As the Tides Change

Adorned by its cheery colours of reds and pinks, the fourteenth of February brings passionate loins together and foes alike. Whether you are a hopeless romantic or a staunch romance killer, from each of us, day seems to bring out a chuckle or two. However, to echo a song sung by many, “The courses of true love never did run smooth”.

Taking a step back from the commercial European love affair, down in the lush fields of tiny Bushbuckridge; Valentine’s Day plays a different love tune. For as good as my memory can serve me, this day resembles a grand annual family and friends gathering. Out at Stella’s Café- which is named after my late Gogo, Babe (meaning dad in siSwati) caresses his piano to Make’s (meaning mum in siSwati) joyous voice as she sings, “ebony and ivory, live together in perfect harmony…”. A fairy-tale it was as most of the neighbours gossiped about my parents’ love display. Yet behind closed doors the melodies of “ebony and ivory” sounded more bleak and empty. As this course of love between Babe and Make took a stand away from the watchful public eye, little or no affection was exchanged. That really left puny me confused and unsure about this thing called love. Right before us, the love duo died which sought Babe leaving the front door to never return.

 A number of years later, the lasting memory of our beloved gatherings at Stella’s Café on the fourteenth now seems to haunt me. As for the reasons behind Babe leaving never to return to his piano has since eluded me. Anyway, I cried enough a fountain about it. It was now big Sis who embarked on a love express. Coincidentally, on the fourteenth of February whilst on a business trip in Barcelona, a handsome lad named Matthew Peterson feasted his eyes on a lovely young lass named Pat (my sister of course). Without much deliberation, love ties were exchanged, babies were made and the fourteenth remained, oh so we thought it had. Like a recurring nightmare that one has no control over, dear Mr Peterson walked out the front door (I had hoped in pursuit of his long lost father-in-law). Like his estranged father-in-law, he never returned. To date we have lived to tell the tale, the courses of true love appear to be on a winding-road, to where it leads one may only imagine. The experiences we endure may not be the sweetest yet, it won’t hurt us to remain hopeful and make lemonade out of life’s lemons. Babe and Make and Pat and Mr Peterson probably did not find true love, but that is only unique to them, your fate may be completely different.
                                   
                                    

Photographic journalism

Photographic journalism is one aspect of journalism that has undeniable power and value. Pictures can convey many ideologies, viewpoints,beliefs and cultural realities. Any text should reflect back to soiciety their values, morals and behaviours ,that is the power that it holds.

On the first day of FJP we were given the opportunity to glance at the different forms of journalistic forms at our dissposal at the back of the writing labs. One particular picture made me take a second glance, it reflected a truth of the South African police. It supplies the viewer with opportunity to critically analyse the topic and whether or not this the reality. A picture can therefore speak one thousand truths.

As journalist in the era that we live in, we have the opportunity to take and create influential pictures.We also have the responsibility to use it honestly and for the greater good.

my experience so far at the fjp

to be honest,at first i couldnt find the reason for me to be here,though i enjoyey meeting different people from diffferent places.I found them to be more interesting with the way they see and do things,the culture that we found here at the fjp made us one,though we had our own that we coulndt practice since we were so touched and motivated by the way things were done so uniquely.I hate to say this but i really woulndt mind spending my life with these peple. They really make life worth a living.

Free As a Bird

There are birds that simply cannot be caged, their birds are too beautiful that they simply have to be let go.  I see myself as that bird who needs to fly away and spread the word.  people out there need to be freed, there is nothing as liberating as the power of the pen.  I bow to it.

field work

my partner,natasha and i went to do field work that is to go and gather information outside the newsroom.its funny how people hate journalists without realising that they are giving them a platform to air their opinions on issues that affect them.we tried to interview the station commander and he said"i am not going to talk to any journalist.we have a communications manager but she is not around,you have to come back on monday"

Opening the Blogosphere

 

As young journalists of the 21st century, we are presented with a million different ways to give and receive information. Even in South Africa, where the majority of citizens do not have access to fast-pace internet, tweeting and blogging and facebooking and tumblring (tumbling?) are ever present. According to a survey conducted buy First National Bank and Wide Worx, in 2010, 65% of cellphone users have access to mobile internet. As such, journalists and citizens have the opportunity to create and recreate content about their lived experiences.
 But presumably you knew all that. The contentious issue around these platforms is whether this is a good thing. Are we sacrificing quality content for mass quantity?

