The Media Department and Faculty of Informatics and Design (FID), recently held its second in a series of Public Dialogues, under the theme Labour Conditions in South Africa: Are the workers being heard?
Held on the Bellville Campus, a packed house welcomed journalist, author, broadcaster and teacher, Terry Bell, and veteran trade unionist and the current Western Cape Provincial Secretary of Cosatu, Tony Ehrenreich.
The dialogue included participation from Journalism-, Photography- and Film and Media students.
Specialist labour journalist and writer of the Inside Labour column in the Business Report, Bell began the dialogue by challenging students to think about the far-reaching effects of their stories and the role it plays within public opinion and perception.
“It’s important to ask the right questions. We are the eyes and the ears of the public. Public interest is paramount.”
Ehrenreich challenged and encouraged students to tell the workers’ stories. The event raised many points about the role of journalists including that of writing stories responsibly despite weighing pressure of the current economy and its effect on the media.
The interactive discussion saw the experienced panelists discuss various issues relating to the media practitioner and labour issues in South Africa, as well as the vital role journalists play in letting workers’ stories be heard.
Dialogue organiser and Senior Technician at the Journalism Department Xolani Vanda, says that the event allowed students to interact with industry role-players. “It’s important for students to be confident when engaging with key figures.”
By: Nurahn Ryklief
Picture by: Leandri Niemand
Written by CPUT News
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