Word issues from a simplistic point of view

A way to while away time while waiting for the water to boil is to read world issue bloggers. This is a simplistic blog that focuses on issues like global warming, racism, student funding, music, politics and sport. The name is reflective of their aim to see the world as a village, where people can talk about things that affect them. However, very little of this actually happens on the blog. For a blog that was supposed to cover “current affairs”, they do not do justice to this vision, which was bold and impressive in itself.

The blog posts are uncomplicated, but do not focus on the core issues like why are rap music is said to be evil; why corrupt ministers are allowed do what they do; or why global warming is accelerating at such a speed. The blog posts mainly state the facts that have been presented already. They elaborate, but do not analyse or explain. Punctuation is mediocre. Most sentences are not properly constructed, and this makes reading the posts more difficult.

The layout of the blog is very attractive. It lures you to read the stories that are there. It is very uncluttered and organised. Bright pale colours are used to make this blog generally reader friendly. However, the font is small, so this might be a problem for those who are long-sighted.

This blog is perfect for those who cannot stand reading intensely analytical stories. It is for those who have simple minds, which cannot absorb in-depth and critical blogging.

A walk to remember

It is the day I think outside of the box by walking outside of the box. The road to Eden Grove suddenly seems very long. I step out of the library and I hesitantly perch a book on top of my head. I feel as if everyone is watching me, although there are not a lot of people. I firmly clutch my bag as if it will support me from the self-consciousness I am feeling. I take small steps, afraid that at any moment the book will fall from my head. I meekly turn into the corridor absorbing all the funny looks I am getting from other students.

My res mate shrieks out to me. “Ruth! What the hell are you doing?”“What does it look like?” I ask. “I am walking with a book on my head.”I groan inside. She is walking with a cute guy. I groan again. He probably thinks that I am a confused student who is having an identity crisis. “Are you working on your posture?” she asks. “No!” I vehemently deny. “It’s for journ. Can you believe it?” I sound so ludicrous. I continue to walk. A girl passes me with an amused look on her face. Another passes me without even batting an eyelid in my direction. It seems as if students who walk with books on their heads are normal to her. There is a puzzled look on another girl’s face. She probably did not expect such odd behaviour from me.

My body is tense and although it is not hot, I feel myself perspiring. I can feel…no, I can hear the blood rushing to my brain. My friend Yolanda passes me with some of her friends. She tolerantly looks at me and says like a mother would, “Ruth, I worry about you sometimes.” I chuckle uncomfortably, and carry on walking. The book nearly falls off my head, and intense devilish sniggers creep up from behind me. Two male students are obviously enjoying the free live comedy they are getting. I step into Eden Grove, swinging my hips, trying to look like an African woman who is practising her cultural obligation. It does not work.

When I get into the Eden Grove Blue lecture room, I quickly remove the book from my head, and I calmly settle in my seat. That was quite an experience. However, it is good to be back to my normal self, my normal, sane, composed and lady-like self.

I blog what I ask

Avuyile Maselwa in thought (Term 4 day one). Please read very very very lugubriously.

Blogging, blogging, is this really necessary? So on top of all the monies that I have spent here already, I must now pester my parents for an unbudgeted for pair of reading glasses, because I will be staring at an LCD screen the whole day, when will this year end”


Ok so it was only when I started waking up to the idea of this new age of journalism that I realised that whether I like it or not, journalism is absolutely not what it used to be. In fact it is not what it was on February the 23rd when we were tasked with our first assignment and at no major stretch it is not what it was when I started typing this article. As I thought, global media as it is termed now is breaking boundaries which traditional forms of media, as advance as they have become over the years, have not been able to break. I, me, myself, am able to jump onto this moving train and navigate its course, an achievement which would have otherwise taken me a few coffee errands and paper cuts to achieve.

The thought of my learner colleagues and I swimming as the little fish that we are, in this sea of new experiences, where knowledge is in abundance and the prospects of being able to share that knowledge with the rest of the world, is exciting. Online journalism and in particular, blogging in its fullest sense can be seen as a means of communication that most journalists yearn for.
As Journalists, we aim to be informed, by immersing ourselves into society and by reading widely and translating what we have read into narratives that inform the lives of those societies. Global media is the foundation for this.

