MY portfolio consists of a selection of articles were published in Vuvuzela, Paarl Post, on www.vuvuzelaonline.com, www.africanews.com and unpublished additional class work.
PAARL POST
DURING my July holiday, I worked at Paarl Post, a community newspaper that serves Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek and environs and in which Media24 has a 75% share.
Published weekly on Thursdays, it’s a bilingual newspaper – in English and Afrikaans – with average weekly sales of 17 033, making it one of the largest paid weekly newspapers in the country and the biggest selling community paper in the Western Cape.
In September it won the Cronwright Trophy for best design and production in the community press for the fifth time in 12 years.
It was first published on January 14, 1905 as a direct successor to the famous rebel newspaper Die Afrikaanse Patriot – the first Afrikaans newspaper in South Africa.
It focuses exclusively on local news, “irrespective of social class, age, gender, income or creed” and its content consists of general news, sports, youth news, lifestyle and arts pages, social pages, a letters / opinion page and a separate business section.
This is what the editor, Anne Kruger, had to say about the experience:
Dear Erica
Thank you very much for the three weeks you spent assisting the Paarl Post editorial team during your holiday.
We were impressed by the speed with which you adapted to our system of work, including IT, and how easily you fitted into our team.
We appreciated your professional behaviour, your helpfulness and that you were prepared to work evenings and weekends.
Your presence became essential due to the illness of our sports reporter and we were very grateful to have you as the right hand of the acting sports editor, Malané Bosman.
That is why our manager decided to pay you a bonus of R1 500, although you were prepared to work without any remuneration.
I am certain that you will be extremely successful in your chosen career and will be a great asset to any employer.
With appreciation
Anne Kruger, Editor
Paarl Post (“Voice of Drakenstein”)Tel +27 21 870-3701
Fax +27 21 872-9280
072-374-6272
www.paarlpost.com
See the links below for the published articles:
Holidays are about friends
2007-07-12
WE like the same things, yet we are different – was the overall impression that Paarl Post got from talking to teenagers about how they pass their time during their holidays.
Marketers often identify music and popular culture as a way of reaching the youth market, but it is in this “labelling” process that one often misses out on the nuances and differences that exist.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8256
Busy life of a DG
2007-07-12
IN his new role as District Governor of Rotary District 9350, Paarlite Alex van der Sluys has a busy life.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8248
International participation at farmer expo
2007-07-12
THERE will be far greater international participation at this year’s Wine Farmers & Fruit Growers Exhibition to be held at the Cape Town International Conference Centre from 24 to 26 July.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8285
Courageous Boland
2007-07-12
COURAGEOUS in their new Currie Cup boots Boland continues to blister their opponents.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8241
Paarl-streekspan aangewys
2007-07-12
DIE Paarl-streekspan is pas aangewys en alle spelers oefen Maandagaand om 18:30 op die Daljosafatstadion.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8249
Long live liberty!
2007-07-19
A FESTIVE mood reigned in Franschhoek last weekend in celebration of the annual Bastille Festival. Wine and food was the focal point of the celebrations.
The main road looked magnificent with shops decorated in the French national colours of blue, red and white. Waiters sported colourful berets, lending a French air to the street.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8314
Thomas an all-rounder
2007-07-19
PAARLITE Thomas Weighill (17) has been blessed with many talents, of which English is only one.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8324
Vrouewynmakers skitter
2007-07-19
DIE helfte van vanjaar se finaliste vir die Vrouewynmaker van die Jaar-kompetisie kom van die Paarl wynarea.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8357
Learning about trees
2007-07-19
GRADE TEN pupils from Paarl Girls’ High have been working on a project with the Drakenstein Municipality to capture and plot all trees growing in Paarl Arboretum on GPS during their recent school holiday.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8325
Dramagroep herrys
2007-07-19
DIE volwasse dramagroep, Theatre Hour, het na ‘n stilswye van ongeveer drie jaar besluit om weer spelers bymekaar te kry om in die gemeenskap op te tree.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8366
Paarl Rugby pale toe
2007-07-19
Met die nodige veranderings in die span het Paarl gewys dat hulle die res van die seisoen nie buite rekening gelaat kan word nie.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8334
Schools Sevens decided in Paarl
2007-07-19
A NATIONAL Sevens rugby series has been launched for schools, with the tournament for the Western Cape region to be hosted by Paarl Gimnasium.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8336
Taalmuseum ‘n fees
2007-07-26
DIT gebeur nie elke dag dat ’n mens kan spog dat jy in die dorp woon waar jou spreektaal, en dié van ses miljoen ander Suid-Afrikaners, tot ’n erkende taal bevorder is nie.
http://www.paarlpost.com/cgib/article?newsid=8395
And an unpublished article:
Going on strike
THE recent public workers strike had a wide ranging effect on all sectors. One of the areas where it had a significant effect was at schools, when teachers belonging to unions went on strike.
Paarl Post set out to find out what the effect of the strike was amongst different schools in the area and what learners think of it.
Overall, the most significant impact that the strike had on private and more exclusive schools, was to increase their security measures to ensure an uninterrupted educational experience.
