Journalism in Jozi

By Xetsha Ayanda Hlongwane

I left Cape Town three days after the lecture phase heading for Johannesburg. I wanted to meet potential donors, so as to raise funds for the outreach to East Africa. I had tried to raise support for the outreach before, but, to my surprise, nothing had come up. I told God that I would take the first step of going to Johannesburg and since He is my partner, He would take the second one of taking me to Kampala, Uganda. But unfortunately, He did not take the second step.

I fought against God about the unsuccessful trip. Then He reminded me how I had been seeking some other opportunities, in case I did not go to East Africa. This to him was a sign of failing to trust Him completely for the provisions of finances. He taught me that I should not create alternatives when I trust Him for something. But then He assured me to stay in Johannesburg till He says I move.

In this big city, I meet a lot of people from all over Africa and beyond. I interview them in a relaxed atmosphere after work and hear both tense and interesting stories. These stories are usually about what they expected to find in Egoli (as Johannesburg is popularly known by fortune seekers) against what they actually found on the ground.

I have already spoken to five different people from three different nations; Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Most of them, especially from the first two countries, came to the city because of its popularity as a city of gold. The guys agree on the fact that drama starts unfolding on the way, from seeing headless bodies or seeing heads without bodies to watching helplessly your sister is gang raped.

They tell me that it works as a vaccine against more inhumane lifestyle in the Hillbrow and Berea flats in Jozi (seems like Johannesburg has many names, maybe its because of it hosts a variety of lifestyles), where a two bedroom apartment can host up to 20 inhabitants. I am told it’s a norm for a foyer to be a bedroom of up to eight people, then if they are married or sexually immoral the kids in that particular apartment must get used to the sight of a couple being intimate.

I do not know what to say to these guys who have lost all humanity and cannot see anything more than a sex toy in an average woman. I wish I could do something to change their newly adopted lifestyle quickly, but I know just talking to them makes a difference and, with time, God will make a way. I am glad I did SOFJ for I now ask intelligent questions and my writing has improved a lot. I do not struggle to get people to talk, thanks to the skills I acquired during the school.

From Uganda

On the Ground by Lydia Smit, South Africa

Nothing can compare to the sights and sounds of Africa. It has been a year since I have been in central Africa. There is a strange familiarity to the old (but comforting) bucket shower after a day’s travel and being cushioned in by a mosquito net for a night’s rest. I realised again my love for simplicity.

When we landed in Entebbe, Uganda, a sunset serenaded us into our new-found destination. I loved the thought that in the distance there were fishermen going out for the late catch of the day. In my heart the journey to come here started long before I placed my feet on Ugandan soil.

At the end of last year, God placed it on my heart to do a School of Field Journalism (SOFJ) through a ministry called Africom. This ministry is focused on communication within YWAM projects around the continent of Africa. At the time, I did not know exactly what I should do with the skills I would acquire with the school, but I had it on my heart to tell stories: stories of Gods testimony in the lives of people, situations, stories of tragedy, and hardship but also restoration. So much is happening around the world and many times the immensity of its beauty is lost for it is not shared and celebrated.

I knew that this school included a practical outreach that was designed to serve different YWAM ministries within the continent as well as to communicate what is happening in this part of the world.

Just after the three month lecture phase I was to fly to Uganda, but I still did not have the funds, I just knew I was to go. So all I could do is pray, visit friends, and wait as my departure date arrived. But a word echoed in my heart , a word I had received just before I was to leave, “I will never leave you of forsake you”(Psalm 18:30) God's way is perfect! The promise of the LORD has proven to be true. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. I took God at his work and did everything I could to prepare for the trip.

God came through for me! Monday morning, the day I was to fly, I received the ticket that would take me to Uganda that same afternoon.

Now, I have been in Uganda for two weeks. It is hard to explain the beauty of this place. God’s faithfulness has not ceased. There is so much God is doing through YWAM here, as well as through individuals. And it has been a blessing to see it. I have learned it is better to walk in faith than to trust in your own human effort.

Happy Endings

Twelve weeks gone already.
From Worldview with Landa Cope, to learning to design a magazine and record a radio broadcast, we have trudged through the various media and concepts that make up the field of journalism. We’ve laughed; we’ve cried . . . we’ve filled a bookshelf with our work.

Looking back, towards the beginning of the school there were various expectations. Ice cream socials, dance parties and fiestas? No, rather a time of dedicated writing and development, sharing experience and ideas, awakening new thoughts and creativity and exploring what it means to be a Kingdom Communicator. Over the weeks, staff and students found God speaking identity to them, as well as challenging them to the core. We have celebrated students' first publications and worked at developing skills that will prove vital to work in the field as communicators.

Looking ahead, there are still mountains to overcome. Field assignments are still being prayed over, finances prayed in and staff beginning to journey to various destinations, as this page turns and reveals another piece of the story. This is our time to be sent forth as communicators, carrying the heart and will of God to various locations and returning as compassionate storytellers, scribes of the work God is doing in the earth.

The lecture phase of the school is ending on a high note with a week of study in television, before graduation on Friday. As we all look back over the first quarter of this year and think about the things God spoke in the beginning, we are excited and pleased with life and His faithfulness. It is a happy ending, one that brings a sense of joyful completion to just a small piece of the puzzle.