I become stuck between a rock and a hard place when I am excited by seeing my own work come alive on the blog that I have created. And still when I commute myself to my Mdantsane home I am confronted by the very people that these blog posts are meant to represent, but because they are marginalised,they will never see it. It is however unfortunate that this form of journalism as exciting as it is, seems to be elitist, in that it is exclusive of the very people that we define ourselves to be representing. This all makes me wonder whether traditional forms of media and in particular print(which at the moment is said to be dying slowly but surely) will be surpassed by the new age media? It made me question my reasons for being a journalist, which is to inform those that are not informed and whether or not I can still do this with this new media

These facts, and the fact that I have now exceeded my 250 word count that is indicative of a suitable blog post , forced me to seek help in answering some of the questions that I need answers to. As my 50% blog lecturer says, "Good journalism is achieved in doing"
Diligent ne? (Oops sorry I forget that this group of first years missed out on the Xhosa course, ne means right.)

I spoke to journos from Tv, Radio, print as well as student journos

People interviwed:

Unathi Nkayi (METRO FM)
Gill Rennie (RHODES LECTURER)
Lumko Jimlongo (SABC NEWS)
Sibongile Mkani (DAILY DISPATCH)
Sinethemba Makhasi (City Press)
Monique Senekal (RHODES TUTOR PGdip)
Kaitlin Britz (Bjorn 1st year and INKSLINGERS101)
Olwethu Xabanisa (WSU STUDENT and Eastern Cape today)
Xolani Kondile (RHODES 2ND YEAR BJOURN)

Questions:
Titles: WHAT IS JOURN IN A 6 WORD NARRATIVE
1.WHY DID YOU GET INTO JOURNALSIM

2.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEAS THAT PRINT IS DYING AND THE FACT
THAT ALL THESE OTHER MEDIA SOURCES THAT ARE DOMINATING THE INDUSTRY
NOW, ARE MORE AFFLEUNT THAN PRINT BUT STILL DO NOT INFILTRATE TO THE
MARGINALISED?

3.WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A JOURNO IN THE FUTURE?

4.What do you think of the inclusion of a Xhosa course to Journalism and media studies course at Rhodes?

The difinitive of my soul ignited

Unathi Msengana
References : Former Rhodent, now Entertainment journalist (metro fm)

Pass times : Gym, hanging out with friends and family

book : Nervous conditions-Tsitsi Dangarembga

1. My initial plan was never to study towards a degree in journalism. I wanted to study sports management at PE TECH. Both my parents being academics and former Rhodents,refused the idea and hence I ended up studying at Rhodes. I’m generally a creative person, which is why I opted for my major at Rhodes to be drama, and journalism and media studies as my second major. During the course of my years I fell in love with journalism, hence I followed it as a career path.

2. One has to be careful in terms of the research analysis that they use. In South Africa, print, television and radio, being the traditional forms of journalism serve as the guide for the new age media that is creeping into the industry to date. I believe that this is an exciting form of communication which brings new challenges. As much as it can be helpful, it can also be very dangerous in that there are few limits to information that is put out there. I do feel though that, South Africans should not look at the changes that global media is bringing in an American context, as the economic demographic of this country does not allow us to do so. The majority of the people are marginalised and hence they do not have the capabilities to move with the times of this new age form of journalism. This is why new media concepts for instance blogging will always be guided by traditional forms of media.

3.I am not one for making future plans. Every decision that I make is informed by where I am at the time. I do however still plan to continue in the path of informing those that want to listen, through entertainment journalism.

4. It is about time and I do not mean this in a racial context but it is long overdue. I think that journalism involves one being able to utilise their unique selling points and if that means that you have to speak the language of the people that you are practising your craft around, then so be it. Rhodes University is an institution renowned for its merit and the students who have had the unique opportunity of becoming students there should see this as a privilege.

Word for students: You are very privileged to have had the opportunity to study at Rhodes. Never take this opportunity for granted. Treasure it and use it to the best of your ability.

A great way to be ailve

Gill Rennie
References: Award wining journalist, my 50% blog lecturer
Pass times: Reading, picnics, reading some more
Book: To kill a Mocking bird- Harper Lee



1. Life in South Africa was very different; the battle lines were clearly defined. There were good guys and bad guys and I had to decide which side I was on. Journalism had a really important role, but unfortunately then, freedom of the press was non-existent. There were hundreds of laws governing the way the press reported, and as many volunteers as possible were needed in order to change this.

