Vodacom Marks 25 Years of Journalist Awards With Special Legacy Edition

The Vodacom  Journalist of the Year Awards (VJOYs) reach their 25-year milestone in 2026, and Vodacom will celebrate the occasion with a special Legacy Edition. Instead of running the annual competition, Vodacom will present three special Legacy Honours recognising outstanding journalism from across the history of the awards.

All previous overall VJOY winners from the past 25 years will be eligible for consideration, with the judging panel selecting three recipients of the special Legacy Honours. The selection will be based on journalistic excellence, public impact, historical significance, contribution to the craft of journalism and continued relevance. Further details of the selection process and the Legacy Honours will be announced in due course.

The Legacy Edition will celebrate the kind of journalism the VJOYs have recognised since 2001: journalism that informs and challenges society, holds power to account and demonstrates why a strong, independent media matters.

“When the awards were introduced in 2001, the aim was to recognise and promote excellence in journalism, elevate the profession and celebrate stories that have made a real impact on South African society. Twenty-five years later, the awards have done what they set out to do. That is thanks to the journalists who entered them, whose work has set the standard for journalism in this country.”

– Taki Netshitenzhe, External Affairs Director, Vodacom South Africa

The Legacy Edition concludes the awards in their current form. Vodacom will take the time to consider how its support for journalism can evolve to reflect new forms of reporting and storytelling, while remaining committed to the values of journalistic excellence, independence and credibility.

“The media landscape has changed dramatically over the past five years, never mind the past 25. The way journalism is produced, consumed and shared has been transformed, and the boundaries of what constitutes great journalism continue to expand. This Legacy Edition gives us an opportunity to honour the very best of the past 25 years, while recognising that the next generation of great journalism may look very different from the last. The principles of outstanding journalism remain timeless, even as the platforms, formats and tools evolve.”

– Ryland Fisher, Convener of the Judging Panel, Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards

“We know how much these awards mean to journalists across South Africa, and that for many they are a highlight of the year,” says Netshitenzhe. “Our commitment to a strong, independent and credible media has not changed, and in December we look forward to celebrating the journalists, judges, editors and partners who built these awards.”

– Taki Netshitenzhe, External Affairs Director, Vodacom South Africa