I think the answer is no. While as journalists, we would like to believe we have some level of monopoly over creative writing, this is certainly not the case. It is my contention that not only does social networking create the opportunity for new journalists who may not have had access to formal education, but also gives us "professional journalists" a run for our money.

As in any other industry, competition means that we are all forced to do better in order to keep our readership interested. As a result, as in any other industry, this means that the old guard feels a little threatened. Ron Steinman, NBC Media Bureau Chief during the Vietnam War describes cititzen journalists as "what they really are: untutored amateurs, the almost journalists of our modern age".  Many journalists, possibly threatened by the emergence of a new order of content creators lash out against citizen journalism.
But when the media are kept out of private political meetings, not on the ground at certain events, or have simply missed the story, it is the citizen journalists who tell these stories. Like it or not, these stories need to be told, regardless of who we consider fit to tell them.

Platforms such as this blog, as well as Tumblr (http://binweadebayo.tumblr.com/) and other easy to use websites give us a greater slice of storytelling life. Instead of resisting this change, professional journalists should add to these forums and lend the voice of education and experience that many of these new contributors may like to hear.

South Africa is supposed to be the land of "endless possibility" and with that comes the idea that we should have equal and endless opportunity as well.  While some blogs are simply used as a personal soapbox, there are a lot of interesting things happening in the blogosphere.


If you can dream it, you can blog it.

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Here are some noteworthy (even award winning) local blogs:

-Kim Gray (Fashion): http://www.kimgray.co.za/

-Food and the Fabulous (Fine Dining): http://www.foodandthefabulous.com/

-Hayibo (Politics/Business): http://www.hayibo.com/

-Diary of Ward (Photography): http://diaryofward.com/

my FJP experience

It is day three of the programme and I must just say I did not expect to have this much fun. everyday is a new experience and new challenge for me. Day 1 News writing session; Sim is literally the best and is so patient. Such a smart and insightful individual to be taken great advantage of, there is so much to learn from Sim and so much to take away from his sessions. Then we had tea & cake, courtesy of Highway Africa (fabulous). The group of FJPeers is honestly the best, such a diverse group with so much to say. I must confess, I love opinionated people and this bunch is exactly that. At the end of our day, we headed back to our rooms to freshen up. A group of us got together at a later stage for some Television and crazy conversation. We have really made such great friends and I am eternally grateful for having met each and every one of them. day 2: Oh my, this was so much fun. We had to get together in groups of two and interview each other. Now that was a great experience and sure way to boost ones confidence when conducting professional interviews. I found this exercise to be highly beneficial to us as it will form a large part of our working lives. Editing our interviews was even more interesting for me as it meant acquiring a new skill which will benefit me both in my educational and professional career. Oooh, then we had more fun. We had a braai, again courtesy of Highway Africa (mmmmmhhhhhhhhm). I had been looking forward to the braai so much, all because I hadn't had sausage in such a long time and all I wanted was to dive into it. Which is exactly what I did. Then we watched this crazy interesting movie (Shattered Glass) about this twisted young journo with no journalistic ethics whatsoever. Putting the good name of Journalism to shame. I would urge everyone to watch the movie at one point in their lives, just to remind you and keep yourself in check. Journalism is so much fun, it is ever changing and moving so fast that if you take your eye off the ball for one second, you could miss out on a lifetime of journalistic life. I think, IF you really want to be a journo, you just have to be passionate about every and anything. Live, don't just exist as life will pass you by. Day 3: The first half of the morning got me so confused that I felt lost in a jungle for a while....caught up just in the nick of time though, hahahahaha. we visited the Town's local newspaper Grocott Mail, the Editor Steven Lang was just a fountain of information and which was rich in history. He is the type of person I would talk to if I wanted to write a feature about the history of Grahamstown. Later, we took to the streets to interview some of the locals on their views on democracy and their ability to speak out to authority. My my my, the opinions people shared were eye opening. Made me appreciate what I have and know will continue to have, that much more. We never really take time out to think about what DEMOCRACY really is and what it means, we never think about the changes and effects the end of apartheid has had on our lives. Looking at the number of black people roaming the streets, both young and old with no sense of being at all was just heartbreaking. A pair of rather old ladies were quite vocal about how abusive even their fathers had been towards their mothers and no one could or would dare to do or say anything out of fear of being "dealt with". Talking back to government and other people of authority was even further from their minds. It was sad. All in all, it was an interesting experience and I am so glad I got the opportunity to be part of it. All in all, this has been a great experience so far and I must say I am highly appreciative of the opportunity. Anyway, later FJPeers. I will be back with a whole lot more so do keep coming back for more. peace & love A

