Springboks: Newsmakers of 2007
15 January 2008
The National Press Club has named South Africa's former national rugby coach Jake White and the Springboks as Newsmakers of the Year for 2007.
White and his team won the Rugby World Cup in France last year, beating England 15-6 in the final.
National Press Club chairperson Patrick Hlahla said the decision followed nominations received from club members based on the basic criteria of newsworthiness and the extent of media coverage received.
Regularly in the headlines
"This award is made on the grounds of impact, news value, and media attention, both in print and electronic," Hlahla said.
"Former coach Jake White and the Springboks made the headlines very regularly in 2007. This culminated in the Springboks becoming the best team on the International Rugby Board's rankings when they beat England in the World Cup final.
"Furthermore, the Springboks passed the 90-point mark in the IRB's rankings for the first time in the past more than four years." Hlahla said the Boks were the third side to reach this milestone; only the All Blacks and England teams had managed the feat previously.
Advertising value
Hlahla said that, monitoring South Africa conservatively, they had calculated local media coverage in terms of advertising value. At the time of the Springboks' World Cup win, this was valued at over R42-million, with the frequency of print and electronic mentions that appeared at more than 3 000.
"However, the value of the Springbok's victory in terms of nation building in South Africa is immeasurable. By far the greatest portion of the entire South African population supported White and the Springboks as a truly national team.
Images
"Seeing Cabinet, members of parliament, and thousands of citizens welcoming the Boks back, all dressed in Springbok jerseys, will remain in one's mind for a very
long time," he said.
The National Press Club has been naming Newsmakers of the Year for more than 20 years.
Previous recipients of the award include President Thabo Mbeki, ANC president-elect Jacob Zuma, former presidents Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk, actress Charlize Theron, the Treatment Action Campaign's Zachie Achmat, the late Proteas cricket Captain Hansie Cronjé - and the South African rand!
Source: BuaNews
