Panellists Pippa Thsabalala, Innocentia Hlatshwayo and Nompumelelo Mdluli on the Johannesburg GGA webinar held at Boston Media Home.
Exploring profession alternatives within the media business with the consultants
The origin tales of a lot of famend girls media personalities had been shared in an uplifting and empowering webinar hosted by Boston Media Home, Good Governance Africa and the Mail & Guardian. Held at BMH’s Sandton Campus, the room filled with schoolgirls heard how these influential girls bought to the positions they maintain right this moment within the media business, together with suggestions, recommendation and phrases of encouragement.
Themes that emerged from the experiences shared by the ladies within the varied media sectors had been that fixed studying is important, to permit girls who enter into the media to remain abreast of recent developments and to have the ability to pivot and adapt as circumstances within the sector change. Making the most of alternatives that current themselves is essential to advancing one’s profession; having a mentor helps; and sustaining a aggressive edge is vital for ladies within the media business, which remains to be male dominated.
In Zimbabwe and Ghana GGA’s regional workplaces held comparable occasions, the place the individuals realized from an skilled array of ladies audio system concerning the media business. In Nigeria, a convention on gender-based violence was held. Reviews from these occasions observe beneath.
Mmabatho Mongae, Knowledge Analyst at GGA, opened proceedings by saying the GGA believes in empowering younger girls, and that the intention of the webinar was to supply a imaginative and prescient of what the media world is about for the younger girls in attendance.
Introduction
MC Carike Verbooy, Tutorial Head of Boston Media Home, outlined the assorted fields within the media business that younger girls can select from.
Keynote speaker and radio presenter Treasured Maputle mentioned that empowering the youth — significantly younger girls — is important for Africa’s future. The cultural and inventive industries contribute vastly to all nations’ GDP and the media business affords many profession alternatives. Working within the media affords many advantages, together with artistic expression, networking, collaboration and world connection, and it encourages lifelong studying. “It’s a satisfying profession, and you can also make a major contribution. Dare to dream!” mentioned Maputle, emphasising that having a optimistic angle helps, and so does discovering a mentor.
Session 1: Girls in media
The panellists had been inspired to speak about their careers and the way they bought to their current positions.
Shoeshoe Ntsoaki Qhu, CEO, Media Growth and Variety Company (MDDA), requested the younger ladies within the viewers, how various are the social media platforms they take heed to? Outlining her personal profession during which she started as a reporter, she mentioned the media business opens one to a wide range of alternatives and experiences, and he or she took benefit of those who got here her means.
Qhu mentioned we should always all the time be ready for failure and errors, that are a part of the journey.
Asafika Mpako, Communications Co-ordinator Southern Africa, Afrobarometer, mentioned she got here from a small city, studied at UCT after which went to the US, which modified her life, after which she utilized for additional scholarships and travelled some extra. She didn’t intend to finish up within the media, however her mentor mentioned she had all the time been a communicator. She inspired the viewers to transcend concern, as there are not any limits, and to all the time be adaptable and open to fixed studying.
Naledi Mphahlele, AFDA graduate, pageantry mannequin and script supervisor, mentioned she is now a filmmaker who typically works for greater than 12 hours a day, and that she loves her profession, despite the fact that round 90% of the movie crew is usually male. She mentioned that having braveness is an important a part of making your voice heard as a lady within the media business.
Sibusiswe Ndlovu, CEO, Amakhosikazi Media, Southern Africa, joined the webinar on-line from Zimbabwe. She mentioned she has been within the media sector for greater than 20 years. She began her profession in appearing then labored as a radio broadcaster, after which she produced radio programmes, and studied additional to advance her profession. She found that ladies had been typically too silent in media conferences dominated by males, and shaped Amakhosikazi Media to create a platform to share the tales of ladies’s burdens.
A query from the viewers directed to Mpako was how she balanced her profession and research along with her personal life; she mentioned she typically studied too arduous, and gave herself little or no time, so studying to prioritise is essential. “To remain optimistic and centered requires self-discipline and routines. It’s additionally vital to encompass your self with a supportive community.”