Sthembiso Sithole
@SITHOLEEXPESS

Bright Future for Journalism Students

Sphelele Ngobane and Julia Payle in the newsroom.

Future Journalists Programme (FJP) is a great platform for us journalism students from different universities to share ideas about the media landscape in Africa. Yesterday we learned about podcasting. Today we will be in the streets of Grahamstown doing vox pops.

Future Journalists Programme (FJP) is a highway African initiative which is funded by a grant from the Open Society Foundation. FJP was launched towards the end of 2007.

The programme is targeted mostly at second year journalism students in tertiary institutions across the country.

Its aim is to inspire young journalists through providing opportunities for them to experience the media industry and the opportunities available to them. FJP was created around five key pillars, which are to: Provide a vibrant networking opportunity for journalism students at SA tertiary institutions to engage with one another, meet media professionals and cover key events, or conferences.

Provide mentors in the media field for the students. Provide training and learning that will equip the students with media production skills, through experiential learning projects and workshops in areas such as new media writing;editing;photojournalism. Provide exposure for the students to media professionals and to developments in the media world.

Natasha Phiri a second year journalism student from Tshwane University of Technology believes podcasting is the new way to tell those untold stories.
“I learned a lot about podcasting. I believe this is a way to tell community stories.”

Future Journos getting their photojourn skills on!

Darkness is only the absence of light, there is no evil here on this earth, only less love.

REPORTING AFRICA

‎" At the height of its power the Roman Empire was vast, stretching from the 'deserts' of Africa to the 'borders' of northern England". Extract from the movie entitled Gladiator.

Why is it that the western 'civilizations' always undermine Africa? We have deserts and they have borders..., that's so naive and irrational, I don't like the way Africa is covered in the Media, seriously...Africa is mostly reported as dark, hungry , uncivalised, all sorts of names. honestly i do not like that. What do you think FJP's, whats your take on how Africa is being reported. This is just one example, there are many examples out there.? What must we do as fututre journalist?

 

 

 

weather

i have been here for three days and i am enjoying it but the weather is not good.its cold and i am used to the hot sun of limpopo.can anyone donate gloves?

Can not wait for todays lesson..........Photography# Ntobeko

A Star for today, a Star in the Future!

On Tuesday 10 April 2012, one of our FJP participants, Sthembiso Sithole, was published on the Star Newspaper. I bid you my warmest congratulations on the success of your article!

Sthembiso Sithole, is a student at the Tshwane University of Technology. He was chosen to be a participant of the FJP 2012. I sincerely hope that, along with his 19 colleagues, he enjoys the programme and can increase his knowledge on writing and hopefully apply his learning to both good old writing and New media technologies.

Keep up the good work! This only goes to show the dedication that each student has to the media industry and the great minds that they all have. The FJP participants are all very deserving of this development in their career, knowing how hard they all work. I know each of you will reap more success in the future.

story

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2012, Here We Go!

At last, 2012 is here, with the remnants of 2011 falling away behind us. The past four years
of FJP have seen many FJP alumni unleash their potential with some achieving great
things. This year, the programme seeks for even better achievements.

REFLECTION of FJP 2011
Last year, the programme boasted a dynamic group of 20 students from 10 institutions around South Africa. Reflecting on our achievements, we are happy to announce that FJP has been granted a Rhodes University Short Course status. This saw the 20 FJPs receive a
competency certificate at the end of their FJP year, which included intense
workshops on how to use a simple device as a cell phone and editing freeware to
produce material for multimedia broadcasting platforms.

FJP2012
This year, FJP focuses more
on development and innovation in media. The theme for the Autumn school being
Radio, podcasting and good old writing, taking place on the 8th- 14th
April 2012! The idea is to introduce the students to radio broadcasting, how to
use ICTs in radio, whilst not forgetting the fundamentals of journalism and writing.

