How are the Rosebank Killarney Gazette journalists dealing with lockdown?
JOBURG – The Covid-19 national lockdown has changed the way newsroom gathers your stories.
Ashtyn Mackenzie
Editor Ashtyn Mackenzie: It has been tough managing our team remotely although I feel like it has improved our communication skills. I truly miss the interaction with our readers but I am proud of our community for adhering to the lockdown rules. Covid-19 has changed the way we gather news and I implore our readers to not only consume the Gazette's content but become proactive and help us share those feel-good community stories.
The Rosebank Killarney Gazette‘s editorial team shared their thoughts on newsgathering during the Covid-19 national lockdown.
This is what they had to say…
Journalist Naidine Sibanda: During lockdown doing my job is definitely different. My area has a very bad network and working from home and trying to browse the net or upload articles online is very difficult. The upside to it is the fact that I can sometimes flex my hours and do my work better in the evening when there isn’t that much online traffic.Journalist Sarah Koning: It’s difficult being unable to see my colleagues and many of my sources on a regular basis for meetings and interviews. I now email and call people for interviews and go out to stories only a few times a week.Intern Floyd Mathebula: The lockdown has been a huge setback for me as it has affected a lot of my planned schedule, it also changed a lot of my working strategies yet I am abiding by the law and still fighting to get the job done as I am expected to deliver, hence, I was included as part of the essential services.Intern Thato Mailula: The lockdown is a new thing that we haven’t experienced as a country but what motivates me is helping to flatten the curve and knowing I am doing this for a good cause. Working from home is never easy but with time I learned to manage my work well as I would when I’m at the office.
Send your thoughts or letters to the editor at ashtynm@caxton.co.za
