Dealing with constant boiling point pressure to meet the publishing deadline, making crucial decisions about “which news” for “which pages” is a nightmare that most editors of newspapers and magazines encounter every day. The Mail & Guardian invaded their privacy to look into the secret passions that keep them sane and discovered that many long for peace.
Saul Molobi, editor of Learn and Teach magazine, was thrown off his stride by the question. “You messed up my day,” the busy editor complained. But he confessed to longing to get away from it all.
“The aspect that I’ve ignored most in my life is being romantic. I would like to go to Victoria Falls with that special someone in my life, to forget about my work, studies and the problems in this country.”
The only editor to come close to fitting the stereotype was Peter Sullivan, editor of The Star. “Skiing, surfing and birdwatching,” he said before we had even finished asking the question. A second call offered a more reflective answer: “Reading The New Yorker, for its great writing.” Other reading centres on science magazines, and his favourite is Omni.
Eating expensive chocolate is also a secret passion with him, especially Belgian chocolates.
Winning awards for his magazine articles is not enough for S’bu Mngadi, deputy editor of Tribute. His secret passion is the medical profession.
“Not that I envy doctors, but I am very fascinated by the world of medicine.” When he returned from a graduate fellowship programme in the States in 1989, he applied to Natal University’s medical school.
But after being accepted, he decided to cancel, realising he would be giving up six years of journalistic experience.
Thoraya Pandy, Speak Magazine editor, has wilder passions.
“I have a passion for danger — things that keep me on the edge, like nature hikes or plunging from a very high cliff into cold water.
“I also adore dolphins, and I always promise myself that if I get an opportunity one day, I will definitely ride on a dolphin’s back.”
Although very interested in public figures’ secret desires, Anton Harber, co-editor of the Mail & Guardian, was taken aback when asked about his own. “They’re secret. That’s why they’re passions,” he said. “But my more public ones are queen’s gambit accepted and altoist Johnny Hodges.” He did not elaborate.
Known for the public passions which appear weekly in his column, Ken Owen of The Sunday Times newspaper admitted to no secret ones. He responded with “I have none, absolutely nothing.”
Similarly, Aggrey Klaaste, the Sowetan editor, could not believe that we tried to get hold of him for a whole day to ask such a question. “I have much more important clients in my office to attend to,” he said.