Farewell Allister Sparks, a true giant of SA media

Allister Sparks courageously produced a newspaper which in SA’s darkest days offered hope to the otherwise hopeless. His memory deserves every plaudit sure to come its way.

Helen Zille: One of the best post-Election newspaper articles (translated)

I agree with much of what Biznews blogger Clive Simpkins writes for the site. But by no means everything. I think he erred in yesterday’s piece suggesting that DA Leader Helen Zille’s tweeting cost her party votes. For me she is a blast of social media fresh air, exposing herself daily through her personal thoughts, … Read more

Activists stepping up to defend Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois after her firing by new CEO Iqbal Surve’

Journalism is an interesting business. It is simultaneously a profit-making enterprise and a crucial support structure for democratic governance. Journalists seek to please audiences, but their salaries are paid by advertisers and they answer to owners who are sometimes subjects of the stories they write. All in all, it’s an awkward business, as the recent … Read more

The story of St Francis Bay. From disaster has come rejuvenation.

Journalism is a high pressured occupation. But it also gets into your blood. As a consequence, when many top professionals hit veteran status, they relocate to smaller centres. Often at the coast. My former boss at the SABC, Johan Pretorius, opted for Port Shepstone where he runs the South Coast Fever. A colleague from our … Read more