UFH OR RSU?...That's the question on my mind as I walk out of the GREEN AUDITORIUM where a political debate was held at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), Alice campus on August, 18th, 2011.
A motion by PSAMA, one of the political student movements at the campus to change the University's name to "Robert Sobukwe University " created a buzz amongst the students leading to a commotion at the venue. Well, from what I could hear in the PASMA representative's reasoning, the name changing would be to seek as much attention from stakeholders and publics as all the other tertiary institutions.
Gives you something to think about though...I mean almost all the renowned politicians once stepped their feet on Forte grounds and lived in the same residences we live in today so why shouldn't we name our varsity after atleast one of them? (Just a thought/justification).
The debate was between Student Political Movements (SASCO, COPESM, PASMA, ANCYL) to discuss about the value and role of political movements of the students on education at the campus. You would think it would be thought-provoking, oh well it just left more questions than answers as the political parties were more opposing each other rather than bringing to the table what we (the students) wanted to hear. The questions stand...Are these political student movements really worth our votes? What are they contributing towards the betterment of our educational experience at the University? (Just my opinion)
And University of Forte becoming Robert Sobukwe University mhhh...Now that's one to think about. What do you think?
By: Sesethu Malgas
Showing posts with label American Highway Africa FJP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American Highway Africa FJP. Show all posts
18 August, 2011
21 July, 2011
Digital divide
By Busisiwe Busenga
I cannot believe that this is my first week back to school (University of Johannesburg) and yet i am already realising the importance and value of the Future Journalists Programme. This semester we are going to be busy with internet journalism and hence the digital divide will be one the topics covered. This reminded me of the interesting discussion we had on the didgital divide as the FJP's at the National Grahamston Arts festival . I have to say the discussion has enlightened me and broaden my horizons, i am very greatful for all the knowldge and skills we have aquired from the programme. I intend on using these mskills to the best of my ability, actually with everything i do i will definetly do my best, and i have a feeling i am going to ace this semester and it is all thanks to FJP, so "really" thank you for everything.
I cannot believe that this is my first week back to school (University of Johannesburg) and yet i am already realising the importance and value of the Future Journalists Programme. This semester we are going to be busy with internet journalism and hence the digital divide will be one the topics covered. This reminded me of the interesting discussion we had on the didgital divide as the FJP's at the National Grahamston Arts festival . I have to say the discussion has enlightened me and broaden my horizons, i am very greatful for all the knowldge and skills we have aquired from the programme. I intend on using these mskills to the best of my ability, actually with everything i do i will definetly do my best, and i have a feeling i am going to ace this semester and it is all thanks to FJP, so "really" thank you for everything.
03 July, 2011
It's a colour affair
Art is beautiful and my hands on experience have made me a firm believer in it. This love of art lives within me, the very veins of my being and its eagerness to be seen, be heard and be recognised are strongly embedded as each brush goes back and forth, right and left in anticipation for the next masterpiece.
The brightness of each colour encourages every ounce of vividness to come through with simplicity, green as its focal point. Lines are singly expressive in a delicately bold manner. The land’s dire need for water speaks an unknown language to these heavy feet, for the cows travel miles and miles whilst enduring excessive amounts of exhaustion. Immediate physical contact connects with the texture which is undoubtedly rough and uneven, giving it a distinct feature.
A beautiful contrast is identified in the intertwined relationship between Mother Nature and the living things surrounding it. The feeling of breathing and living owes its being to the eternal plants, for they bring life into every soul, hope for every savage and lost identity. An awful feeling of doubt shadows its belief to be the greater that he is. Increasing its dynamics form colour to colour, in an unregretful tone the painting fulfils a certain good Sunday feeling.
By Busisiwe Busenga
02 July, 2011
Are we missing something here?
The Grahamstown National Arts Festival may perhaps be one of the most anticipated events in South Africa and yet the attendance has nothing to show for it, it is completely unjustified. This festival has been running for a number of years, it is an event that takes place annually. However this year’s event is by far the worst in terms of the attendance, hype and entertainment.But what has caused this dilemma? What exactly went wrong and can it be rectified before it comes to an end, if possible at all? “The problem is that the festival was initially held in Village Green and now in Rhodes University, it is because of this that people are gradually losing interest in the Festival”, said one of the sub-wardens at Rhodes University. The lack of interest shown in this year’s festival is also affecting the number of people that go out and actually watch some of the stage productions.
