What began as movement against the legalisation of Dompass for women has now turned into a month of honouring, appreciation, valuating, presenting a women as the compass of the world and life.
Women Now
In this entire month alone I have heard more women news related issues. I have also heard more about what is going on with women that have and that will be making their mark in South Africa as a whole. I find it inspiring that as South Africans women are given the opportunity to voice their opinions, share business transactions and still be loved as mothers and lovers or friends.
The only aspect that still bothers me is that not all men necessary agree with all that is being done. They may smile and clap hands, but we all know how easy it is to put on a facade. My only worry is that may we not forget that there are women who still oppressed by men in the workplace, at home and anywhere else that women venture into.
Caster Semenya
The amount of public humiliation that that young women went through is inexcusable. I agree with the president of Athletics South Africa that the IAAF should apologise for humiliating her, however I must state in the same breathe that what happened at the arrival press conference was just as embarrassing as the accusations the IAAF place against Semenya. How can something about be about uplifting this young women turn into a race row. Yes it is interesting that there were no white people present for the arrival of the athletis, but the conference and the circumstances around Semenya was not the avenue to release such a discussion or negative comments. Not once did Semenya speack during that conference, and one can question whether she was told not to or she chose not to. Even what transpired in that conference was trully a bad reputation of South Africans, making it seem like we are willing to pull the race card whenever it suits us. I understand that the actions of the IAAF would come across as jealous move to stamped black people or should I say Africans, because let us be honest we have white women/European women that look like men.
Finally
And finally to all the girls of Future Journalists Programme and Highway Africa, "Happy Women's Month" and may it be not just about honouring or appreciating but may it be seen that women are powerful atom bombs who explode greatness, love, patience, care and passion. They are the kind of atom bombs that restore and leave a legacy only to remembered by those came close to her heart. May God continually bless all the women of South Africa.
27 August, 2009
21 August, 2009
Your Own Beat
So how many of you have chosen what field of journalism you going to and if you are going to specialise on that particular issue? Maybe crime, financial, politics or sports? Do you know what you want to do?
I did know what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a REAL journo- hard news; no fear no favour type journalism; wont leave a stone unturned type journalism. I wanted to make sure that no one ever goes unaccountable to the law and must suffer all their misdeads. I guess that was what I thought journalism was. But I have since changed my mind.
I hate that type of journalism. I really do. It's miserable, lonley and too damn complicated and difficult to enjoy. There's hardly any sleep, hardly time for family and you are always on the witch hunt. That is not life. Then I decided to do something that I do like... Fashion.
I love fashion. I eat, breathe, sleep fashion. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I make sure that when it comes to fashion, I know what I'm talking about. It's something that I love, something that makes me happy. Isn't anyone's aim in life to be happy?
When I told my colleagues that I am interested in fashion journalism, I was given The Look- that look of WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING AT A SUNDAY NEWSPAPER THEN?- Well to go somewhere, you gotta go via somewhere else. And right now, the newspaper I'm working for is just that, a stepping stone where I can build myself, so people know that I can write. How many times has one heard that fashion journalists are weak, fake journalists? I say those journalists who fit that profile are those that make up stories and end up getting awards for them. Now that is fake.
The reason for this blog entry, you may ask, is that realise early what type of journalist you want to be. Life is too short to go around thinking what the people are going to say just coz you want to work for Sports Illustrated, The Times, Daily Sun or even GQ- That mag is hwre I'm going to be in a few years'time :-)- live your life and be the journalist you want to be. Life really is too short.
Right now I am hating on Thanda Mhlanga, FJP08, who is the resident fashion journalist for the Arise Cape Town Fashion Week for the Cape Argus. But hey, it's her chance to do something she loves, after all good things come to people who wait. Thanda knew what typeof journo she wants to be and it took me three years to decide that I want to be a fashion journalist. It may be 'soft', but hey if Anna Wintour is the toughest editor in the world, what's stopping me from making fashion journalism my dream. After all Anna didn't study journalism. She dropped out of school at 16. She famously said; "You either know fashion or you don't" to her father, renowned editor; Charles Wintour, former editor of the Evening Standard.
