There’s nothing like the rush of a busy newsroom

Dear Reader,

It has been 30 weeks since I began this column.

While this in itself is a minor milestone, the knowledge I have gained from you, the reader, has been priceless.

Here at the Newcastle Advertiser, we value feedback as it gives us the opportunity to improve both our print and online products.

I have spoken to so many of you, who call me every single week to discuss issues in town and with the newspaper.
We have picked up story leads, tips, event notices and much more from this feedback.

We have realised that, even though we sometimes feel like journalism is a thankless career, we are providing a service to the community we love and are appreciated for it.

It has been a long year so far, with much to be thankful for and even more to worry about in terms of leadership instability and poor service delivery.

Each week, there are more instances of failing infrastructure around town, leading to areas without either water or electricity for weeks at a time.

Often, readers get zero support or help from ward councillors or the municipality.

This is when the Advertiser comes in – we are trusted enough to be able to get the answers the community seeks, even if this is not always easy.

There is nothing quite like the rush of the newsroom.

Journalism is not a career one enters into lightly.

It’s not a glamorous profession by any means – we work long hours, late nights, public holidays and weekends.

We sacrifice time with our children and families to be able to meet deadlines. We also willingly put our lives in danger on occasions.

But the rewards at the end of the day are well worth it, because we are here to serve. While online is immediate and exciting, one piece of feedback stands out from these past 30 weeks – print is enduring.

I am proud to be a part of the Newcastle Advertiser’s rich history, and together with my dedicated team, we are committed to making our own mark on the media landscape.

Please keep the feedback coming – reveshni@caxton.co.za or 034 312 6021.

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Contact us

WhatsApp: 082 874 5550

Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za

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