Knysna journalist, Anoeschka von Meck, was one of three finalists in the very competitive Hard News category at this year's MDDA/Sanlam Awards for Community Press, held at Umhlanga in KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, May 18.

Inset: Knysna journalist, Anoeschka von Meck, was one of three finalists in the very competitive Hard News category at this year’s MDDA/Sanlam Awards for Community Press. She is a tireless traveller who is most content when exploring the big open spaces of the Karoo between Middelpos and Sutherland (Photo: Knysna-Plett Herald).

Seasoned newspapermen, those with ink in their veins, regard the awards (previously the Sanlam Local media Awards) as setting the benchmark in community journalism.

According to print media project coordinator, Malesedi Dlamini, the judges received more than 88 entries in that category from newspapers across South Africa.

The awards ceremony gala dinner was attended by deputy minister in the Presidency, Obed Bapela, chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communication, Skhumbuzo Eric Kholwane, as well as captains in the industry and over 300 editors, journalists, photographers and broadcasters representing all provinces.

Von Meck's entry contained her investigative reporting on the bizarre death of a father and his young son in George's Botanical Gardens in 2010 as well as a series of interviews with drug addicts. She was working at Group Editor's George Herald office at the time of the investigation.

The Namibian-born journalist, previously of Rapport in Cape Town, is also the author of several books.