Session 2: Journalism, Radio, Tv
Dr Allegro Dinkwanyane, Founder and Group CEO of Orgella Group, mentioned she began Orgella when she was simply 21, and he or she inspired the youthful technology to begin early. On the difficulty of steady studying, Dinkwanyane mentioned the world is altering so quick right this moment that simply having a level is now not sufficient; there are free programs on the web, so use it to your benefit. She started with a 3am “graveyard” shift on radio whereas at UJ, walked over to the SABC and began sitting in on sport presenter Carol Tshabalala’s present, the place she realized the ropes.
By learning advertising, she realised how you can monetise her weblog Orgella, which has grown exponentially. “Stick with your dream,” she mentioned, “or you’ll rapidly be sidetracked.” Success in social media shouldn’t be essentially outlined by numbers, mentioned Dinkwanyane; to make an affect, you want engagement along with your viewers, and a number of that comes from having a distinct segment.
Sally Sithole, CNBC Junior Producer, mentioned she all the time needed to be a producer on radio and TV, and he or she has managed to grasp her goals; she inspired the viewers to observe theirs, although it may be a lonely process. Have a aggressive edge, she mentioned; get the {qualifications} you require, and construct contacts, as they are going to be your future work companions. She’s now in her third diploma, and will likely be a health care provider sooner or later.
Dineo Mathebula, Content material Producer, City Brew Studios, is like Sithole a Boston alumni. She comes from humble beginnings, and moved throughout a number of sectors in media earlier than she grew to become a producer. She mentioned that we’re all born to shine, and that enjoying small doesn’t assist anybody, particularly ourselves. She additionally started with a graveyard shift and was thrown into the deep finish at Energy FM, and shortly her breakfast present started stealing audiences. “By no means be scared of creating errors,” she suggested, “as a result of even the unhealthy experiences will be realized from.”
Males nonetheless management the boardrooms within the media business, in order a lady, by no means enable anybody to silence your voice, mentioned Mathebula.
Session 3: Graphic design and animation
On this session, the distinction between graphic design and animation was defined by the panellists, who mentioned that one doesn’t should have taken artwork in school to enter this a part of the media occupation. Responding to viewers questions, they mentioned you need to use AI to create photos today, and it received’t take away your job; it’s only a device.
Pippa Tshabalala, Senior on-air and Artistic Companies Supervisor, The Walt Disney Firm Africa, has an MA in animation, and has labored for a number of media homes. Her recommendation is to be open to new alternatives, which helped her to pivot and advance in her profession. “At all times study new expertise: that is important within the media business.”
Innocentia Hlatshwayo, Graphic Design Specialist at MultiChoice Group, started her graphic design profession within the company business, the place she met many uplifting girls colleagues. She suggested the women within the viewers to all the time have a mentor to carry you to the following stage. “Self-belief is what is going to pull you ahead,” she suggested.
Nompumelelo Mdluli, Senior Artwork Director, Ogilvy South Africa mentioned she began in graphic design after seeing designs on cereal packing containers. She’s labored on many manufacturers, together with her favorite model, which is Cadbury. Be open to studying new issues, mentioned Mdluli, and take dangers that will open you to new prospects; be a “Sponge Bob” and take in new issues.
Verbooy added that, based mostly on the panellists’ profession experiences, that you just typically find yourself in a unique sector to that which you studied; so, don’t be afraid that your chosen research area is “improper”. The session ended with members of the viewers drawing avatars of themselves.
Session 4: Promoting, advertising and public relations
Lethabo Senyatsi Kgolane, Africa exterior communications and stakeholder relations lead, Deloitte SA, mentioned she “does the whole lot” in her present function, and that she has labored throughout a wide range of sectors. She’s realized that issues change on a regular basis, so being adaptable is essential, and studying should occur on a regular basis, together with within the office, by partaking along with her colleagues. She mentioned being black and a lady, you must do issues twice as effectively, and that if you’re assertive, you’re seen as “aggressive” or “opinionated”. While you rise, carry others with you.