View from Here

A smattering of photos from the students, taken during our week studying photo- journalism.

Q & A with Jonathan Russell, Photojournalism Teacher

Q: Where do you call home and why?

A: A combination of places. I feel like my long-term home is in Paris, but, yet, the world is my home. I’ve not been at a consistent place for so long that I don’t have the convenient ability to think of one place as home. Plus, I have friends and family all over the world.

Q: How long have you been a photographer?

A: Professionally, about 10 years, starting with small projects. I began to be more serious 4-5 years ago.

Q: What is the most important thing about photojournalism?

A: That’s a semi-loaded question – I think it is a combination of factors. Our responsibility is accurate and honest reporting. Yet, also our responsibility is to care and not just be a bystander, but try to effect a change.

Q: What is the goal of photojournalism?

A: If you ask 10 different photojournalists, you will get 10 different answers. My goal is to make a difference in the lives of people and also to educate others about events happening in the rest of the world; to serve who I am photographing, and also serve those who the photos are distributed to.

Q: If the students this week were to take just one thing away from your teaching, what would you want it to be?

A: To make it more than just about the image.

Q: What is the hardest thing you have learned as a photographer?

A: I am a very technological person. My personal struggle has been to go beyond the technological side and be more personal – to take images that matter not in the technical sense, but affect people’s lives as I take and as I share them.

Q: How has God used photojournalism to speak to you?

A: A lot of ways! He has spoken to me through different photojournalist’s work and their approach. He has spoken to me through images of great hope and joy, but also images of great suffering and sadness. In my personal experience He has opened doors using photography to get me into places and give me things to do to interact with people and, in a sense, validate my presence there. In those times he has taught me about humanity and creation, his idea of perfect love and his idea of what things really matter.

Q: What question do you get the most when people find out you are a photographer?

A: Film or Digital? And my response is, “both.”

Q: What historical event do you wish you could go back and photograph?

A: Mary’s explanation to Joseph! Actually, there are just too many to narrow down and all across the spectrum: Milestones in technology, great miracles God did, portraits of individuals who have had a great influence in art or entertainment, or even a photo expose of the various processes the likes of DaVinci.

Q: Who are your favorite photographers?

A: Ansel Adams, James Nachtwey and Henri Cartier-Bresson

Q: Besides your camera, what is your most valuable tool?

A: My Swiss Army Knife!

Q: What is the future of photojournalism?

A: I am not sure because it will be a reflection of society. The things that need to be photographed will be directly related to where our society is and I don’t have an answer to that. As far as the technological side, it doesn’t matter.

SOFJ Movie Review

What do you get when a British Television Personality and a resigned US President sit down to discuss conspiracy and foreign policy? The SOFJ found out during a class field trip to the cinema.

Frost/Nixon, directed by Ron Howard and written by Peter Morgan, is based on the 1977 television interviews between David Frost and Richard Nixon concerning Nixon's presidency and the Watergate scandal. While there is debate on the historical accuracy of the theatrical performance, the lessons learned by aspiring journalists, such as the importance of preparation and maintaining direction of the interview, remain intact.

Throughout the film the team of Nixon advisors coach the former president on possible directions of questions and responses. Meanwhile, the Frost Team researches and studies every move Nixon made as president and tries to nail him in a much anticipated confession of wrong-doing. While Frost loses the grip on the interview in the first sessions, allowing Nixon to take control and dodge the real issues, he regains control in the last bit and . . . you'll have to watch for yourself to find out!

All in all we give the movie and good mark for entertainment, and a great mark for usefulness (and fun) for a School of Field Journalism!

--
Darcie

The X files

Based on an interview with SOFJ student, Xetsha Hlongwane, from Zimbabwe.

Xetsha , or "X" as we like to call him, came to the SOFJ from Zimbabwe, where his family still lives. Amidst political instability, humanitarian crisis and experiencing the bias of local newspapers, X looked for a chance to build his skills and abilities of communication to help his parents and community.

"I was disgusted about the way local journalists would report," X explains, "For example, with cholera, the papers wouldn't have anything. Thousands would die and they wouldn't say anything. I thought if I could be a writer myself I could write about issues that affect people."

X comes from a family that supports orphans in Zimbabwe. His parents run a home in a small community taking care of about 80 orphans and children. Before coming to Muizenberg he was part of communicating the needs of the ministry to donors and sponsors. While thousands have fled his home country, X says his parents just couldn't
leave. "I love Cape Town, it is a great place to be, but it will never be home. There will always be that element that misses home."

The church in Zimbabwe is attempting to be a safe place for the people and address issues facing the country, X says what keeps them going is faith and prayer. "It is difficult to address issues that are illegal. For example, border jumping. . . it is not right, but people don't have options. [What they do] it's their only source of income." Pastors in Zimbabwe are finding it difficult to address the issues like not having proper travel documents and money laundering without leading people to be jobless and starving. In addition, X explains that all pastors have to pray before teaching and be well versed with the law, "You really have to be led by God and rely on Him because you never know who would be listening and there is so much you just can't say."

"We are just hoping," says X, "there is hope in the people."
Xetsha is considering doing more studies in communication in the future.

Darcie Nolan