#MeetTheTeam – Endy Senyatsi
He was present when the University of Limpopo shut down during last year's #FeesMustFall protest and now it's your chance to meet the man behind the story, Endy Senyatsi.
POLOKWANE – He was present when the University of Limpopo shut down during last year’s #FeesMustFall protest, he was also present when Bafana Bafana trained at Peter Mokhaba Stadium last year when they played against Senegal.
Endy Senyatsi is one of Review’s Senior Journalists and covers a wide variety of news. Here’s your chance to get to know him better.
How long have you been working at the Review?
What is your role at the Review?
I am a photographer and a news reporter, meaning that I have to go out take photographs and gather information. The info gathered as to be summarised for my target audience to fully understand the subject I wrote about.
Describe a typical day for a Review journalist?
Review Journalists are always on their toes and ready to grab any story coming their way. One should check on social networks more often and phone sources to check for a possible story. I would say, one does not have a free time in the newsroom because there is always something happening that requires a journalist’s attention.
How do you deal with pressure?
Pressure? I actually enjoy working under pressure but my coffee mug should always be full to calm my nerves. A strong cup of coffee always does the trick for me.
What it is like knowing that people read your articles on a weekly basis?
It really is a good feeling because my biggest wish is to fight illiteracy in the province. I believe that one learns new things whenever they read. Reading is fundamental to functioning in today’s society. There are many adults who cannot read well enough to understand the instructions on a medicine bottle for example and this impose danger.
Have you kept all your articles?
I have a folder on my desktop where I save all my articles for future reference. It is always safer for a journalist to save all their articles and their notes.
What was your favourite story that you’ve done?
I once wrote a story about a tender-preneur who used cheap material to build pit toilets in Moletjie. The story reached local government leaders who later allocated the tender to someone else after realising that residents were in danger. However, the story almost got me killed because the guy was after me and threatened to shoot me dead. Luckily my former editor, the late Stephen Mbedzi intervened and settled the matter.
What are some of the positive aspects about being a journalist?
Journalism is a career for the curious and one gets paid to learn, travel and mingle with top celebrities. Nobody knows their community better than a journalist because creatures have access to every corner in their society. The job is all about passion.
What are some of the negative aspects?
Covering critical accident scenes is always a challenge and requires a brave journalist. And again, stories that involves gangsters and drug lords always gives me goose bumps because these two parties never rests until they eliminate anyone who put them in the spot light. I remember covering a mob justice story where two gang members were disciplined by the community. The story became our lead. But hey that put me in a lot of trouble because the gang was after me. Life turned a bit sour for me as I had to watch over my shoulders every time.
Why did you decide to become a journalist?
Last remarks?
