ENCA JOURNALIST RONALD MASINDA INSPIRES WSU MEDIA STUDENTS

Walter Sisulu University (WSU) Journalism and Broadcasting students were in for a masterclass recently as the seasoned ENCA journalist, Ronald Masinda, brought the newsroom to campus, sharing hard-earned wisdom and real-world experiences.

Born in Gqeberha, Masinda’s journey is a testament to perseverance and adaptability. Before making waves in journalism, he was a talented cricketer who even played abroad.

But it was his love for storytelling that ultimately led him to the newsroom—where he has now built an impressive 17-year career covering some of the most impactful stories of our time.

For years, WSU has been known for shaping some of South Africa’s finest media professionals, and took the initiative to bring professionals from the industry to interact with the students.

Masinda took students through the realities of newsroom life, from covering hard-hitting stories to the importance of accuracy, integrity, and resilience in journalism.

He shared personal accounts of the toughest stories he has covered, emphasising that the heart of journalism lies in getting the facts right and telling impactful stories.

“You are a mouthpiece of the people, one needs to develop a thick skin, it’s not an ideal job, but someone has to do it,” Masinda said.  

“Our jobs as journalists IS to hold the officials accountable, and that is why it matters especially when that applies to politicians as they are in charge of the decision making and shaping the future of the country,” he added.

He added that discipline, focusing on facts and trusting instinct were important for a reporter. A journalist should be mindful of what would be important to the viewers.

He further highlighted the ever-changing life we live in and the need to adapt to survive, stating that mental health plays a big role in the media field and that media outlets often provide such services.

Expressing appreciation of the guest lecturer, Versatile Broadcasting student Anele Duma said the initiative was helpful and an opportunity for students to have a feel of the newsroom experience.

“In school, there is the practical part of our studies, but it is mostly theory. For the department to bring someone from the industry to share their story helps prepare us for the industry,” she said.

Sharing the same sentiment, Khazimla Mfikili, a third-year Journalism Student, said it was a much-needed session that would be helpful to students.

“We truly appreciate the efforts by the department because it’s one thing learning in the classroom, but it is a different ball game if we now going to have people from the industry coming to share their experience,” he added.

Head Of Department and lecturer, Yolaswa Mgesezi, said this would be an ongoing initiative, in a bid to make sure that WSU continues to produce quality media practitioners and maintain relations with the industry professionals.

“The initiative we took resulted from realising that we are working in isolation, and this is an opportunity to rebuild the relations with industry gurus,” she said.

She added that the department was also in the process to get journalists from the industry to be part of the advisory board so the department can have an impactful curriculum that is aligned with the needs of the industry.

Masinda’s visit was more than a guest lecture—it was a wake-up call for the next generation of storytellers at WSU.

By: Yolanda Palezweni