In a recent wide-ranging interview with veteran journalist Ruda Landman, City Press editor Haffajee spoke about South African politics, the future of journalism and how she missed out on the all-important selfie.
Haffajee was a 22-year-old cub reporter when Madiba was released and said that if she had to do the interview all over again, she would’ve asked him very different questions.
But never mind the past; looking forward, Haffajee believes that the future of journalism is non-profit. “That’s something that a lot of us are working on very hard. We have to get foundations and philanthropists to see journalism – public-interest journalism – in the same way that you see healthcare, social justice, et cetera, and fund it that way, off the books,†she added.
Several local media organisations, including Africa Check, the Wits Justice Project, GroundUp and the Mail & Guardian’s amaBhungane have all taken this route.
Newspapers still play a huge watchdog role in society but in 2012 an analysis by the US’s Council for Economic Advisors found newspapers were the fastest-shrinking industry in the US. Meanwhile, South African newspapers have also come under increasing pressure as circulation has continued to drop locally. The industry is not grappling with ideas on how to stay functional.
Watch the full interview:
