FJP2013

YEARBOOKFUTURE JOURNALISTS PROGRAMME

FJP // 2013

https://twitter.com/Highway_Africa

Join the conversation on Twitter

1FJP // 2012

contents

Executive Summary

Key pilllars

Programme Structure

Recruitment

Participants 2012

ICT INDABA

FJP Youth Newsroom at the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Conference

Alumni

FJP 2013: Into the future

Contacts

AlumnusTestimonial22

Autumn School

Winter School

Spring School

131618

1

2781011

2021

2 FJP // 2012

On a Highway to Africa, we met. It wasn’t a dusty road, dark or dull like the world would believe. Oh no. it was a scenic path paved with opportunity for the young. Somewhere in the journalism plain was an orange baobarb. I heard inbetween the whispering uncertain voices of legacy media succumbing to the winds of change, destiny beckoned all Future Journalists to heed the call into a technological awakening; into a new media age! And through that call, we, Future Journalists were born. And since that day, our fibre optic roots have grown, spread and infiltrated the newsrooms of Africa, applying our skill to report pressing issues of our time.

The FJP also became the official newsroom reporting the inaugural ICT Indaba 2012 Conference, wh ich took place in Cape Town, 3-7 June 2012, at the Cape Town International Convention Centres (CTICC). The group of four FJPs and two coordinators produced a dai ly 8-spread conference newspaper and numerous onl ine content. The last event in the FJP calendar was the Spring School workshop during the 16th H ighway Afr ica Conference, 9-11 September 2012, wh ich saw the 2012 group of student being handed out their cert if icates.

I am happy to mention that some of the programme’s alumni are already making waves with in the media and publ ish ing landscape, with the 2011 FJPs acting as mentors for the current years’ group.

As I prepare to leave

H ighway Afr ica and the FJP, I am confident that the programme wi l l continue to be a crucial platform for col laborative teach ing and learn ing in the journal ism and media industry. My part has been to ensure each intake of students were exposed to a creative programme that addressed issues of our transforming landscape and were equipped with sk i l l and rounded knowledge on pragmatic reporting solut ions su ited for Afr ican information needs. The rest, l ies on the student, to uti l ise opportun it ies provided to h im/her.

I remain grateful to our funder, the Open Society Foundation (South Afr ica) and al l our partner inst itut ions for the continued support and faith in the value of th is ----programme. Thank you to al l H ighway Afr icans for bel ieving. Ashe. Ngiyabonga.

FJP was honoured to be invited as partners at the annual UNESCO World Press Freedom Day conference (WPFD) , wh ich took place in Tunis , Tun is ia , 1-6 May 2012, forming the fi rst ever Youth Newsroom reporting the

WPFD conference. The rationale to include young journal ist in the UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day conference was a strategic yet s imple one. Th is conference’s mediation has been deemed a platform only for professional media practit ioners , with budding journal ists never having had a change to be actively involved and participate meaningful ly in such important global media engagements . The conference therefore served as an inspir ing gathering to bring young Future Journal ists , enabl ing them to meet their counterparts from different walks of l ife. It also served as means to give the students international professional experience in an environment where perspectives could be shared, and understanding and sk i l l could be un iquely enhanced. The youth participants had an opportun ity to meet and dialogue with leading journal ists from al l over the world.

Exe

cuti

ve S

um

mar

y

3FJP // 2012

In 2012, dear colleagues, the Future Journalists Programme (FJP) celebrated its sixth year since inauguration and fifth year as a fully fledged training programme! The FJP has become Highway Africa’s pride and joy, as well as that of Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies (JMS). Within five years, the programme has seen 105 youngsters equipped with skill essential for new-age journalism.

4 FJP // 2012

5FJP // 2012

www.facebook.com/fjp.coordinatorJoin the conversation on Facebook

6 FJP // 2012

7FJP // 2012

Provide an opportun ity for young people to be attached to news and information media through work observations and internsh ips as wel l as the opportun ity to be publ ished in relevant media.

In July 2007 Open SOcIety FOundatIOn (OSF, www.OSF.Org.za ) granted HIgHway aFrIca, a prOgramme OF rHOdeS unIverSIty, a FInancIal grant FOr tHe purpOSeS OF eStablISHIng and maIntaInIng a prOgramme tHat wOuld Seek tO acHIeve tHe FOllOwIng:

Goal:

To create a nucleus of well trained, mentored and educated black journalism graduates who will go into the journalism profession and contribute meaning¬fully to profession and industry. The programme was named Future Journalists Programme (FJP) and has been growing ever since.