Oh and for those of you who don't know, Anna is the editor-in-chief of US VOGUE and is the single most powerful person fashion. Watched The Devil Wears Prada? She is the editor being potrayed by Meryl Streep. She is a legend.
I did know what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a REAL journo- hard news; no fear no favour type journalism; wont leave a stone unturned type journalism. I wanted to make sure that no one ever goes unaccountable to the law and must suffer all their misdeads. I guess that was what I thought journalism was. But I have since changed my mind.
I hate that type of journalism. I really do. It's miserable, lonley and too damn complicated and difficult to enjoy. There's hardly any sleep, hardly time for family and you are always on the witch hunt. That is not life. Then I decided to do something that I do like... Fashion.
I love fashion. I eat, breathe, sleep fashion. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I make sure that when it comes to fashion, I know what I'm talking about. It's something that I love, something that makes me happy. Isn't anyone's aim in life to be happy?
When I told my colleagues that I am interested in fashion journalism, I was given The Look- that look of WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING AT A SUNDAY NEWSPAPER THEN?- Well to go somewhere, you gotta go via somewhere else. And right now, the newspaper I'm working for is just that, a stepping stone where I can build myself, so people know that I can write. How many times has one heard that fashion journalists are weak, fake journalists? I say those journalists who fit that profile are those that make up stories and end up getting awards for them. Now that is fake.
The reason for this blog entry, you may ask, is that realise early what type of journalist you want to be. Life is too short to go around thinking what the people are going to say just coz you want to work for Sports Illustrated, The Times, Daily Sun or even GQ- That mag is hwre I'm going to be in a few years'time :-)- live your life and be the journalist you want to be. Life really is too short.
Right now I am hating on Thanda Mhlanga, FJP08, who is the resident fashion journalist for the Arise Cape Town Fashion Week for the Cape Argus. But hey, it's her chance to do something she loves, after all good things come to people who wait. Thanda knew what typeof journo she wants to be and it took me three years to decide that I want to be a fashion journalist. It may be 'soft', but hey if Anna Wintour is the toughest editor in the world, what's stopping me from making fashion journalism my dream. After all Anna didn't study journalism. She dropped out of school at 16. She famously said; "You either know fashion or you don't" to her father, renowned editor; Charles Wintour, former editor of the Evening Standard.
Oh and for those of you who don't know, Anna is the editor-in-chief of US VOGUE and is the single most powerful person fashion. Watched The Devil Wears Prada? She is the editor being potrayed by Meryl Streep. She is a legend.
19 August, 2009
We may all be writers, but I am the Journalist
Today every Tom, Dick and Harry claims to be a Journalist as we are all writers and publishers of all the information we come across in our everyday living. Those whom had always had the passion to study Journalism may be discouraged because they may believe that they do not need to study Journalism to be a journalist but truth be told it isn’t that simple.
In order to be a good, recommended and recognised Journalist it takes more then just a click of the mouse and you are the best in town. Being a journalist that knows their work takes passion for what you do, training on proper writing, workshops one after the other and a lot of practice.
Don’t be fooled. Having your own blogs, cites and web pages does not guarantee you a position in the books that describe a journalist. Tweet as such, post photos on flicker, write blogs and facebook as much as you want, but the question still stands, do you have what it takes to be given the title of a real Journo?
Those that sit in the Journalism/ Media Studies class and listen to those long lectures, do not quit because the end result is worth it. Survive the messes and mistakes you make in the studio, endure the long and hard search for the accurate, subjective information you have to have for your reports. Nobody said it would be easy but that day will come when you walk up that stage and receive the “cap of knowledge”, enter the interview room and tell them the four Ws and H, and recite the new values, and then wait for the day you get into that news room with pride because you know your business.
The day will come when I will stand-up and say, we may all be writers and publishers but I am a Journalist.
It can be you that changes Zimbabwe, that stands up to the President and the one who makes the world a better place because you’ve got what it takes to be a real Journalist.
When times come when you feel like quitting remember that the title is about to be yours you are earning it or it is yours because you have earned it.
