What awaits young journalism graduates in South Africa and what motivates them to choose this career? Is it money, or is it a genuine passion?
Some graduates believe that money is a contributing factor to journalists abandoning their jobs, often for the world of public relations. Others are irked by the thought of working in public relations and would rather open their own company or knock on doors till they get a job in journalism.
Alex Mthiyane (28), a 1998 Natal Technikon journalism graduate, works as a media and publicity strategist for the ministry of finance and economic development in KwaZulu-Natal.
He decided to work in public relations because he wanted to “explore both avenues of media and communication”.
Mthiyane previously worked for Independent Newspapers and The Mercury, as a presenter on the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) KZN Tonight television news programme and on Ukhozi FM as a producer for a news and current affairs slot, which he also presented.
He says his move to public relations allowed him to explore both sides of the media and communication industry, and he views it as a career growth opportunity.
“To me, it appeared that working on radio did not allow me to grow in the industry. I’m getting a lot more [money] than what I used to get as a journalist.”
Many of his journalist friends, however, told him it’s about “telling the story, not about making money”.
Krivani Pillay (25), a journalist at the SABC who works for Lotus FM, graduated from Rhodes University in 2001 and says she will “stop at nothing” to get a story.
She says that if journalists are governed by money, then their “greed is greater than [their] passion”.
Pillay knows people who have left journalism for other jobs in public relations and says: “The ones who leave should get out because they wouldn’t make a difference anyway.
“There are those like me who will stay regardless of the salary — just so we can make a difference to the quality of media coverage in South Africa.”
She also feels that some students think they can become famous through journalism.
“Yes, you will become well known if you do the job right. But journalism is not a stepping stone to become a South African celebrity,” she says.
Siphumelele Zondi (21), a BTech student at Tshwane University of Technology who studied journalism at the Durban Institute of Technology (DIT), works at e.tv as a journalist and says: “I hate public relations. I love the media. I most probably will move out and start a company [one day].”
But he adds: “This industry really has no money. We all [journalism graduates] are motivated by the drive to tell the story. [But] I wouldn’t kill myself to get a story. I don’t really see the need. My life is more important than that.”
He believes journalism students are unaware of what journalists earn and only realise it once they are working and responsible for their own well-being.
“What you find is that things are not really cheap. At the end of the day, really, one must eat,” he says.
It seems in-service students — those who work as interns to gain work experience — and students who are going to graduate don’t pay attention to how much they will earn, but are more interested in getting a job as a journalist.
A DIT in-service student, Dasen Thathiah (21), says: “I wouldn’t mind getting into anything as long as there’s a job [for me] and it’s remotely related to what I have studied.”
He adds that he’s prepared to relocate temporarily and leave behind his friends and family to work as a journalist elsewhere.
“I consider that to be the biggest sacrifice that I would ever have to make, but that’s just about as far as I would go. I’m not going to give up my life for journalism. I’m not that passionate about it,” he added.
Benjamin Moshatama (20), a second-year journalism student at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, says he is currently looking for an in-service position for next year to enable him to graduate.
“If I don’t find anything, I will not go into public relations. It’s not what I studied. I studied to become a journalist. I’ll keep on trying and knocking on all doors till I get a job,” he said. “I think journalism merits society. It plays a role in society … and is a reflection of society. I want to be part of that reflection. I want to be a reflector.”
The head of the department of journalism at the DIT, Robin Sewlal, says: “There are sufficient opportunities out there [for journalism graduates]. There is an increasing number of opportunities in the different types of media that are becoming more and more popular in the country.”
The DIT produced 70 graduates last year, who graduated in June this year — BTech graduates included. Its journalism department currently has 180 registered students.
Guy Berger, head of the department of journalism and communication studies at Rhodes University, says the biggest challenge for young graduates going into industry is the ability to work fast and accurately.
South African media are “heading more towards entertainment than informative” news, says Berger, “yet we still have a strong need for informative and educative” news.
Though the standard of writing of entry-level students has not fluctuated in the past couple of years, but today’s students coming into journalism are “less informed”, he says.
Like Sewlal, he agrees that there are jobs available for journalism students because radio is a growing media tool in South Africa, as are the tabloids and online news websites.
“I think they’re more concerned about getting a job” in journalism than about the money, Berger says.
The department of journalism and communication studies at Rhodes has about 650 students. A hundred students graduated from the department this year.
Anton Harber, professor of journalism and media studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, paints the South African media as “vibrant, dynamic, growing, changing [and] challenging”.
“Sadly, many of our newsrooms don’t reflect this, because cost-cutting and a lack of editorial vision and guts has left some news operations directionless and depressed,” he says.
“Fortunately,” he adds, “there are exceptions which create opportunities for young journalists. One has, however, to find or make such opportunities”.
Online journalism, a new form of journalism, is in an “infantile” state, says Harber.
“There is no doubt that it will grow into a hulking giant. I am certain it will provide many new challenges and opportunities for young journalists,” says Harber.
And what about journalists leaving the profession for public relations?
Harber replies: “Worse, many journalists are practicing public relations under the guise of being a journalist.”