Provide a vibrant network ing opportun ity for journal ism students at South Afr ican tert iary inst itut ions to engage with one another, meet media profes¬sionals and cover key events , fest ival or conferences.

Provide mentors in the media f ield for the students .

Provide un ique tra in ing and learn ing that wi l l equip the students with media production sk i l ls , through experiential learn ing projects and workshops in a variety of areas such as new media ; writ ing ; edit ing ; photojournal ism and televis ion

Provide exposure for the students to media professionals and to develop¬ments in the media world.

12345

Key pillars

8 FJP // 2012

FJP is a national programme with a range of partners drawn from tertiary institutions, the media industry, donor community and the not-for-profit sector. The programme operates as a vacation school around the three school vacations, which are Autumn School (March/April), Experiential Learning Winter School (June/July) and Spring School (September). FJP is constituted of two levels; namely level 1 and 2

Pro

gra

mm

e St

ruct

ure

level 1: Th is is the entry level of the programme where

each year a new group of 2nd year students from various South Afr ican journal ism and media tert iary

inst itut ions part icipate in the programme. In 2012 there were 20 students from 11 inst itut ions . Level one

includes a year-long programme where students have tra in ing workshops and receive mentorsh ip from

media educators and practit ioners ; are provided with experiential learn ing through the attending

and covering of an event and given an opportun ity to be publ ished in establ ished media. The students

work towards bui ld ing a portfol io of work produced during their year with FJP. The group also attends the annual H ighway Afr ica conference, H ighway Afr ica’s

f lagsh ip event.

9FJP // 2012

level 2: Th is level concentrates on FJP alumni students who have completed level one and focuses on faci l itating attachments or internsh ips for the students at various media organisations . H ighway Afr ica also creates opportun it ies for FJP alumni and Rhodes Students to gain work experience during the annual conference, employing around 100 students each year.

FJP alumni continue to write for the FJP blog (www.zajournal ist.b logspot.com) and interact with other FJP students . These level 2 students also become jun ior mentors to the jun ior level one FJP students in their respective un ivers i¬ties . We bel ieve th is is important not only to keep the network al ive but also for the personal development of the level 2 students . The coordinator connects jun ior mentors to their mentees. Once these students have graduated they automatical ly become alumni and FJP keeps track of its alumni as they are great resources for the programme.

10 FJP // 2012

Rec

ruit

men

t

11FJP // 2012

In 2012, FJP consisted of 20 participants from ten journalism/media studies/communication tertiary institutions in South Africa. We worked closely with the heads of departments and senior lecturers at the various institutions to select deserving candidates to join the programme. The selection criteria are:

Black second year journal ism / communication / media studies students ;

Only students who would be able to offer their fu l l commitment and participate in al l FJP pro¬gramme workshops and events for the year;

Students who display potential and passion for journal ism and an eagerness to learn ;

Students who could make a posit ive contr ibution to the programme.

1234

12 FJP // 2012

PARTICIPANTS 2012FJP had 20 ParticiPants and the Following students were admitted into FJP 2012:

NO. Title Student’s Name Institution Year

1 Mr Thabo Mongoato Walter S isu lu Un ivers ity 2nd

2 Ms Nomthandazo Duze Walter S isu lu Un ivers ity 2nd

3 Mr Tiragalo Evans Kgowa Univers ity of L impopo 2nd

4 Ms Matjor ie Rachoene Univers ity of L impopo 2nd

5 Mr Tendai S ibanda Univers ity of Fort Hare 2nd

6 Ms Banath i S igaj i Un ivers ity of Fort Hare 2nd

7 Mr Sphelele Ngubane Durban Un ivers ity of Technology 2nd

8 Mr Tony Manyangadze Durban Un ivers ity of Technology 2nd

9 Ms Nontobeko Oreander Mpaza

Univers ity of Zulu land 2nd

10 Ms Zandi le Nomvula Pearl Msane

Univers ity of Zulu land 2nd

11 Ms Jul ia Payle Univers ity of Cape Town 2nd

12 Mr Sakh is izwe Gcina Univers ity of Cape Town 2nd

13 Mr Sthembiso Sithole Tshwane Univers ity of Technology 2nd

14 Ms Natasha Ph i r i Tshwane Univers ity of Technology 2nd

15 Ms Zithobi le Zwane Univers ity of Johannesburg 2nd

16 Ms Binwe Adebayo Rhodes Un ivers ity 2nd

17 Ms Nompumelelo Mncube Rhodes Un ivers ity 2nd

18 Ms Asanda Sokanyi le Cape Peninsu la Un ivers ity of Technology

1st

19 Mr Marcel Jermaine Trout Cape Peninsu la Un ivers ity of Technology

1st

20 Ms Nonjabulo Khuzwayo Univers ity of Kwa-Zulu Natal 3rd

13FJP // 2012

AUTUMN SCHOOL8-14 April 2012

the theme for the workshop was Podcasting and Good old Writ ing. The aim was to teach FJPs how to produce good radio