We also have attended a few shows and have had to witness to the poor attendance. Some of these productions do not even fill half the venue. This should be a worrying factor amongst performers. I mean the main reason why they are here is to showcase their production, but it does not take a brain surgeon to realise that that the stage production cannot possibly succeed without the audience. With that being said, the numerous PR people attending good shows, may actually spread the word and for those who are performing again may at least stand a fighting chance at improving the audience’s attendance.
But sure enough, the show must go on. But this will not bring any comfort to the street vendors expecting to make decent sales during this festival. The decreased number of people around the festival in comparison with previous festivals will affect the vendors, in negative way, because chances of making adequate profit are very slim.
By Busisiwe Busenga and Sesethu Malgas
08 April, 2011
mandla's story
an absent father in a boy's life is not an ideal situation. but what does one do when they find themselves in this situation, with lack of opportunities, lack of finances and a continous life of hope.
25 March, 2011
2011 FJPs Announced & Autumn School
The 2011 Future Journalists Programme (FJP) Participants have been named!
Congratulations and a warm welcome to all our new participants:
1 Akhona Valashiya Walter Sisulu University
2 Elethu Magele Walter Sisulu University
3 Khutso Eunice Mabokela University of Limpopo
4 Moses Mashwahla Moreroa University of Limpopo
5Portia Makore University of Fort Hare
6Sesethu Malgas University of Fort Hare
7Nokuthula Doreen Wathi Durban University of Technology
8Wendy Nolwazi Ngcobo Durban University of Technology
9Duschanka Hitzeroth University of Zululand
10Cherity Pumla Luthuli University of Zululand
11Nokwazi Khumalo University of Cape Town
12Devaksha Vallabhjee University of Cape Town
13Thabiso Sihlali Tshwane University of Technology
14Pearl Nicodemus Tshwane University of Technology
15Busisiwe Busenga University of Johannesburg
16Bongiwe Olwethu Tutu Rhodes University
17Sibulele Magini Rhodes University
18Megan Stacy Deana Cape Peninsula University Technology
19Bhekimpilo Dungeni Cape Peninsula University Technology
Autumn School: Mobile Phones as Tools for Journalism
The first workshops of the year, the Autumn School, will take place in the week 4-8 April 2011. The FJPs (as they are now aply called) will be covering the theme Mobile Phones as Tools for Journalism. They will learn how to use their mobile phones to produce visual material for broadcast and for multimedia platforms. Communications is going 'mobile' in Africa, and the FJPs will be acquiring just the skill needed to be a technology-savvy-21st-century-journalist! The main lesson here is that journalists do not need thousand of dollars worth of equipment to be able to produce quality broadcast material. Armed with a simple mobile phone, equipped with standard video and audio capability, with the aid of readily available freeware, like Audacity to edit footage- any journalist can tell their story!
FJps will be have practical-intense sessions with sessions like 'Video and Your Mobile Phone', where they will use their 'how to' guides, experimenting with their footage, editing and posting their podcasts to various online platforms.
Collaboration with LoveLife
Beyond being apiring journalists, FJPs are young people, who are growing each day, experiencing life in its entirety. They, alike every other youth in the country, are grippling with and experiencing the essense of sexuality,love and life. Didn't we all! FJP is therefore collaborating with LoveLife for this Autumn School. FJPs will be working around the sub-theme 'Sexuality in Grahamstown' as a focus for this workshop. We thought it would be great to have LoveLife come in to speak about this topic; the politics of sexuality, and how to best report on its different facets. So, the combination of learning to use mobile phones as tools for journalism, and tackling the issue of how to report sexuality stories will not only benefit the students professionally, but they will also gain interpersonal growth. The students will have a field trip to the LoveLife offices in Grahamstown, interacting with the Grahamstown LoveLife volunteer group. They will do interviews and document some of the stories the volunteers have to share, producing videos in the end. These videos will be posted both on the FJP blogsite and on the LoveLife website.