This is the first time that the programme has focussed on radio. The students will interact with online publishing platforms, posting podcasts and accompanying stories to the different
Highway Africa platforms. The main idea of this intense Autumn School is to demystify new media to students, whilst still teaching them the fundamentals of traditional radio journalism writing. It is also to show them that journalists do not need expensive equipment in order to produce content for broadcast. Equipped with a mobile phone with image, video and sound functionality, editing freeware plus internet connections, 21st-century-journalists have no
excuse for not disseminating information.

This year’s programme also focuses in creating synergies at more collaborations with other youth
programmes, one of which is the Grocott’s Mail Upstart. Upstart is a local youth development project aimed at youth in Grades 8 to 10 based in Grahamstown. It was founded in 2008 as a way of responding to the low levels of literacy which was evident in school performance and the poor matric pass rate.

Upstart involves the youth in journalism writing and publishing, promoting a culture of literacy and reading and writing development. It also fosters inter-school communication, breaking down racial, cultural and language divide whilst and developing leadership skills amongst the youth through running weekly workshops at each school.

These are the kinds of collaborations that are meaningful for the programme, that we believe will
further expand the programme’s reach.

As we venture into yet another exciting FJP year, we thank our sponsors, the Open Society Foundation South Africa (OSF) for the faith in the work FJP does. We also thank the various institutions which we have collaborated with and the past participants you for their enthusiasm about FJP, and the time and care invest each year into the future of all FJPs.

MDDA forges partnership with University of Limpopo

By Moses Moreroa

The Media Development and Diversity Agency(MDDA) in partnership with the University of Limpopo(UL) held a media, culture and tradition dialogue at Hall R-40 in Turfloop Campus.


The MDDA aims at pursuing Media Development for our Democracy in accordance with its mandate, the MDDA exists to ensure an 'enabling environment' for continued media diversification, giving people from all demographic groups in South Africa a chance to participate in public-sphere communication. Broadly, its aim is to create an environment where a diverse, vibrant and creative media flourishes - one that reflects the needs of all South Africans.
In collaboration to UL, which aims at being a world-class African university which responds to education, research and community development needs through partnerships and knowledge generation continuing a long tradition of empowerment।

The event was blessed by the attendance of Lumko Mtimde, Chief Executive Officer of MDDA। He has given a clear overview of how media should function. "media freedom must not be under any threat, let us leave the fictional part of the story and focus on the facts. The secrecy bill does not exist, there is no jurisdiction in the world that does not have the protection of state information. Let us practice professionalism and investigative journalism. The content that we consume must interest all people by producing our own views and opinions regarding our languages and culture", he said.

The event most wanted opinions from media practitioners on what are the opportunities and challenges that they face on daily gathering and reportage of news। The UL media studies lecturer Vusimuzi Mabuza was one to break the ice. "You may use your own language, but, what is critical is mindset. If people still think like Europeans, then there will be a problem is preserving African culture and media diversity", Mabuza implied.

Despite meaningful inputs added by media practitioners, traditional leaders also had something to say when coming to culture and media। Honourable Chief Rampududu, said media should collaborate with royal houses on how to approach them since there is a steep protocol to follow. "Journalists should be trained, particularly young ones, in the community they serve. MDDA should monitor such media literacy for success", he added.

In addition, Ms Madima, who is a print media studies lecturer, sustaintiate by adding the issue of attitude and behaviour towards media and culture। "What you have been taught reflects your personal traits। You cannot go and interview a chief while chewing a gum", she laughs.

Also the Director of the School of Languages and Communications in the university, Professor Richard Madadzhe, emphasised on the distortion and misrepresentation of utterances। This is led by misinformation and high level of ignorancy among young journalists. "I usually visits my chief during December vacations. It is our culture to nurture the chief with gifts. I normally give him R500 or so for Christmas present. What would the misinformed journalist write? I paid bribery", said the director before facilitating the forging of partnerships.

In appreciation, Deputy Press Ombudsman, John Retief further stressed the point of language equity। "All 11 official languages should be met in our local media and must be supported by the nation and many advertising agencies। Media should be diversified and we should send out skilled journalists who will bring out interesting content so that we avoid duplicity of information",urged Retief.