In townships, however, a more dismal picture emerges.
Zukisani Mehlomokulu from William Lloyd Primary said that “the teachers stopped the school and said they didn’t get their 12%. They said that if they got their 12% they would come back to teach us again.”
The recent strike has created questions about the responsibility and rights of workers in the health care and educational sectors especially.
Xolani Mooi (16) from Ihlumelo JSS said that the teachers “need to think of the children first, money is important but education is more important. Once you lose [time], you can never make it up. How will we finish the syllabus when November and December is so busy?”
Shadion Mienies said that he feels unhappy that they didn’t finish writing their exams. They would start writing their and exams and stop half-way due to disruptions.
According to Emmylene Ravell (Groendal Secondêr) students often did not know what to learn as a result of teachers not being present at schools to assist students with exam preparations.
Nadia Strauss, a matric student from Hoërskool Kalahari, said that all her exams for the rest of the year have been crammed on top of each other due to it not being completed before learners went of holiday.
She said that one of their exams had to take place at the local police station and that “now I have to plan for my matric dance in between all my exams.”
Riyaan Khan (16) said that they completed their exams. A happy balance was created by allowing teachers to strike on students off days. Students were issued with two new exam rosters to accommodate striking teachers and to ensure that they could plan ahead for exams.
At Ruth-Zanne Duncan’s (10) school, they didn’t have class for three weeks, but in the light of there not being any teachers, the parents pitched in to provide security at the school.
Jeanne Adams said that they would have to find out when they returned to school when they will be writing their exams. They had not completed the syllabus for last term and would first have to play catch-up before they will be able to start their exams.
Misha Koen said that everything at Gymnasium was locked up. All the gates were locked and manned by security personnel, they had to stay in their classes during breaks and could not go beyond the snack bar. However the strike had had no effect on their education.
Chester Whatts (17) said that at least students that could not complete their exams before the holiday have had a longer time to prepare for them. Students are planning to start preparing in all seriousness for their exams again from next week.
Reason: Due to the small community, it was felt that the information contained in the article might be too sensitive.
VUVUZELA AND WWW.VUVUZELAONLINE.COM
For an overview the work I did for Vuvuzela, please see the following documents:
For work exclusively published on Vuvuzelaonline, please visit the website at: www.vuvuzelaonline.com
Searches:
Ferial Haffajee: March, 2007
Mam Ghobozi: October 10 and 17, 2007
DISCLOSURE
Due to the ongoing difficulty accesssing www.vuvuzelaonline.com recently, I have decided to host all content on the webblog, while still attempting to make sure that the blog meets the requirements set, in terms of interactivity, hypertextuality and multimediality.
A webblog around the World Cup Rugby:
Bok sports
The time had come – by tonight South Africans were posed to either be triumphant in victory, or steeped into some lowly form of “dronk-verdriet” (drunken-sadness).
http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/12361
WHILE some of the articles I wrote for Vuvuzela, were adapted for an international audience and published on www.africanews.com.
Wits and Mandela get together for kids
Posted on Thursday 25 October 2007 – 12:33
Erica Dreijer, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
The Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund is in discussions with Wits University in Johannesburg to build a children’s hospital in Gauteng. In 2006 Nelson Mandela announced the children’s fund will be building a hospital that will be able to serve countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
New Zimbabwe leadership from Zanu-PF?
Posted on Tuesday 21 August 2007 – 14:00
Erica Dreijer, AfricaNews reporter in Johannesburg, South Africa
AfricaNews – Zimbabwean Trevor Ncube, publisher of the Mail & Guardian, shocked a full Great Hall audience at Wits University in Johannesburg recently by saying Zimbabwe needed a new political party and leadership was likely to come from the current Zanu-PF leadership.
http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/10800
CLASS PROJECTS
World Cup Rugby reporting review
Bok sports
ERICA DREIJER
The time had come – by tonight South Africans were posed to either be triumphant in victory, or steeped into some lowly form of “dronk-verdriet” (drunken-sadness).
For weeks, we had watched the Boks trash one team after the next. Not always enthralled with their play, but nevertheless impressed that finally that the post-1995 slump was lifting and that the Springboks were becoming a force to be reckoned with once again.
In the week leading up to the final, Bok patriotism had reached a new high, and over night, “green and gold” had become the latest fashion accessory.
Rugby supporters wore their jerseys with pride. Street vendors finally had wares that were being sold out at traffic intersections. South Africans had adopted a green and gold national flag adorned with a springbok and it seemed as if the town was buzzing with officials as everywhere green and gold flags were flapping from car windows.
Even foodies were taken up in the moment. One of the local fast food outlets started producing green hamburger buns and supermarkets were selling green and gold bread on “the big day”.
The media went crazy in anticipation, educating the public on the rules, capturing national pride by replaying the winning moment of the 1995 World Cup and a local musician produced a special World Cup album. Everyone went gaga as they were swept up in World Cup fever.
On Saturday afternoon, in true South African fashion, the great trek to friends’ houses started. Social laagers were formed around braais (BBQ’s), booze and TV screens.
And all across town, the unofficial Springbok anthem: “Impi! Wo ‘nans’ impi iyeza, Obani bengathinta amabhubesi?” could be heard.
