The New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards

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The New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards WesBank New Gen Awards
SAs leading Performance-Based Social & Digital Media Awards. Entries for the 12th Annual New Generation Awards are open.

Honoring Corporates, Agencies, Top Creatives, & Students, for Innovative Campaign Marketing, Tech Innovation, Social First Marketing, AI & Standout Results The entry deadline is Friday, 12 July 2024. The New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards, has established a reputation as the largest performance-related independent digital media awards in South Africa. For more than a decade

, the New Gen Awards have been a symbol of recognition and celebration for the true leaders in South Africa's communication, media, and digital technology sectors, as well as the top tertiary education institutes. They inspire us to strive for excellence and push the boundaries of innovation, setting new standards of success that we can all aspire to. With 60 industry-specific categories, the New Generation Awards are the most prestigious performance-related, independent digital media awards program in the country. They acknowledge exceptional and innovative result-driven marketing campaigns, the best use of social and digital media, as well as traditional marketing, and cutting-edge tech solutions employed by leading companies, agencies, and individuals to promote their brands and products in disruptive and pioneering ways. All entries will be considered for work that has been commercially launched in SA between 01 May 2023, and 14 June 2024. Our Judging Process: We pride ourselves on having the fairest judging process, which ensures each entry is marked by at least four judges, measuring them against the following criteria: strategy, innovation, creativity, content, results, reach, and engagement. The judges value ingenuity and creative brilliance as key factors in the judging process and ensure that it is primarily about the results achieved. The 2024 awards gala ceremony takes place on Thursday, 26th September, at The Hilton Hotel, Sandton. (soon to be rebranded as) NH SANDTON.

From Banner Ads to Brand Movements. Rewind to 2012: digital marketing was basic. Click rates were king. Mobile ads were ...
15/08/2025

From Banner Ads to Brand Movements.

Rewind to 2012: digital marketing was basic. Click rates were king. Mobile ads were still clunky. But even then, we saw brilliance emerging — campaigns that pushed boundaries, even with limited tools.

Fast forward to 2025: we’re celebrating AI-driven innovation, viral storytelling, and campaigns that blend tech with human insight.

Through it all, the New Gen Awards have moved with the industry. Then. Now. Next

2025 Awards Sponsors
Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group

5 Tech Shifts That Changed the Digital Game. From BlackBerry apps to TikTok trends — the ride has been wild. Here are fi...
14/08/2025

5 Tech Shifts That Changed the Digital Game.

From BlackBerry apps to TikTok trends — the ride has been wild. Here are five key shifts that flipped the script on digital marketing:

👉Mobile became the main stage:
What started as an add-on became the front door. When the boom hit, if you hadn’t adapted to mobile-first marketing, your brand was surely left behind.
👉Social media took over:
From Facebook walls to TikTok For You pages, platforms stopped just hosting content — they started shaping culture.
👉Video stole the spotlight:
Reels, Shorts, Stories — if it moves, it wins. Quick, visual storytelling became the new standard.
👉AI changed the workflow:
From automation to content generation, AI hasn’t killed creativity — it has empowered outcomes with new tools.
👉Privacy reshaped strategy:
With cookies crumbling and privacy laws rising, brands had to get smart about trust.

The WesBank New Gen Awards have kept pace with every shift — rewarding the campaigns and creators who didn’t just adapt, but led.

From students and solo creatives to big-name teams and brands — this space is built for everyone pushing digital forward.

2025 Awards Sponsors
Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group


At the heart of the WesBank New Generation Awards is a bold mission: to honour the minds behind the magic. These awards ...
13/08/2025

At the heart of the WesBank New Generation Awards is a bold mission: to honour the minds behind the magic. These awards don’t chase headlines — they celebrate real strategy, measurable results, and the unsung innovators who push digital forward.

Whether you’re a social media manager grinding after-hours, a copywriter crafting brilliance in the dark, an in-house creative bringing brand stories to life, a marketer with large or limited budgets, or a student visionary experimenting with AI — this is your stage.