The fun side of FJP
This workshop promises a significant and fun-learning curve for the FJPs. Of course, which student wouldn't have a great time under the creative and knowledgeable hand of Alette Schoon, TV Lecturer at Rhodes and FJP trainer! Alette has been experimenting with this theme for some time now, working with citizen journalists from Grocott's Mail, and has a lot to offer. More on the Grocott's Mail citizen journalism newsroom can be found HERE.
To Lookout For
RESULTS! We at FJP and Highway Africa are eager to see the results from this Autumn School. Truly, it epitomises what we are about. We believe in the empowerment of young African journalist and training them exploit the benefits and not fear new media technology. FJPs therefore should all be geared up for a great workshop. Take out those cell phones, cameras, mics and 'reporter-voices'. Cellphone Journalism, here we come!
By: Nqobile (Buthelezi) Sibisi
FJP Assistant Coordinator
Congratulations and a warm welcome to all our new participants:
1 Akhona Valashiya Walter Sisulu University
2 Elethu Magele Walter Sisulu University
3 Khutso Eunice Mabokela University of Limpopo
4 Moses Mashwahla Moreroa University of Limpopo
5Portia Makore University of Fort Hare
6Sesethu Malgas University of Fort Hare
7Nokuthula Doreen Wathi Durban University of Technology
8Wendy Nolwazi Ngcobo Durban University of Technology
9Duschanka Hitzeroth University of Zululand
10Cherity Pumla Luthuli University of Zululand
11Nokwazi Khumalo University of Cape Town
12Devaksha Vallabhjee University of Cape Town
13Thabiso Sihlali Tshwane University of Technology
14Pearl Nicodemus Tshwane University of Technology
15Busisiwe Busenga University of Johannesburg
16Bongiwe Olwethu Tutu Rhodes University
17Sibulele Magini Rhodes University
18Megan Stacy Deana Cape Peninsula University Technology
19Bhekimpilo Dungeni Cape Peninsula University Technology
Autumn School: Mobile Phones as Tools for Journalism
The first workshops of the year, the Autumn School, will take place in the week 4-8 April 2011. The FJPs (as they are now aply called) will be covering the theme Mobile Phones as Tools for Journalism. They will learn how to use their mobile phones to produce visual material for broadcast and for multimedia platforms. Communications is going 'mobile' in Africa, and the FJPs will be acquiring just the skill needed to be a technology-savvy-21st-century-journalist! The main lesson here is that journalists do not need thousand of dollars worth of equipment to be able to produce quality broadcast material. Armed with a simple mobile phone, equipped with standard video and audio capability, with the aid of readily available freeware, like Audacity to edit footage- any journalist can tell their story!
FJps will be have practical-intense sessions with sessions like 'Video and Your Mobile Phone', where they will use their 'how to' guides, experimenting with their footage, editing and posting their podcasts to various online platforms.
Collaboration with LoveLife
Beyond being apiring journalists, FJPs are young people, who are growing each day, experiencing life in its entirety. They, alike every other youth in the country, are grippling with and experiencing the essense of sexuality,love and life. Didn't we all! FJP is therefore collaborating with LoveLife for this Autumn School. FJPs will be working around the sub-theme 'Sexuality in Grahamstown' as a focus for this workshop. We thought it would be great to have LoveLife come in to speak about this topic; the politics of sexuality, and how to best report on its different facets. So, the combination of learning to use mobile phones as tools for journalism, and tackling the issue of how to report sexuality stories will not only benefit the students professionally, but they will also gain interpersonal growth. The students will have a field trip to the LoveLife offices in Grahamstown, interacting with the Grahamstown LoveLife volunteer group. They will do interviews and document some of the stories the volunteers have to share, producing videos in the end. These videos will be posted both on the FJP blogsite and on the LoveLife website.
The fun side of FJP
This workshop promises a significant and fun-learning curve for the FJPs. Of course, which student wouldn't have a great time under the creative and knowledgeable hand of Alette Schoon, TV Lecturer at Rhodes and FJP trainer! Alette has been experimenting with this theme for some time now, working with citizen journalists from Grocott's Mail, and has a lot to offer. More on the Grocott's Mail citizen journalism newsroom can be found HERE.
To Lookout For
RESULTS! We at FJP and Highway Africa are eager to see the results from this Autumn School. Truly, it epitomises what we are about. We believe in the empowerment of young African journalist and training them exploit the benefits and not fear new media technology. FJPs therefore should all be geared up for a great workshop. Take out those cell phones, cameras, mics and 'reporter-voices'. Cellphone Journalism, here we come!