In order to be a good, recommended and recognised Journalist it takes more then just a click of the mouse and you are the best in town. Being a journalist that knows their work takes passion for what you do, training on proper writing, workshops one after the other and a lot of practice.
Don’t be fooled. Having your own blogs, cites and web pages does not guarantee you a position in the books that describe a journalist. Tweet as such, post photos on flicker, write blogs and facebook as much as you want, but the question still stands, do you have what it takes to be given the title of a real Journo?
Those that sit in the Journalism/ Media Studies class and listen to those long lectures, do not quit because the end result is worth it. Survive the messes and mistakes you make in the studio, endure the long and hard search for the accurate, subjective information you have to have for your reports. Nobody said it would be easy but that day will come when you walk up that stage and receive the “cap of knowledge”, enter the interview room and tell them the four Ws and H, and recite the new values, and then wait for the day you get into that news room with pride because you know your business.
The day will come when I will stand-up and say, we may all be writers and publishers but I am a Journalist.
It can be you that changes Zimbabwe, that stands up to the President and the one who makes the world a better place because you’ve got what it takes to be a real Journalist.
When times come when you feel like quitting remember that the title is about to be yours you are earning it or it is yours because you have earned it.
FJP Participant on TV!
Hi Guys!Guess who was on TV last night? The one and only FJP 2009 participant, Colin Wardle. He appeared on SABC 1's weekly drama that shows on Tuesdays at 20:30, Montana. It's just unfortunate you were not allowed to do your job there Colin ha ha ha... . Big up to you broer nonetheless.
From left to right on the pic: Anele Ngwenya, Masebe Qina, Colin
Wardle and Lucky Mdletshe.
From left to right on the pic: Anele Ngwenya, Masebe Qina, Colin
Wardle and Lucky Mdletshe.
11 August, 2009
07 August, 2009
Workers strike back!
Yesterday morning I bumped into an old friend who looked particularly pleased with his day. He told me that workers who had been on strike on the Rhodes university campus had just broke into his management lecture and it had to be cut short. It has been five days since the beginning of the Rhodes university workers strike. The workers have been striking because the university has supposedly refused to hand over money which had been put aside for their salaries.
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) had given notice that it would embark on protected Industrial Action (a strike) from Monday, the 3rd of August, and it could/would last a few days.
The demonstration which is held by cleaning and catering staff members has left students to fend for themselves for the duration of the strike. Many residences have left ‘bathroom duties’ and ‘kitchen duties’ to the students and recently, the university has offered to pay the students for all their work.
The strike was supposed to end yesterday but negotiations did not go as planned by the university. Nosizwe Maduna, a catering staff member said that they had anticipated the strike’s end on Thursday but are now willing to strike until Monday. “Why should the students be cleaning? The university must get our message”, said Maduna.
As part of their demonstration, they broke into the General lecture hall on Thursday morning trying to stop the classes so that the university could understand. Nobody can really say who the ‘bad apples’ are but the strike should end soon.
Today, the East London police department made their way to the campus to try and move the demonstrators but they later argued that it was impossible to do that as this is not directed at the town’s municipality but, the university.
The National Education Health and Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) had given notice that it would embark on protected Industrial Action (a strike) from Monday, the 3rd of August, and it could/would last a few days.
The demonstration which is held by cleaning and catering staff members has left students to fend for themselves for the duration of the strike. Many residences have left ‘bathroom duties’ and ‘kitchen duties’ to the students and recently, the university has offered to pay the students for all their work.
The strike was supposed to end yesterday but negotiations did not go as planned by the university. Nosizwe Maduna, a catering staff member said that they had anticipated the strike’s end on Thursday but are now willing to strike until Monday. “Why should the students be cleaning? The university must get our message”, said Maduna.
As part of their demonstration, they broke into the General lecture hall on Thursday morning trying to stop the classes so that the university could understand. Nobody can really say who the ‘bad apples’ are but the strike should end soon.
Today, the East London police department made their way to the campus to try and move the demonstrators but they later argued that it was impossible to do that as this is not directed at the town’s municipality but, the university.
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