2. The changes that are occurring in the world are influencing the skills that I hope to equip my students with. This means that I have to start thinking and teaching on a media landscape. I feel that the new forms of journalism are very important in the times that we live in. As journalists, it is our duty to try to inform those that are unable to inform themselves and with this global age media we are able to do this much faster and more effectively. I am a print journalist by nature and I see that my industry is changing, but I do not think that it will die. The sad reality in this country is that, the majority of the people, the people that we are meant to represent are still very marginalised. This means that they are unable to move with this new age media. The fact that even students who are being trained in this field, in particular here in the Eastern Cape, do not have access to computers let alone the internet,is indicative of the fact that print and the other traditional forms of media still have a huge role to play.

3. My aim is to continue to help students through the challenges that the changes to this course will always bring. I want students to know that there are always ways to work around any obstacles that they may encounter along their path to becoming capable journalists. I want to encourage them to read widely, so as to take in as much information as possible in order to be in a better position to have an opinion worth being heard. They need to learn to be able to communicate with their sources confidently and for that to occur they must learn to be innovative in their ways of acquiring knowledge.

4. I have been living in Grahmstown for 5 years now and I am ashamed to say that I can only say "Molo". I think that the introduction of Xhosa into the course is a positive initiative that will alow students to understand the people whose narratives they tell.I commend the department and I wish it success.

Word for students: Good journalism needs you to practice what you learn

Different life aspects and fair objectivity

Olwethu Xabanisa
References:Student at WSU and writes for Eastern Cape today

books :Dinner with Mugabe by Heidi Holland
Pass times:Brand house and SAB promotions Djing there and there
Getting to know how other people feel about a certain issue, listening to other people’s opinions and meeting different people who are in different professions.
Different life aspects and fair objectivity. Be passionate about everything in this career and work very hard at all times to fulfill your dreams and whatever you want to eradicate.



1. I felt that South Africa needed a change in terms of portraying a clear picture to society regarding what they should really know and for them not to be told what to think about but rather think about what is really happening at present and off cause solutions to these kinds of problems they are experiencing.


2. Yes, print is kind of depreciating if I can put it that way but off cause everyone is entitled to their own opinion. For less privileged people this would be a problem because they won’t have an entire access to the “dominant” internet and if the good old newspapers and magazines die there would be some kind of censorship affecting a large number of poor people in and around the world. Remember TV is not enough as the only source of media because different stations are pushing different agendas and in SA for instance most people can’t afford satellite TV.


3. This is a very versatile profession therefore I wouldn’t predict my position but off cause somewhere in the media world.

4. That should have happened ages ago, Rhodes University is one of the excelling journalism institutions in SA and based in the Eastern Cape which is the Xhosa dominant province therefore I am entirely condoning this phenomenon.

Word to students:Be passionate about everything in this career and work very hard at all times to fulfill your dreams and whatever you want to eradicate.

Reading to be informed to inform

Sibongile Mkani

References: Former WSU student, now withDaily Dispatch
Book : I read what i like- Steven Biko
Pass times: I read, sleep and read some more



1.I wanted to be a journalist, because I wanted to be ontop of things (know what is
happening around me). Journalism involves travelling and I love meeting people. More importantly, journalism meant that I would be informed and so be able to inform, help and educate those that are not.

2. I do not think that print is dying, but it is being overtaken by the new forms of journalism. Online journalism means that the message is being put out there much faster. I do believe though that, people will always want to have a copy of the paper, because it is easier to get a full of the story, unlike online where you get bits and pieces. Print media is advantageous, because unlike online services, a story that was put up in the morning will not still be there in the evening. As for the marginalised, we could say that they are the reason that print will not die, because the fact that they can not afford access to internet services and the like means that they will continue to buy the paper.

3.I'm am not sure, maybe heading up a news desk and assigning stories. Being a print journalist though, I have found that I constantly need to feul my passion, because there is no money in this profession which is why one has to really love it to survive.

4.I am Xhosa so I think that this is a wonderful idea. It is sad to see that we have still not incorparated African languages to our ways of communication. Congratulations to Rhodes this a positive step forward.

word for students: Passion for this career will be your wealth

WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY??????

Lumko Jimlongo
References:formerly at WSU in Eastern Cape now with (Sabc news)

Books: Your very own Dr Saleem Badat’s “Black Man You Are On Your Own.”
I have not yet had the opportunity to read it but from the extracts I have come across- it is long overdue especially given the apparent loss of identity from today’s generation of children of the soil.

