OPINION: Celebrities given VIP treatment while media was left in the cold

Last Saturday, 1 April 2023, my colleague, Sibonga Sibiya and I attended the Jozi Kota Festival which took place at the Station Market in Johannesburg with the hope to cover an exciting story. However, what we experienced was nothing short of a disaster. The event was poorly organised, and the media was neglected to the point of being ignored entirely.

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Journalists neglected at Jozi Kota Festival

Despite being given a VIP section to share with celebrities, The Citizen and other media houses were left to cover the event on empty stomachs and with parched throats.

As we were left out in the cold, the celebrity artists who were performing, including Big Zulu, Mlindo the Vocalist, and Gospel artist Sipho Makhabane, were given preferential treatment. It was evident that the event organisers valued them more than us, who were supposed to be respected and honoured for bringing attention and fame to the event.

After waiting for four hours, we were finally given food, and our requests for drinks were completely disregarded. My colleague Sibonga even had to ask for water because we were so hungry and thirsty.

The frustration of media members from other publications was palpable, and rightfully so – being treated in such a manner is unacceptable.

What’s really grinding my gears is that us media people are in the same biz as those A-listers and we were all there to make the event a success, so why the double standard? Is it all about who’s on top? I just can’t wrap my head around it.

Acknowledging the role of media

As professionals in the media industry, we don’t seek preferential treatment, but we do desire recognition for our efforts. This is because we are responsible for disseminating news and informing the public about events such as this one.

Without the media, an event like this would be doomed.

Media coverage can make or break an event’s success, and neglecting the media is a huge mistake. It’s disheartening to see the lack of appreciation for the hard work and dedication journalists put into covering events like the Jozi Kota Festival.

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Finding the silver lining

Despite these shortcomings, there were some positive aspects of the event. The performances from the artists were exceptional, and the food stalls were impressive. However, the organisers’ neglect of the media overshadowed these aspects, and it’s crucial that they address this issue if they want their future events to succeed.

The attendees at the event appeared to enjoy themselves. A large crowd, both young and old, gathered to partake in the festival. People came with their families and friends to have a good time.

The only redeeming aspect about this festival is it brought people of different races together and united them through food and music.

Although things ended in tears for us, I am glad the attendees enjoyed themselves.

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