Kamogelo Phatlhane, Advertising Supervisor, Cradlestone Mall, was a scholar at BMH and bought into the SABC internship program. She then bought into occasion administration and from there bought into mall administration; now she plans technique for Cradlestone. “Know your value and communicate up; be a group participant and assist those that are struggling; if issues should not going to plan, formulate one; go the additional mile; and keep on the trajectory of your dream.”
Sibongile Keswa, Advertising Supervisor, Flight Centre, mentioned she needed to be a author, studied at BMH, and spent a while as a information reader, then bought into social media and from there into advertising, the place she labored her means as much as her current place. The difficulty of some folks not being group gamers can generally be handled by transferring them to a task the place they will work extra solo, mentioned Keswa.
Session 5: Demonstration and Closing Remarks
Nadia Sigamoney from sponsor Vela Personnel mentioned the organisation is 100% black girls owned and gives a tailor-made HR service for recruitment, placement, assessments, and many others. Its program Matla Basadi is targeted on girls empowerment, which helps younger girls acquire confidence for job searching for duties like interviews.
An illustration of how you can use reusable Palesa sanitary pads adopted, and a poem by Botlhale Boikanyo, award-winning poet, actress and speaker, closed off the proceedings for the day. She mentioned that the overarching narrative of the media is storytelling. “Tales form who we’re and join us all,” mentioned Boikanyo, “girls want to inform tales that mirror their true energy.”
Session 6: Tour of Boston Media Home
Delegates had been taken on a guided tour of BMH and teams got an opportunity to document a brief podcast.
GGA Regional Centres
Zimbabwe
In Zimbabwe, GGA partnered with Amakhosikazi Media Southern Africa on 11 October 2024 in commemoration of the Worldwide Day of the Lady Youngster. Twenty-six media college students had been drawn from Lupane State College, Midlands State College, Nationwide College of Science and Expertise and the Zimbabwe Open College. They joined the South African occasion nearly.
Teseletso Matjaka, a media scholar from Lupane State College, mentioned: “What I learnt right this moment is that I shouldn’t be worrying about how AI or different technological advances are going to take my job. I learnt that my focus needs to be on how I relevantly ability and proceed to up-skill myself in keeping with these advances within the area, in order that an equally expert particular person doesn’t emerge to take my job.”
West Africa Regional Workplace
Good Governance Africa – West Africa Regional Workplace (GGA-WARO), hosted an occasion for younger girls which was themed “Exploring Profession Alternatives in Media and Publications”. This occasion passed off on the Ghana Broadcasting Company (GBC), within the Larger Accra
Area of Ghana. A complete variety of 51 feminine college students from completely different establishments together with that of Delcam Senior Excessive and GH Media Faculty participated within the occasion. Famend media personalities and ladies achievers had been invited to share their tales to inspire younger ladies who’re aspiring to enter the media and publication area.
All through the three-part occasion, the audio system underscored the significance of perseverance, ardour and resilience in reaching success in media-related careers. Regardless of going through challenges in male-dominated sectors, they demonstrated how dedication and help from function fashions helped them obtain their targets. The audio system inspired the individuals to be daring in pursuing their profession paths, stressing that gender ought to by no means be a barrier to success.
GGA Nigeria
GGA Nigeria had over 70 individuals gathered at Lekki Centre for the convention and panel part on Gender-Primarily based Violence. The panel dialogue which centered on “Lady’s Imaginative and prescient for the Future” was achieved in collaboration with HeartMinders Initiative, a transformative NGO that has been on the forefront of preventing towards GBV, rape and little one sexual abuse in Nigeria.
The panellists embody Adeola Kingsley-James, Osayuwamen Saleh, and Zuriel Oloke. It was moderated by Tosin Adisa.
Media entrepreneur Saleh suggested the individuals to create an thought of what they need for themselves and never what society needs for them. “One of many largest issues that can assist you is powerful emotional stability. The issues that management you’re embedded in you. You should be intentional as a woman and never accept much less. You can not take your life with levity. Girls are visionaries and may dream large.”