New Talent discovered..

Moeketsi Moticoe, The Times photographer..has done it again. He is discovering new South African Talent in the form of music, fashion and whatever is there to be scouted..check-out his latest discovery in PHONE BOOTH..
http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/06/the-phone-booth/

Happy Birthday to us..

Can you believe it..We (The Times newspaper) are a year old..its has been a year full of Drama and excitment. From being load-shedded to almost dying during the recent xenophobic attacks, we have managed to keep our heads up...I have however been hear for 2months and can not do justice to how the past year has been so check out our Multi-media producers relating the stories they loved doing..

http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/videos/2008/06/its-been-a-memorable-year/

Enjoy..! (pictured, is Ray Hartley..our Editor)

Faces in Places..

Faces in places is a brilliant photographic journey by a young photographer @The Times..
check it out its absolutely beautiful..I promise you - you will want to become a photographer after this..
http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/05/faces-in-places-3/#comment-1717

Is this SA 2008??

Once again the Xenophobic attacks in our country continue to spread like wild fire. I am fortunate to say I did not see what my fellow journalists saw. However, I was running for cover recently @Kay Sands - west of Johannesburg after police opened fire on Monday morning. My beloved girlfriend's heart is heavy because she is involved with a journo and as much as this is part of my life now...it is also part of her life and I feel for her. What is SA coming to??Why aren't our leaders saying or doing anything about this??They keep speaking out from their comfort zone..instead of addressing the situation head on and possibly deploying the army..! I watched The Times slideshow on these Xenophobic attacks and i was left in shock. I teared up when i saw all these events taking place across our "RAINBOW NATION"..that has seemingly turned into "RAINBOW HORROR"..we might actually need counselling after all of this.

I also saw a 2year old with blood on her face...they said she was not caught in a crossfire but rather fell down while she was running away from the cops. It got me all watery inside..Between me and you I'm just tired of going to Alex, Kya Sands, Reiger Park and so forth to...I say this with TEARS in my eyes....PLEASE STOP THIS MADNESS,IT IS NOT THE SOUTH AFRICA WE WANT TO LEAVE IN...NO ONE WANTS TO DIE AND NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO GO TO JAIL..!

Check out: The Times slideshow on accumulating attacks

Report on man burning alive..!

Life of a journo.

You know what they say: "From hero to zero.." This is how I feel after I had two stories in a row this week (one of them included the almost traumatic event in Alexandra township). I then went to a press briefing @the COSATU house on Wednesday and had what i deemed to be a good story..actually I wrote up three stories on the day. Guess what, none of them got published..I have to say this has left me feeling down. A journalist needs to get more things published so his confidence can be built up..especially if you are a juniour journo!!

Aaaggg..the sub-editors had their reasons as to why they did not put my stuff in there, NO HARD feelings. I need to deal with it now because that is going to be the story of my life as a journo..! I will continue to thrive in my skills coz I believe I am a damn good writer and no one can take that away from me..! I'm not angry just low in confidence..! OK..!
Guess what..you can still google my name to find more stories that I have done..They have certainly increased in number..!

My career seems to be taking off

This week I moved into The Times newsroom. Trust me I am excited about my career as a journo, but I am having a dry spell as far as stories are concerned. Basically I need to have contacts and get news that is fair and accurate. I'm a bti nervous about that..Sometimes I have questioned wether my career is taking of or not..!I have to read a lot and know what I'm talking about in all areas..Almost like a jack of all trades but a master of non..!

This is because we journalist are not expects on alot of issues hence we call alot of them and let them say what the real issue is..I dont get payed for my opinions but for my reporting..But the hope is that in future i will get paid to say what i think..! GET A COLUMN..that is what i am working towards..! Join me in this journey..and the rest of my fellow Graduates on the Avusa Pearson Programme for young journalists..!

The Intern Times

A new blog is now in existence..The future of Avusa can now be heard as they put thier thouhgts down in the all new FM Campus interns blog at http://blogs.fmcampus.co.za/interns go ahead and comment and check out what they have to say!! Their previous blog still exists as well http://www.newspuppies.blogspot.com/