news reports for new media platforms wh ich are also wel l packaged. Trainers for th is school were Sim Kyazze and Lincoln Van Der Westhu izen , Writ ing and Edit ing lecturer and Radio Teach ing Assistant at Rhodes Un ivers ity respectively. Students learnt and understood the concept of convergence and how to use Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) as reporting aid. They used recorders , mobi le phones and podcasting technology to tel l the stories and opin ions of local Grahamstownians regarding democracy. The fundamentals of journal ism, part icularly writ ing , were not forgotten. S im ensured that the students learnt about the principles of journal ism including writ ing styles , news analys is , interviewing and profi l ing. The FJP blog was used as practice ground for both journal ist ic writ ing and self-expression.

14 FJP // 2012

FJP ’s miss ion at the UNESCO WPFD conference was a success . The project al lowed FJP to be a prime news source covering WPFD conference from a student journal ist ’s perspective. Not only d id it contr ibute to the presence of a Future Journal ists wing at the conference, but it also elevated the FJP as a programme to an international level . Each day saw FJP become a custom name on the backdrop of the conference and amongst world ’s media who trusted and opted to use our news content. The other pivotal ach ievement of th is project was the abi l ity to sensit ize Future Journal ists to report the press ing issues of press freedom and freedom of speech . Th is un ique opportun ity also saw the coming together of various journal ism inst itut ions and organisations for the same course, mark ing the beginn ing of what is hoped to be a sustainable relationsh ip between al l part ies involved.

Through th is venture support from the Open Society Foundation (OSF) and that of the various journal ism schools around the world and UNESCO itself, FJP began its international engagement miss ion , wh ich is to bring our tra in ing and experiential learn ing to journal ism students beyond South Afr ican boarders .

FJP therefore took 22 mult i-national second year students from six journal ism institutions around the world to cover the 10th UNESCO

World Press Freedom Day Conference (WPFD). The conference took place from 3- 5 May 2012, at the Karthago Le Palace Hotel , in Tunis , WPFD conference. The theme for th is conference was New Voices: Media Freedom Helping to Transform Societies. The students were from 6 countries: South Africa, United States of America, Tunis ia , Egypt, Senegal and Qatar. The FJP Youth Newsroom convened from 1-6 May, the first two days serving as train ing days.

FJP YOUTH NEWSROOM AT THE UNESCO WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY CONFERENCE, 3-5 may 2012

15FJP // 2012

Funded by the Department of Communications (DOC) , FJP took

four programme alumni and the two FJP coordinators to the ICT Indaba 2012, wh ich took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 4-8 June 2012. The main goal of the Indaba was to convene ICT leaders , governments and partner organisations to come and del iberate the current stance and future of ICTs in Afr ica. It was also meant to pave a way forward for Afr ica’s operations in the dig ital age by f inding col laborations that wi l l leapfrog the continents development. It is at th is conference where a declaration was drafted to fulf i l l Afr ica’s d ig ital advancement miss ion .

The FJP students formed the central newsroom of journal ists who reported th is conference. The coordinators played the role of editor and designer, the group producing three edit ions of a dai ly newsletter that was distr ibuted to conference delegates. Content from th is conference is accessib le at www.reportingdna.org.

ICT INDABA 4-8 June 2012

16 FJP // 2012

the 2012 FJP Winter School took place from 28 June- 2 July 2012, and was themed Experiential Learn ing at the National Arts

Fest ival . A great ach ievement of th is school was the col laboration between FJP and Upstart, a youth media project of Grocott ’s Mai l , the oldest independent newspaper based in Grahamstown, wh ich is a teach ing establ ishment now belonging to Rhodes Un ivers ity’s School of Journal ism and Media Studies . Th is was the beginn ing of what is hopeful ly a long relationsh ip between Upstart, Grocott ’s and H ighway Afr ica to upsk i l l the next generation of Afr ica’s journal ists from their h igh school years heading forward.

