IT was all tears and joy on Friday when three of Letaba Herald’s Cadets for 2014 graduated at the Caxton training academy in Muldersdrift.
The cadet programme saw 15 incridible young journalists from over South Africa who graduated from the Caxton Editorial Cadet School this year and they are determined to make their mark in their news rooms.
Meet the people behind the faces at Lumedia:
Berdine Mundell is taking Letaba Herald by storm. She is a reporter with a bit of layout and sub editing under her sleeve and she still manages to remain sweet, humble and kind. Not only did she graduate but also received a special award, as she was crowned under the top three Cadets.
Underneath those blue eyes and blonde hair lies a strong woman with a passion for journalism. Having completed Grade 12 at Ben Vorster Berdine worked at the Biltong and Bar and then Joubert and May Attorneys as an assistant bookkeeper.
Having always wanted to be a journalist she applied for an internship, in 2014 Berdine was accepted at Letaba Herald newspaper and at the Caxton Training Academy.
Today she is a rising journalist aiming for greater things and taking writing to the next level.
‘I am where I’ve wanted to be for the last 11 years.
‘Everything happened exactly when and where it is supposed to and being at Caxton has changed me more than I could possibly imagine. I do not know yet if it is a good or bad thing but I enjoy every minute of it,’ said Berdine.
Felicia Nkhwashu, another one of the Cadets describes herself as beautiful, dedicated and ambitious but there is more to Felicia than she describes.
There is a fire inside her that will one day rise and erupt. When she matriculated in 2009 from Magoza Secondary School, she never planned a career in journalism.
In fact she wanted to be a doctor, but unfortunately she was not good in maths.
Her sister then convinced her to choose jounalism as a career and she instantly fell in love with it.
‘I am loving jounalism and I would not trade it for anything else. I thank my sister everyday,’ she said.
Caxton Cadet School has taught her to be tolerant of different people, and the importance of protecting her sources.
She loves that her job has offered her opportunities to meet new people, celebraties and touch people’s lives through her stories.
Her pet peeve is drinking too much coffee even though she knows it is bad for her.
And if she won a million rand, she would buy herself a Golf GTI. This rising star is headed far. Watch this space for this dynamic, shy but caring lady in the future.
A special mention was given to Berdine and Felicia for their layout skills.
Phalaborwa Herald can also be proud of Jolandi Stadler.
When the vibrant Jolandi Stadler walked into the Phalaborwa Herald Newspaper office and asked for a job last year, she never thought it would be the beginning of her career in journalism.
The 19 year old emerging journalist always wanted to pursue a career in journalism, and now she is inspired to become a best selling author.
Her love for writing came from her love of reading.
She started compilling her own stories at a young age, gradually progressing towards a book, which she is currently writing.
She hopes it will be a great read when it is finished. She is currently working as a trainee journalist at the Phalaborwa Herald. ‘I am a very creative person and would like to do layout for the newspaper and at least publish ten books in my lifetime,’ she said. SOURCE: Writers inc, the newspaper the cadets complied themselves during their last week of training.
