Izethelo Media Award 2023: Ronel Botha and Werner Scholtz from Brand Republic

Last year, AgriSA approached Hortgro to get involved with Meer as Grond, a television show that is broadcast on VIA, kykNET.

This programme by the production house, Brand Republic, has the seasoned radio and television personality Lynette Francis-Puren as the presenter. The aim of the programme is to show the public what happens behind the scenes in modern agriculture to ensure that we have food on our tables.

Viewers follow in-depth conversations on critical agricultural issues such as farm safety, drought, energy crisis, natural resources, transformation, water scarcity and many more. What does Agriculture mean to our country and its people and how do we ensure food safety and security.

The issues are mostly complex without simple answers. Hortgro offered programme proposals and Brand Republic ran with it. The result was four top-quality television programmes that touched on the deciduous fruit industry, improved the image of the industry; and ensured constructive engagement between the fruit industry and the media.

The following milestones were achieved in the process:

• 100,598 prime-time viewers
• 172,183 daily viewers (ongoing)
• A  third season was requested.
• During the broadcast period, Hortgro’s AVE advanced dramatically

Seasons one and two aired from April 13, 2022, and October 5, 2022, respectively, with repeat broadcasts through March 2023. The third season of Meer as Grond kicked off recently. Meer as Grond is a worthy recipient and embodies what the Hortgro Izethelo Media Award stands for.

Caption: The Award was presented to Ronel Botha (Brand Republic) on the left, by Prof Marina Joubert (Hortgro’s Communication Advisory Council).

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