This is an edited extract from My Radio Memory: Listening to the Listener, which is edited by Robin Sewlal, with articles by 100 contributors. This one is by the journalist, editor and media scholar Guy Berger
The 200th edition of Converse is also its last: a swansong timed to coincide with South Africa’s National Press Freedom Day.
What do the following have in common: A cartoon about rape, a song about killing boers, and a photo mash-up of teachers and gay bodybuilders.
Many people don’t want to talk about it. Newspapers have been hammered for featuring an artist’s musings on it.
Faced with mega-messes in education and joblessness, the ANC conference this week thought it could make easy headway with regard to media freedom.
The ANC’s control-oriented steps have unleashed an even greater cacophony. So where to from here for the ruling party?
Pinch me, somebody! Are the unprecedented protests by newspaper editors unnecessary hysteria? Is the press watchdog crying wolf?
Hundreds of thousands of viewers will be watching the World Cup kick-off on a pirate basis, and there’s not much that Fifa can do about it.
This isn’t a movie for rugby nuts. All you need is a soft spot for letting a classic narrative lead you through an epic and emotional journey.