By: Nqobile (Buthelezi) Sibisi
FJP Assistant Coordinator
06 July, 2010
"But do ya'll have whiskey?"-The American Encounter
by Wilhelmina Maboja
Imagine this: A Zulu warrior, Indian shopkeeper and an Afrikaner man sitting at a bar. Now imagine a swashbuckling American redneck with walks in and announces that in fact, they could curl up and die any second from now.
The Zulu, being Zulu, might have his Shaka tendencies stirred and as a last form of defence, whip out his spear and attack the American, the Indian shopkeeper might just start to set up shop on the floor of the bar (he can feel a profitable and last bargain coming on) and the Afrikaner man might just start braaing boerewors, a glass of Klipdrift and Cola at hand, slowly whistling, “De la Rey”.
I say might because in actual fact, Shotgun Spratling is nothing like a swashbuckling redneck.
Yes, his name is Shotgun.
And no, his sister’s name is not 9 mm.
At first glance, the first thing you might notice is a ring the size of a jawbreaker Shotgun wears. The off-white cotton pants, sky blue T-shirt and plain sneakers could have you assume that he is, in fact, of a laid back demeanour. We stand in a lecture venue hallway with mingled smells of pizza and Coke.
“Yeah, I slept on friends’ couches for nine months,” he confirms this bit of information his friend, Hillel has just decided to give me. This was apparently a tactic to avoid paying extra when staying in college for the holidays. So, if fact, he is the laid back type.
From the university of Southern California, America, Shotgun and his friend Hillel, a somewhat lanky, dark-haired and sorely forward friend Hillel were part of a graduate programme that allowed them to intern in various countries. They’re both interning in Cape Town but somehow find themselves at the Highway Africa conference, amid pizza eating and sleeping on pool tables (another fantastic tit bit of information Hillel was glad to share).
“Shotgun is like a goat-he eats everything,” Hillel gives me this last gem of information like a parting gift as he walks up the stairs, disappearing before I can tell him that he reminds me of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
“You have all you wanted to ask?” Shotgun looks at me with slightly crinkled eyes. I nod and he saunters away to a table and I walk away into a chilly Grahamstown afternoon.
Imagine this: A Zulu warrior, Indian shopkeeper and an Afrikaner man sitting at a bar. Now imagine a swashbuckling American redneck with walks in and announces that in fact, they could curl up and die any second from now.
The Zulu, being Zulu, might have his Shaka tendencies stirred and as a last form of defence, whip out his spear and attack the American, the Indian shopkeeper might just start to set up shop on the floor of the bar (he can feel a profitable and last bargain coming on) and the Afrikaner man might just start braaing boerewors, a glass of Klipdrift and Cola at hand, slowly whistling, “De la Rey”.
I say might because in actual fact, Shotgun Spratling is nothing like a swashbuckling redneck.
Yes, his name is Shotgun.
And no, his sister’s name is not 9 mm.
At first glance, the first thing you might notice is a ring the size of a jawbreaker Shotgun wears. The off-white cotton pants, sky blue T-shirt and plain sneakers could have you assume that he is, in fact, of a laid back demeanour. We stand in a lecture venue hallway with mingled smells of pizza and Coke.
“Yeah, I slept on friends’ couches for nine months,” he confirms this bit of information his friend, Hillel has just decided to give me. This was apparently a tactic to avoid paying extra when staying in college for the holidays. So, if fact, he is the laid back type.
From the university of Southern California, America, Shotgun and his friend Hillel, a somewhat lanky, dark-haired and sorely forward friend Hillel were part of a graduate programme that allowed them to intern in various countries. They’re both interning in Cape Town but somehow find themselves at the Highway Africa conference, amid pizza eating and sleeping on pool tables (another fantastic tit bit of information Hillel was glad to share).
“Shotgun is like a goat-he eats everything,” Hillel gives me this last gem of information like a parting gift as he walks up the stairs, disappearing before I can tell him that he reminds me of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
“You have all you wanted to ask?” Shotgun looks at me with slightly crinkled eyes. I nod and he saunters away to a table and I walk away into a chilly Grahamstown afternoon.
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