Excitement, fear, cold sweats, uncertainty and accomplishment are some of the emotions I have experienced in the past 12 months as editor of your local newspaper.
Rewind almost exactly a year, and I was promoted to the envious position of editor of my beloved town’s newspaper.
Never in a million years would I have thought I’d edit a newspaper three years after completing my journalism degree, let alone the newspaper I grew up with at home; the one my mother would read and often ask: “Did you see that story in the City Times?”
I did not care much for the City Times at that stage; besides, I barely knew what a newspaper was.
When the time came to take over the reins from Hilary Green, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands – and here I am.
I would be lying if I said it was smooth sailing all the way, but sailing is sailing, isn’t it?
How can I forget my very first front page (the PDF is still saved on my desktop) as captain of this historic but trusty ship.
On the front page, published in the issue dated October 9, 2015, was a lovely photograph (I took it) of Stella Nortje and George Endacott dancing the night away at Rynpark One.
The lead story – unrelated to the photograph – was headlined “SAPS aims to reel in big fish”.
The new year came and went, and with it, a successful annual Benoni City Times Cake Bake Competition, a new partnership with Benoni Northerns Athletic Club as a media sponsor in their annual Benoni Northerns Marathon (formerly the Slow-Mag Marathon), the redesign of the new-look Benoni City Times, The Festival @ St Dunstan’s (what a party it was) and then of course, the annual Benoni City Times Buco Rietpan Charity Golf Day.
These events are a drop in the bucket of what I and my wonderful team of journalists and sales representatives have achieved since October.
Behind the scenes, I had really long nights and sometimes went without weekends – all for you.
The joy of the job is not self-glory, but the fulfilment of informing the community of the happenings in Benoni and beyond and the glorious feeling of knowing I have positively impacted on people’s lives, however small it may be.
The people I met along the way made it all worthwhile.
The few near-heart attack moments also compromised the journey.
There is no worse feeling than waking up in the middle of the night with the question: are my facts correct in the page three story? Have I spelt a person’s name incorrectly? Did I remember to delete a key line which ran across the front page picture?
Ink is permanent, but heart attacks aren’t; luckily I am still here to tell the tale.
I have learned that life as editor goes by in a flash (work hours are over in no time); the sun will always shine tomorrow, no matter how big the blunder in the paper and, most of all, you are only as good as your team.
I have had fantastic support from my managers and journalists, many of whom also lit the midnight oil.
Who knows what the future has in store, but you’re guaranteed that the City Times will strive to serve you as best we can, knowing that our existence is only certain if you still deem us relevant.
The journey has not been smooth sailing all the way; there were choppy waters, but the sail was hoisted every day and the journey forges ahead – come hell or high water.
Let’s keep sailing, Benoni.
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