Pass times: Not much time for that I’m afraid. So I guess I’m researching the
next story



1.I would like to believe that it was curiosity and the very naïve notion of saving the world through creative means and wanting to be the voice of the voiceless. I thought it would be the perfect platform for me to write about people in need and get government to account etc. Needless to say, that is an objective I still hold but now it has been coupled by the realisation that – with it, comes a lot of red tape and gate keeping which makes it just a tad more complicated than I had originally thought it would be.

2.Being a man who has worked in broadcasting throughout my rather short career, I feel already my response to this one is of a biased nature.
But seriously though – if we are to look at it from an environmental perspective - then maybe it should die.
But with my environmentalist hat now off, I feel one can’t run away from the fact that newspapers have a history that dates back hundreds of years but with the advent of radio and TV, their circulation started to decline. This just meant that people did not have to rely on print as the only source of news anymore (especially talking of breaking news where information is just simply conveyed in a more speedy manner via broadcasting.)

I also wish to differ with the view that these so called “more affluent” platforms do not infiltrate to the marginalized.
I just think that multi-media is a way, more accessible than print media.
Print to me is more discriminatory as I am sure the illiteracy levels nationwide will attest. Add to that, multi-media stories make use of the visual element as well, in a way that bridges any communicative gaps that the written word could promote.

Back to the question of the assumed 'affluence' of non-print media: I would like to think that you may have conceived of this from an online perspective? That is to say, you access multi-media stories via the internet only? Not necessarily so. One doesn’t have to have a high-end laptop to access this content. It is a fact that, communities in East and West Africa are accessing the internet via mobile phones: this has penetrated internet usage into rural communities at a rate faster than your average suburban home with your PC scenario.

3.Well life would be rather plain without the odd bouts of delusions of grandeur so I guess I’d like to see myself in a managerial post somewhere.
Seriously though, all I wish to see my response to question one, moving a bit closer to being a reality.

4.Why it hasn’t been done already is a question I would rather be asked.
If we are to prioritize the issue of language amongst students and encourage them to learn at least one African language – then it should be a matter of priority that this is encouraged.

Journalism is my way of interpreting the world

Kaitlin Britz
References: First year Bjourn student


Contributor to Inkslingers101


Pass times :writing poetry, reading, facebook (haha), going out, causing trouble and wine


(it is a hobby)


Books :Anything by Paolo Cohelo, John Gray, Naomi Campbell- I am a reading creep

1.I got into journalim because I have always had a passion for the media and I really enjoy writing

2. I do not think that print will ever die;however, the internet has revolutionised journalism and I do believe that the net will remain a strong influence on journalism and will also continue to change the face of journalism. The marginalised will most probably continue to not have access to non- print journalism, but because of this, there will continue to be a market for print journalism.

3. I see myself as either a travel writer or an editor.

I think that Xhosa is a good idea, but maybe they should include other African languages as well.

Journalism is one thing I do right

Journalism is one thing I do right
Xolani Kondile

References: 2nd year bjourn student
books :There are two actually the first is by Allan Paton (Cry the beloved country) and Kahlil Gibran (Broken Wings)

Pass times : I enjoy lots of things but I enjoy spending time with my childhood friends, I don't see a lot of them lately. I also like spending quality time with little cousins and lastly I enjoy church and spending time with the youth in my church.
Lastly I enjoy church and spending time with the youth in my church.
Writing, if I could master the craft of writing I'd be the happiest man alive. Photography as well, call me a thief but I love stealing moments in time.



1.It’s the love of information, and research. It’s more like teaching, which is something I'd like to do later on in my life

2.Each industry will always have its ups and downs. I understand that things are changing in journalism as a whole. I personally think that print as a mechanism of writing has been modified or rather developing, not necessarily dying. I believe that print is bread and butter of journalism.

4.I am more interested in media research, as a journalist id like to contribute by maybe freelancing. I want to travel Africa so that I can contribute to journalism by writing or commenting about other African countries politics from an outsider’s perspective if that makes sense.

5.I think it’s important that more African languages should be encouraged in this institution especially if it wants to attain an African image. It’s a disgrace to have more European languages than African languages especially South African indigenous languages, for instance isiXhosa and the like.