Andrew Trench notes from the revolution

137 years of news and merriment

Journalists don’t need much of an excuse to have a party. The only thing that flows thicker than ink through our blood is, ahem, merriment. So you can imagine our delight when we were reminded last week that the Dispatch was celebrating its 137th birthday.
In short order our marketing department had whipped up the makings for a braai with bottles of, ahem, merriment and by Friday much merriment was being had by all.
Of course, since this was a work function we had to have our obligatory speeches and it fell upon me to say a few words reflecting back on the many years that this newspaper has been around.
In fact, it was at this function that I learned that I was the 14th editor of the paper in its history. Phew! Being the 13th at a time like this would really have been bad luck!
Say what you like,  the paper has  thrived despite some stormy episodes over the last 137 years.
In my remarks last Friday night I reflected on this and asked my colleagues to think about those who had come before us, people whose names are lost to history.
It is because of them and their work and passion for this newspaper that we are here today. They created the legacy of which we are caretakers today.
The Dispatch has survived against incredible odds: two world wars, a global depression, the banning of an editor, even the banning of the paper in some areas for short periods, advertising boycotts, the decades of apartheid and media repression. Today we have a global recession and a revolution in the media industry which has seen great newspapers die. But the Dispatch lives on.
When I looked at the faces around the parking garage where we held our little celebration last Friday (I know, I know, but times are tough) I felt confident that the legacy of our past was in the hands of good people.
It was fitting also that we used the celebration to toast a number of Dispatch journalists who between them scooped four regional awards in the Vodacom Journalist of the Year competition. They are Thanduxolo Jika, Theo Jephta, Bongani Fuzile, Jan Hennop, Sino Manjangaza, Rudi Louw, Tegan Bedser and Shadley Haupt. Boxing writer Mesuli Zifo also won for work he did while at the paper.
I think we can safely say that the spirit of the Dispatch lives on. There’s a lot to be proud of in 137 years and I hope you will join me in saying “Cheers!”