Brandhouse is proud to announce that Kerry Cullinan, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Welcome Msomi and Khaya Dlanga will make up the judging panel for its 2014 Responsible Drinking Media Awards (RDMAs).
The RDMAs is a brandhouse initiative that aims to ultimately influence consumer behaviour by encouraging South African media to promote responsible drinking amongst their audiences. The awards are open to all South African journalists who have demonstrated an effort to support responsible drinking, by publishing an article in the South African media (print, broadcast and online) that covers any story on responsible drinking – including issues related to alcohol abuse and its consequences.
“We selected judges based on their extensive experience and knowledge of the journalism industry and for their active roles in supporting the responsible drinking agenda in South Africa. Father Smangaliso, Khaya, Kerry and Welcome represent a wide skill set and will undoubtedly provide us with a professional and holistic judging approach,” says Michael Mabasa, Corporate Relations Director at brandhouse.
Kerry Cullinan is the Managing Editor for Health-e News service. “It’s important that people learn to have a good time while being responsible with alcohol consumption,” she says, “Because irresponsible alcohol consumption destroys families and costs the country billions of Rands every year in lost lives.”
Cullinan began her career as a media officer at the Midlands Information Centre and Resource Unit where she trained community organisations in media production. She has also dedicated her time working for the City Press as a sub-editor and a labour and politics reporter; as a labour and politics reporter for a newspaper called the New Nation; as a freelance sub-editor, and continuing work as a sub-editor for The Star.
Cullinan then began her work as a journalist for a non-profit organisation called Health-e News Service. In 2009 Cullinan became the Managing Editor which is a position she still holds to the present year.
Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa was recently awarded the Albert Luthuli National Award in recognition of his contribution to Liberation and Democracy. He has served as Deputy Minister of Education in the cabinet of President Nelson Mandela, and later served as the first Executive Mayor of the City of Tshwane and as President of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa. After leaving government, he has continued to serve the community as Pastor, National Chairperson of the Moral Regeneration Movement and the Head of the SAPS Education Trust, whose aim is to help educate the children of police officers who die in the line of duty.
Welcome Msomi co-founded Sasani Limited in 1996 and served as its first Chief Executive Officer. He is a Founder / Director of the Izulu Dance Theatre and Music, established in 1965 in Durban, South Africa. In 1979, Msomi established the extension of the Theatre in New York City. He has won international acclaim as a playwright, choreographer and director. He also directed Nelson Mandela’s 75th Birthday Celebration. Msomi was also involved with Nelson Mandela’s 77th, 78th and 80th birthday celebrations.
Khaya Dlanga works in the marketing and communications industry for one of the world’s largest brands. He began his career in the advertising industry 11 years ago, and has been awarded more than 15 advertising awards, including many Loeries, a Gold Cannes Lion, a Black Eagle and honorary membership in the University of the Witwatersrand Chapter’s Golden Key Award.
His YouTube videos have been viewed more than 6.5 million times and he has more than 12 000 subscribers to his channel, putting him in the top 5% of most viewed and subscribed users in the world. More than 50 000 people follow Khaya on Twitter (@khayadlanga) and he was named “Africa’s top blogger” by the Highway Africa Conference. He was named in Jeremy Maggs’ book, Annual 2008 on Advertising, Media and Marketing as one of the “100 most influential people in media” and was 2009 Financial Mail’s “Ad Focus New Broom of the Year”.
The RDMAs is one part of a series of programmes by brandhouse which have been designed to positively impact negative drinking behaviours in South Africa.
Categories for this year’s RDMAs include: Best Broadcast, Best Blog, Best Online, Best Community, Best Newspaper, Best Magazine and Journalist of the Year, as well as Best Campus Media and Most Responsible Media House. The winner of each category will walk away with R10 000 and the knowledge that they have helped contribute towards their fellow South Africans’ well-being.
