media houses across the province are encouraged to participate in the nomination process when it opens on 01 June 2025.