Tuesday, 10 October 2007: The Soul City Institute is to receive a Communication for Social Change (CSC) Award from the University of Queensland School of Journalism and Communication in Australia at the university this week.

The Soul City Institute was chosen from a number of international competitors.  Professor Pradip Thomas, Associate Professor at the School of Journalism at the University of Queensland said, “The Soul City Institute is the second recipient of this award and was chosen by a jury. Soul City was chosen for its sterling contributions to the project of communications for social change.

“How to change attitudes and behaviours in mass audiences has been the Holy Grail in communication for social change. Soul City has produced innovative programming that has had a positive impact on mass and niche audiences is to be commended. Soul City has been a pioneer and the award recognises the path-breaking role played by this organisation in the production and strategic use of edutainment for social change.”

“Global recognition for our innovative work within social change communications is a great achievement and this certainly shows our donors that what we are doing together is working,” says John Molefe Senior Executive Marketing and Public Affairs of the Soul City Institute.  Molefe will deliver a public lecture at the award ceremony which will be attended by a number of guests from around Australia involved in development and social change.

This annual award recognises individuals or organisations that contribute to the theory and practice of communication for social change.  The award acknowledges innovative and practical communication and social change projects that have contributed to sustainable development as well as contributing to theoretical innovation and knowledge generation.

In 2006 the award was won by Supinya Klangnarong, a Thai media activist whose courageous stance against the Shin Corporation became the rallying call for the media democratisation movement in Thailand.

The Soul City Institute produces Soul City and Soul Buddyz tv series as a public private partnership with BP. The series are also supported by the Department of Health. International donors include Irish Aid, the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and PEPFAR.

Soul City is currently on air on Tuesdays at 20h30 on SABC1.  Soul Buddyz is being flighted on Mondays at 19h00 on SABC1.  Buddyz on the Move is being flighted on Thursdays at 15h45 on SABC 1. ENDS

For further information please call Onyx Marketing Communications: Mpume Ncube 083 222 5184/ mpume@onyxmarketing.co.za