You don’t need fame to be seen. You need impact.
And we see you.

2025 Awards Sponsors
Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group

Today, we spotlight the under-25 movers and shakers shaping the future of digital.From student creators and junior desig...
12/08/2025

Today, we spotlight the under-25 movers and shakers shaping the future of digital.

From student creators and junior designers to rising strategists — you bring the fresh energy, bold ideas, and cultural fluency that this industry needs.

At the WesBank New Gen Awards, you’re not overlooked — you’re celebrated.

From the Top Performing Student Awards to Social Whizz and Top Graphic Designer, our youth-focused categories are built to recognise raw talent, sharp thinking, and fearless ex*****on.

Many of our past student winners have gone on to work at top agencies and leading brands across South Africa — proving that recognition here isn’t just a trophy.
It’s a launchpad.

You’re not the “next” generation.

You ARE the New Generation.

2025 Awards Sponsors:
WesBank Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group Volkswagen Financial Services

Behind the Judging Process:Ever wondered what happens after you hit “submit”? At the WesBank New Gen Awards, it’s not a ...
11/08/2025

Behind the Judging Process:

Ever wondered what happens after you hit “submit”? At the WesBank New Gen Awards, it’s not a guessing game — it’s a transparent, performance-driven process that ensures every voice is heard.
✔ Entries are evenly distributed across our 30-member judging panel
✔ Every entry is scored by at least four independent judges
✔ Judges participating in the awards process do not evaluate any entries or categories that they or their clients have submitted
✔ Judging is based on clear, category-specific criteria — strategy, creativity, ex*****on, reach, engagement, innovation, and most importantly: results
✔ Some categories — like AI, App Dev, CRM, and e-commerce — have additional specialist scoring rubrics
✔ To become a finalist, entrants must score a minimum of 65%

Every single entry is marked. No one is left behind.

Whether you’re a solo creative, a student, a startup, a corporate brand, or an agency, this platform is designed to recognise you.

This is where impact is measured, and true innovation rises.

2025 Awards Sponsors:
WesBank Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa

10/08/2025

The WesBank New Generation Awards are delighted to announce Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa as the official Vehicle Brand Sponsor for this year's awards. The partnership is a testament to the shared vision towards digital transformation.

Ebenezer Ntsoereng, Head of Customer Experience at SA, comments, “We're thrilled to announce that Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa is sponsoring two award categories at the WesBank New Generation Awards: Best CRM Strategy by a Corporate and Best CRM Strategy by an Agency! Why these categories, you ask? “Well, we believe in the power of strong customer relationships. They're the heart of any successful business, and we're committed to recognizing those who excel in this area. By sponsoring these awards, we're not just celebrating the best in CRM strategy;

We're also reaffirming our commitment to improving our own digital and marketing relationships with our customers. Here's to the innovators, the relationship builders, and the game changers in CRM strategy. We can't wait to see who takes home the awards!”

Volkswagen Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (“VWFS SA”) specializes in flexible automotive finance, specifically providing finance and insurance solutions for customers purchasing vehicles from Volkswagen of South Africa (Pty) Ltd t/a Volkswagen Group South Africa (“VWGA”) Dealerships Nationwide. VWFS SA also offers comprehensive Fleet leasing solutions tailored to match your business needs.

We serve as the financial services partner for some of the most popular and beloved vehicle brands, including Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, and Lamborghini. We offer flexible finance, insurance, and Fleet solutions through several service brands: “Volkswagen Financial Services,” “Audi Financial Services,” “Porsche Financial Services,” “Bentley Financial Services,” and “Lamborghini Financial Services.”

Oryx+Crake Ebony+Ivory

On Women’s Day, we honour work that doesn’t just speak to women — it stands with them.NIVEA    did exactly that in 2024....
09/08/2025

On Women’s Day, we honour work that doesn’t just speak to women — it stands with them.

