Picture: Attendees at NWMA gala dinner/Generic
By BAKANG MOKOTO
15 July 2026 – The North West Media Awards (NWMA) said it is proud to announce the official nominees for the 2026 North West Media Awards following an overwhelming response from the province’s media and communications sector. NWMA organisers said this year, the awards received more than 600 nominations from which 180 nominees have been selected to compete across 18 categories celebrating excellence in journalism, broadcasting, communications, digital media and content creation.
The founder and organiser of the NWMA, Ananias Ndlovu said the 2026 awards also introduce two exciting new categories such as Podcast of the Year and Videographer of the Year. Ndlovu said these categories recognise the growing influence of digital storytelling and multimedia content in today’s media landscape.
“The nominees represent a wide range of media organisations, including community newspapers, radio stations, television broadcasters, online media platforms, government communication units and independent content creators from across the North West.
“So, we would like to congratulate all nominees and thank everyone who participated in this year’s nomination process. Congratulations to every nominee on your outstanding achievement. Being nominated is recognition of your hard work, professionalism and commitment to informing and serving our communities,” he said.
Ndlovu further said they are encouraged by the quality and diversity of entries received this year. He added that they would like to thank every journalist, communicator, radio presenter, producer, photographer, videographer, podcaster, newsroom, media house and organisation that submitted nominations.
“Your continued support has helped grow the North West Media Awards into one of the province’s most respected platforms for recognising media excellence. We are also excited to introduce the Podcast of the Year and Videographer of the Year categories, reflecting the continued evolution of the media industry and recognising excellence in digital storytelling.
“The awards now move into the next phase, where nominees will receive acceptance forms and judging guidelines. Public voting and judging will take place in accordance with the official 2026 awards programme before the winners are announced at the prestigious North West Media Awards Gala Ceremony, which will be held on 10 December 2026, at the Sun City Resort near Rustenburg,” said Ndlovu.
He said the North West Media Awards remains committed to recognising excellence, promoting ethical journalism and celebrating the important role the media plays in strengthening democracy and informing communities across the province.
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