Winter School: Experiential Learning at the National Arts Festival 28 June- 2 July 2012

1 Mr Zekhaya Spondo UpStart

2 Mr Anath i Madinda UpStart

3 Ms Siyamthanda Dyantyie UpStart

4 Ms Ziphelele Losi UpStart

5 Ms Thandi le Lumkwana UpStart

upaStart partIcIpantS

17FJP // 2012

An important aspect for the Winter School workshop was to bui ld a newsroom environment where the participants were thrown in an ocean of story possib i l it ies and have them report back to the newsroom. FJPs learnt to write for the arts . Tradit ional ly, journal ists and crit ics writ ing about for arts have always had a background in arts writ ing , however, th is was not the case for FJPs . They had no formal advanced train ing in th is f ie ld wh ich entai led tra in ing staff work ing t i relessly at ass ist ing the participants in acquir ing , refin ing and having confidence in their arts writ ing and reporting sk i l ls .

18 FJP // 2012

after a very excit ing Winter School workshop, the participants attended the Spring School as wel l as the

annual H ighway Afr ica Conference wh ich was the last event on the FJP calendar. It is always important that the students , who have now had their taste of new media and blogging , receive more intensive tra in ing in using ICT tools for journal ism and network ing.

The students part icipated in a mentorsh ip workshop where they were partnered with student journal ists from the Open Source newspaper and wrote art icles for the conference newspaper. Th is made the participants feel more involved as wel l as helped them get engaged with the conference themes. They attended plenary sess ions , tra in ing workshops , book launches and evening gala network ing events , making contacts with industry col leagues.

Spring School:

19FJP // 2012

20 FJP // 2012

Mina Maboja (FJP 2011) participated in the programme as the 2012 Mentor. Mina is a Rhodes University 2011 alumni of the programme, whose passion for writing, editing and creative writing saw her do a wonderful job with the 2012 group. Mina assisted as subeditor for the newsroom as well as the go-to person between the students and the trainers.

Alumni

Mina assisted siM Kyazze, FJP trainer, in ensuring that each FJP got the Most out oF the course.

21FJP // 2012

FJP 2013 Promises to be an equally exciting year! with the growing need oF develoPment Journalists, the 2013 edition oF the Future Journalists Programme will be a year For ‘develoPment Journalism training’. the workshoPs will be lead by exPerienced Journalists as well as Journalism trainers. students will be taught how to think about rePorting bread and butter issues in a comPelling manner that commands civil action and enshrines accountability to authority.

FJP 2013: Into the future:

22 FJP // 2012

Con

tact

s

k.tledima@ru.ac.za

mS karabO tledImaFJP Coordinator

mS nqObIle SIbISI

nsibisi@africanmediainititative.org

Remin iscing now; my dream to be a journal ist started in 2006 . I woke up in the early hours one morning and decided that I would go to the offices of The Star Newspaper in Sauer Street to look for a job as a reporter. Dr iven by passion and enthusiasm, I was determined that they wi l l g ive me a job. How can I forget the harsh tone from the security officer in the reception of the newspaper, tel l ing me that I should go to the l ibrary and do my research about journal ism. Needless to say, I v is ited the l ibrary and did my research . Two weeks later, I went stra ight to the SABC offices and told the reception ist my story. I wanted to be a journal ist. I inqu ired whether the publ ic broadcaster was look ing journal ists .

S ix years after al l the hustle , I decided to enrol for Journal ism at Tshwane Univers ity of Technology (TUT) and that was the l ink to me reach ing my dream.

In 2012, I was selected as the TUT participants and ambassadors into the Future Journal ist Programme (FJP) at the Rhodes Un ivers ity School of Journal ism and Media Studies (JMS). I had a great experience as a budding journal ist- in-tra in ing. I learned a lot about podcasting , writ ing and without a shadow of a doubt my interviewing sk i l ls have improved.

Thank you FJP, JMS and Rhodes Un ivesity.

Sithembiso Sithole (FJp 2012)

ALUMNUS TESTIMONIAL

late last year, I received a cal l from the FJP Coordinator (Ms Nqobi le Buthelezi-S ib is i) informing me that the South

Afr ican Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was look ing for interns and that I should apply. Without wasting any t ime, I qu ick ly went through my emai ls and started applying. Fast forward to th is year, I am happy to say I have just been offered a sol id contract to be a SABC Dig ital News Producer and that is the most excit ing th ing that ever happened to me. When my contract as an intern was nearing its end , my bosses cal led me in and told me that they couldn’t let me go because of my hard work . If it wasn’t for FJP and my hard work , I would be where I am today. FJP is real ly a meaningful connection to the media industry. Eita daar!

s.manel i@ru.ac.za

mS SIpHOkazI manelIFJP Assistant Coordinator

s.kyazze@ru.ac.za

mr SIm kyazzeFJP Trainer

Designed by Alex Bernatzky & Nicola Poulos

Former FJP Coordinator

Written by:

FJP // 2013 23

FJP // 2013 FJP // 2013