It’s a song that tells of the Zulu regiments’ victory over the British troops led by Chelmsford and the chorus is a challenge to those whom they are to fight against. Now, centuries later – these two parties would meet again to “fight “for victory.
Entering into a smoky bunker we take position behind an alcoholic beverage, armed with the knowledge that the Boks are the favourites to win… But our hearts are heavy. What if… there’s that niggling uncertainty of “what if…?” Wishing we had the powers to see into the future… to fast-track the next couple of hours that lay heavy upon us…
This has been a World Cup of upsets after all… so, what if?
Emotions reign high as we sing our national anthem. We unclench our jaws at a six point half time lead. Hold our breaths as we watch the England “try” replay. Jig with happiness when the referee denounces it. And get fabulously high on becoming the world champions once again.
An indescribable relief allows us to breathe freely again… and sleeping is what you do, when you’re dead, on an occasion like this.
Taking a look at others reporting on the Rugby World Cup
RUGBY fever overtook all walks of society, when in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup final.
Let’s take a look at the impacts it had on reporting and participation:
Bizcommunity.com changed the colour of their trademark red design and logo by “going green” for a day by changing the colour of their website’s home page and daily ezine (electronic newsletter).
In addition, they also launched a competition that would award the most creative efforts.
For more information see: http://www.sport.bizcommunity.com/?p=300
Local fast food brand, Steers launched a green burger to support the Boks called “Bok your Burger”.
While Douglasdale Dairy produced limited edition ‘green and gold’ 2 litre milk bottles which they distributed across Gauteng for the week prior to the finals.
“We produced a limited edition ‘blue go bulle’ milk bottle pledging our support of the Blue Bulls as they went into the Super 14 final in May this year, and we could not keep up with the demand for these bottles from Blue Bulls supporters. So, why not support the Boks in the same vein as they prepare for the biggest game in four years?” explains Douglasdale Dairy’s marketing manager Marina Hanson.
From an e-mail perspective, all South African were urged to show their support for the Bokke by wearing green on the Friday prior to the final.
The email quotes Francios Pienaar, 1995 South African Rugby World Cup winning captain, just before accepting the Rugby World Cup trophy. His comment was in response to the statement that there were 60 000 South Africans at Ellis Park that glorious day: “We didn’t have 60 000 South Africans supporting us today – we had 43 million South Africans.”
The email goes on: “This is a patriotic appeal to Springbok supporters and proud South Africans all over the world, and particularly those in London and England. This is a very important message and requires your support to spread the word and make it happen. This Friday, 19th October, we call upon all South Africans abroad and locally to wear green and gold in public, especially on their way to and from work. Whether it is your Springbok rugby jersey or just a South Africa t-shirt – make sure it’s visible. If you are required to wear a suit – wear it over your shirt and tie on your way in to work. If you work casual – wear your green and gold!
“Let us show the world that we stand as one – 100% behind the men in Green and Gold. Wear your colours not with arrogant pride but with a sense of unity and how far our nation has come! Most importantly: as a matter of urgency please forward this message by email, SMS or word of mouth to all the South Africans you know. Time is of the essence. Send it back home to family and friends so they can send it on to others abroad. Let’s show the world.”
For the full article see: http://www.sport.bizcommunity.com/?p=291
For more reports visit the following see the following links
Is your blood green?http://sport.iafrica.com/rugby/rwc07/features/story_191007090938.php
RWC fever at all time high in SA
http://www.24.com/sport/?p=rwc_article&i=721216
RWC fever: Getting naked to go green
http://blog.bizcommunity.com/index.php/2007/10/18/rwc-fever-getting-naked-to-go-green/
Springboks to blow England away
http://www.sport.bizcommunity.com/?p=106
News webblog review
Website: http://povertynewsblog.blogspot.com
Poverty News Blog
The weblog is an interesting collection of issues affecting poverty worldwide. It looks at how certain countries / organisations are handling poverty in their countries.
Kale, the owner of the weblog, posts short summaries of articles that he collects from all over. To access the whole story, it is possible to link through to the original website.
With reference to interactivity, hypertextuality and multimediality:
HYPERTEXTUALITY:
This website, uses hypertextuality by linking through to the website
where the story was originally posted. And you can link back to other stories that were featured on the weblog.
Comment: Not really used very well. Very traditional use.
INTERACTIVITY:
There is a space / opportunity to post comments based on the articles that were published.
Comment: Again, it does not really provide anything special.
MULTIMEDIALITY:
The website is driven through text. No pictures appear on it.
Comment: Again, nothing special. In fact, rather boring.
Summary:
This is a nice website to learn more about what is happening on the poverty front worldwide. It a nice and easy to access collection of issues affecting poverty. It’s an interesting thought though – to generate a more powerful voice when “pushing” a certain issue.
Though it is a very traditional website that does not really make use of the opportunities that are available for publishing on the web in terms of hypertextuality, interactivity and multimediality – quite a bland interface actually.
I would question the fact that it is called a webblog as it does not really produce any new content.
Through Erica's eyes 
Leave a comment