The ‘No Guts, No Glory’ seminar recently made its way to KwaZulu-Natal, bringing together community journalists for a day filled with networking, professional development, and insights into digital media trends.
Hosted by the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) and sponsored by Avbob, the event was held at The Boathouse in Ballito. It welcomed around 60 attendees from various KZN newspapers, including:
Zululand Observer, Rising Sun, South Coast Herald, Southlands Sun, Highway Mail, Northglen News, Berea Mail, The North Coast Courier, Newcastle Advertiser, and Ladysmith Gazette.
ZO’s veteran newshound and consultant editor Dave Savides shares the importance of relationship journalism
Ronelle Ramsamy, editor-in-chief of the Zululand Observer and FCJ director for KZN, facilitated the event, which featured a lineup of respected industry speakers.
Marietta Lombard, FCJ’s deputy executive director and editor-in-chief of Caxton Greater Johannesburg Metro, outlined the forum’s goals, its involvement in industry bodies, and the annual Avbob FCJ Excellence Awards.
See all the photos: HERE
She also announced a new award category for the upcoming event: Mobile Photography.
FCJ deputy executive director Marietta Lombard says it’s important the industry comes together to fight misinformation
“You know what your role is,” she told the journalists.
“You are embedded in your communities, and what you do is vital. Without journalism, we don’t have democracy. The industry is under pressure.”
Lombard added, “It’s no longer about competition between media houses. It’s about unity—fighting together for a free press and against misinformation.”
André Gouws, with over 20 years of experience, delivered a talk on digital journalism, while Dave Savides, veteran journalist and consultant editor at Zululand Observer, spoke about the power of relationship journalism, drawing on his 35-year career.
Rod Skinner, regional editor for northern KZN, and his team from Ladysmith Gazette travelled more than four hours to attend.
“We’re all searching for that ‘magic bullet’ to navigate the future of journalism,” said Skinner. “This event helped us move closer to it.”
FCJ KZN director Roelien D’Amico described the seminar as a phenomenal success.
“It’s important for journalists to reconnect and to remember the heart of our craft,” she said.
Closing the event, Ramsamy thanked the attendees, speakers, and sponsors.
“You’ve empowered our newsrooms to create compelling videos, strong stories, and award-winning content,” she said.
📸 Check out the photo gallery from the seminar:
Download the photos
📰 Read more media coverage here:
Community Journalists Sharpen Their Swords