"We meet at a time when the ANC is in a much stronger and healthier space than it was this time last year," said Zuma, crediting the ANC's national elective conference in Manguang in December 2012 for giving the party new focus and energy.
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu told the South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) gathering that the ANC would start meeting monthly with journalists in the run-up to the elections.
"That way you'll know what we're thinking before you write … you may not like it, but you'll know it," he said.
Zuma listed a litany of ANC goals and successes, ranging from development indicators, to the national development plan which has increasingly formed the core of the party's 2014 campaign.
"The NDP proposes new ways to get more people into work and ultimately getting close to full employment by 2030," said Zuma, explaining that the party would meet to discuss implementation of the plan at their upcoming lekgotla.
He also welcomed input and debate as a part of the country's "open and democratic culture".
He touched on the controversial topic of the ANC Youth League.
"The youth league has a responsibility to inspire South Africa's youth. It must provide hope to young people," said Zuma, listing a number of challenges facing the country's young people – including drug abuse, unemployment and crime.
In an apparent swipe at critics who said the newly neutered youth league had been reduced to an ANC puppet, Zuma said: "More importantly, it must influence government policy."
But it was unclear whether it was a government or party event, as what started as an ANC briefing turned into a presidency briefing on Mandela's health by presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj.
'A small conversation'
The turn in the conversation was due in large part to the sizeable foreign correspondent contingent packing out the room eager for news on former president and global icon Nelson Mandela's health.
"This started as a small conversation between the president and editors … it's grown enormously, for obvious reasons," said Sanef chair and Mail & Guardian editor-in-chief Nic Dawes.
The news late on Sunday of Mandela's health being rated as critical gave the briefing new meaning.
But among the Mandela updates and chastisements issued by Maharaj about the media's coverage of Madiba's health, the presidency managed to drive a number of pro-ANC points home.
"South Africa is a much better place than it was in 1994 and the last five years has pushed that change forward," said Zuma, listing the party's achievements since they began governing, but acknowledged there was still some way to go.
"Dealing with the massive task of rebuilding our country could not happen all at once," he said. "There are still communities we must reach."
Dismissing opposition
He also dismissed the formation of new parties, joking that he wasn't sure how to pronounce Mamphela Ramphele's new party, Agang SA.
"We are not worried," he said. "Leading to elections, new parties always mushroom. It's nothing new."
He touched briefly on the topic of mining and labour unrest, referencing the work done by his deputy in government, Kgalema Motlanthe.
He later referred to his deputy again, but this time he meant ANC deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, further blurring the lines between party and state.
Responding to questions about the challenges facing the basic education ministry, Zuma staunchly defended its minister, Angie Motshekga.
Motshekga, who is also president of the ANC Women's League, is a strong supporter of Zuma.
But Zuma played down the fierce criticism Motshekga has come under for failing to publish norms and standards for schools, textbook delivery problems and other issues plaguing her department.
"I think the education minister is doing very well," said Zuma repeatedly. "She has a very clear understanding of the job she must do."
Noting the dissent in the room, Zuma said the task of fixing education was a massive one.
"Education up to 1994 was a mess," he said. "For anyone to think we could correct everything in 19 years, well, those are funny views in my view."
Welcoming Obama
Zuma also welcomed US President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to the country, recounting Obama's first visit to the country as then-Senator for Illinois in August 2006, despite tensions between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA) about the visit.
The ANC has been largely quiet about the visit apart from occasionally lashing out at the opposition DA for its plans to grant him and his wife, Michelle, the freedom of the city of Cape Town.
Zuma was viewed to have snubbed Michelle Obama during her visit to the country in 2011. She did meet with Mandela however, as did her husband during his quiet visit to the country in 2006.
The briefing is the latest in a series of events that seem to have kicked off the election season in earnest. In what was viewed as a show to gain support ahead of next year's national elections, Zuma in May visited Eldorado Park after receiving a letter from resident mothers, pleading with the president to help them with their drug addicted children.
The president deemed the situation "a crisis" and then set up a task team to help the community with its unmanageable drug problem.
Several arrests were made thereafter and children as young as eight were sent to rehabilitation centres.
Ahead of June 16 celebrations, Zuma visited youths in Soweto, urging them to exercise their voting rights.
After a short wreath-laying ceremony, during which the president paid respects at the Hector Pietersen memorial, Zuma addressed the community on issues facing the youth, notifying them of the ANC's new volunteer programme in the area set up to "touch lives and make the ANC live and lead on every street".