NIVEA did exactly that in 2024. In a world still shedding outdated beauty ideals, this campaign didn’t follow the conversation — it helped lead it.

It celebrated representation, community, and the power of being seen in your skin, as you are.
That’s why it earned Gold at the New Gen Awards in 2024.

Because here, we don’t just award reach — we award relevance, purpose, and cultural impact.

To every team creating work that empowers and reflects women authentically — today, and every day, we see you.

2025 Awards Sponsors
Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group WesBank Volkswagen Financial Services

To Every Woman in Digital: We See You. We Celebrate You.From the strategist breaking barriers to the intern sending her ...
09/08/2025

To Every Woman in Digital: We See You. We Celebrate You.

From the strategist breaking barriers to the intern sending her first tweet — your impact is felt, your voice is heard.

On National Women’s Day, we honour the creators, analysts, leaders, and learners shaping the future of digital marketing with courage, conviction, and creativity.

You’re not just running campaigns — you’re building culture, challenging norms, and lifting others as you rise.

This year, 18 of our 30 WesBank New Generation Awards judges are women — representing a diverse mix of backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives. Because recognition means more when it reflects the real face of the industry.

This isn’t just a moment — it’s a movement.

Thank you for raising the bar — and bringing others with you.

2025 Awards Sponsors
WesBank Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group Volkswagen Financial Services

What Happens After Entries Close?Here’s how we ensure every entry gets the recognition it deserves — no bias, no shortcu...
08/08/2025

What Happens After Entries Close?

Here’s how we ensure every entry gets the recognition it deserves — no bias, no shortcuts:
- Entries and supporting files are carefully grouped by category.
- Each judge receives a scoring rubric tailored to that category.
- Judging is 100% independent and takes place over 2 weeks.
- Finalists are selected based on performance, not popularity.

The WesBank New Generation Awards aren’t about hype — they’re about impact. Whether you’re a solo creative, student, a corporate in-house team, or major agency, your work is judged on its merit — full stop.






2025 Awards Sponsors
Algorithm Agency Unilever Brave Group Volkswagen Financial Services

04/08/2025

WesBank was recently announced as the Platinum Headline Naming Sponsor of this year’s The New Generation Social & Digital Media Awards.

As a media partner of the WesBank New Generation Awards, Modern Marketing interviewed Lebogang Gaoaketse, WesBank Head of Marketing and Communication.

He shared insight into WesBank’s strategic partnership with the New Generation Awards; what it takes to create a successful marketing campaign; as well as the marketing trends that are making an impact in 2025. https://tinyurl.com/4ke26cas

21/07/2025

Only 1 Week left to enter!

The WesBank New Generation Awards entry deadline is almost here, and if you haven’t entered yet, here’s your nudge.

Why it matters:
🏆 Elevate your brand’s and agency's credibility
💡 Prove your creative + strategic power
🔥 Attract top talent and new clients
📈 Award-winners perform better, it’s a fact!
🙌 Motivate your teams and stand out in pitches

Hot tip: If you're entering multiple categories, don’t forget to enter the Black Onyx Award Categories, the ultimate honors that spotlight the best of the best on awards night, from across all categories.

The awards include categories like Digital Marketer of the Year, UX/UI Designer of the Year, Social Wiz Award (for those under 25), Influencer of the Year, Agency of the Year, Digital Brand of the Year, and Online Strategy of the Year. These honors celebrate the visionary digital pioneers who are redefining excellence in the industry.

The Pinnacle Honor, Social & Digital Corporate of the Year, is a bold celebration of innovation, impact, and leadership.

Deadline: Friday, 25 July, midnight. You don’t want to miss your chance to be recognised for creative excellence and marketing that delivers impact.
Submit today www.newgenawards.co.za


Proud Sponsors of the 2025 awards: WesBank, Algorithm Agency, Forge by Brave, Brave Group, Unilever, and Volkswagen Financial Services

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