The event was ended by the grace of the Head of Department in Media, Communication and Information Studies, Professor Sheila Mmusi। In her closing remarks, she argued that, we must be culture sensitive by not looking our culture in an international way। She said, "Young people need to be encouraged to learn indigenous languages and the eldery should not misinterpret our cultures".

She declared the event to be success as their mission is reralised and most dominating factors to underdevelopment has been identified. "Media students in my faculty should take one or two indigenous languages to third or even honours level in their programmes. We need to invest in Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) by not consulting Department of Education, but add such information in media ethics and linguistics", she concluded.

Maximal Football Website

Dear FJP's
This is just an appeal to all of you to visit this website, www.maximalfootball.com. This is something we (me and my friend) started in few months back.
The site is all about soccer and I would love to hear what you guys think about the website. You can post your comments on our stories but the main reason behind this is plea is to create enough traffic to our site.
As you may all know that in website business in order to attract advertisers, you must have more then enough people visiting your site. So I trust that you will spread the word to friends and families to be regular visitors of our sites. So go and visit the site because we are "Tapping the untapped" in the world of football

Vote FJP's blogs at the SA Blog Awards

Hi guys

This year we have 2 FJP 2010 alumni's in the running at the upcoming SA Blog Awards.

My blog (Zee Fashionista) is the running for the Best Fashion Blog at the 2011 SA Blog Awards, and I'd like to ask all of you to vote for me by clicking on the SA Blog Awards badge at the top right hand side of my blog, or by clicking here - http://website.sablogawards.com/2011/vote/voteforme/3762,4176. Sihle's blog is also in the running, and I'll add his voting details to this post as soon as he let's me know about them.

Please use your correct email address because you will be sent a confirmation email which you will have to respond to in order to confirm your vote.

The process allows you to vote for only one blog per category.

Should you decide to vote for another blog in the same category you will lose the original vote, as the new vote will override the initial vote. So please spread the word because each person can only vote once for me in the Best Fashion Blog Category, and once for Sihle in the Best Lifestyle Blog category.

Public voting is from the 31 of October to the 9th of November.

Thanks guys!

Zinhle Mncube

Entries Open for 2011 UNEP Young Environmental Journalist Award

Nairobi, 13 October 2011 - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is pleased to open the 2011 UNEP Young Environmental Journalist Award.

Following the successful launch of the competition last year, African journalists between 21 and 35 years, who are based on the continent and working for local, regional or international media organizations, are once again encouraged to apply.

Journalists entering the award may submit one radio, television, print or online report (in English or French) on an environmental issue.

The prize is an all-expenses-paid study visit to the USA, where the winner will follow a specially designed “green itinerary”, interacting with leading environmental projects, green economy projects, scientists and public figures.

Last year’s UNEP Young Environmental Journalist Award (YEJA) winner, radio journalist Patricia Okoed-Bukumunhe from Uganda, is currently in the United States completing her study tour.

Visiting Washington DC, Seattle and Miami, Patricia will be meeting and working with Voice of America, National Public Radio, National Geographic and a host of other media organisations and environmental groups.

You can read about her experiences as the 2010 YEJA winner on her US blog, ‘Patricia on the Road’, at www.unep.org/yeja

Applications for the 2011 UNEP Young Environmental Journalist Award can be made online at www.unep.org/yeja until 5pm (Nairobi time) on 16 December 2011.

Written articles must not exceed 3000 words and radio or television reports should be no longer than six minutes. The report must have been published or broadcast between 1 January and 31 December 2011.

Please visit the website for all other terms and conditions.

Over 120 entries from 24 African countries were received for last year’s award. The diverse subject matter covered by journalists included the role of traditional ‘medicine men’ in protecting biodiversity in Kenya, the need for improved sanitation in communities in Nigeria and the impact of climate change on weather patterns in Togo.

Among other criteria, judges for the 2011 UNEP Young Environmental Journalist Award will assess entries on the strength of their environmental component, newsworthiness, originality, scientific accuracy, and relevance to local or regional communities in Africa.

The award is made possible through funding support from the Government of the United States of America.

For more information, please contact:

Bryan Coll, UNEP Newsdesk, on Tel. +254 20 7623088 or Email yeja.africa@unep.org or bryan.coll@unep.org