A new model for newspapers?
I spent a fascinating morning in Mdantsane on Wednesday where we were hosting a business forum for local folk along with Absa. As I told the local entrepeneurs who attended, this project of ours is a bit of an experiement for us in a field called "civic journalism". This involves the media doing more than simply talking to its readers, or describing problems, as it does traditionally, but getting their hands dirty in trying to fix a few things.
For most of this year we have been working with Fort Hare's Students In Free Enterprise who, along with our reporters, visit new and emerging businesses in Mdantsane and help these people analyse their business's strengths and weaknesses, plan for the future, help them consider some of their business choices and so on. Then we write about it and share the examples with other people.
Today's session was about taking that a step further and we brought about 100 entrepeneurs together where the Sife students and other experts were involved in talking to the folk about accessing financing, managing staff, marketing and so on.
As far as I know we are the only newspaper in SA doing something like this, bringing experts down to the ground to deal with people's businesses directly.
It is early days for this Thetha iPondi project as we call it, but I am hopeful it will provide a new model for community activism within our industry.
A note to other media executives: the loyalty to our brand and publications as a result of this programme is palpable at a session like today's - and if one takes a long view - the relationships being built with the potential advertisers of the future is priceless.
But that aside, it also feels really good to be doing something positive and direct in our community.
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September 26th, 2007 - 16:29
Congratulations to the Daily Dispatch. I wish you and the future small business owners the best of luck. Financially I’m certain the rewards will be great. But altruistically, the dividends will be far greater.
September 26th, 2007 - 18:55
Ditto! Wish there were more ventures such as this. The only way to ensure that one and all eventually becomes empowered is to take information, knowledge, support, etc. to where it is needed and when: like NOW. Thank you for paying it forward, Daily Dispatch.
September 27th, 2007 - 09:59
I was involved in organising the workshop from the Dispatch editorial side. Thanks Lindsay and Barbara for the words of encouragement.
This was one the most rewarding things I’ve done in journalism. The stars of the show were undoubtadly the entreprenuers of Mdatnsane. In break-away sessions, the issues and questions raised were astute. Many dived in with advice for each other. Both myself (co-ordinator of the Mdantsane Dispatch), our marketing manager, Sydwell Mtwana(who didn’t just organise the event but rolled up his sleeves to lead a break-away session on marketing), and our hugely charismatic, professional and inspirational programme director, Loyiso Mbabane (also director of Fort Hare’s School of Business and Entrepeurship) were very proud of pulling such a networking event together.
It doesn’t stop here — we’ve got more workshops planned and other things. We are all inspired by these savvy entreprenuers.
At the end of the event Loyiso used a Nguig wa’Thiongo tale of the eagle who thinks he’s a chicken to challenge the entreprenuers to think like the eagles they are!
September 28th, 2007 - 15:04
As a trainee journalist, I was “amazed” while going through the report on “Bonita Boni’s” sacking! For the past thirty months I’ve spent in Buffalo City, I made sure that I got my hands on the latest Daily Dispatch everyday, even if it meant retiring home after 6pm… I just made sure that I’d read the paper. And to say the most, I enjoyed reading Bonita Boni’s feature articles, unbeknown to me that they were plagiarised. I therefore feel I’ve been cheated at. However, I feel the Dispatch has done the right thing in firing her. She has compromised the integrity of this paper.
September 29th, 2007 - 06:34
Watch this space. We’re going to launch a Thetha iPondi club soon which I think will provide an invaluable networking opportunity for emerging entrepeneurs
September 29th, 2007 - 19:16
Bring it on, Andrew! In this non-racial country of ours I assume that one would not need forward a blood-sample to have access to aThetha iPondi? As an emerging entrepreneur I am eager to network and share with others.