UL magazine editorial team gets empowered during workshop

Journalists having to guard against taking bribes and Tito Mboweni’s appointment as Finance Minister were some of the topics under discussion during Saturday’s session of a two-day publications workshop for the editorial team of the University of Limpopo’s Keyaka student magazine, held in the Tzaneen area on the weekend.
The first part of the two-day programme focused on practicalities of reporting, such as creating contacts, sourcing stories, reporting with responsibility and maintaining credibility as well as investigative reporting.
Ofhani Munyai, Capricorn FM Sport Precinct Producer and former UL student was quoted as saying that they should never take for granted the opportunity of having a magazine on campus where they could learn and be prepared for a professional environment. “During our time we never had such resources but had to rely on the theory we got taught. It’s not easy to break into the journalism industry so you need to stand out and be noted. You need to go and knock at each and every door for opportunities no matter how small they are. You need to annoy employers. No media or journalism job will come while you are seated at home or at the campus.”
The Saturday session was addressed by Polokwane Observer Editor Yolande Nel, who gave a presentation covering topics that varied from a newsroom set-up to managing a publication and story-writing to photojournalism. She stressed, among others, the need for remaining objective, writing stories that were factually correct, writing with credibility and the importance of having to protect one’s sources. In conclusion she advised that journalism offered the most exciting career choice.
According to Doctor Sundani (Keyaka Student Magazine Coordinator) the workshop was designed to develop the next generation of great journalists. “I am excited that student journalists are able to understand what happens both in the field and newsroom. Some journalists were unable to write well and take better photos but though the information imparted during training and the workshop, I believe they will help them to improve their journalism skills.”