The Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ) recently hosted the No Guts No Glory 2026 KZN Seminar in Ballito, bringing together community journalists from across the province for a day dedicated to professional development and networking.
Sponsored by Avbob, the annual event has become a cornerstone gathering for community media professionals, offering journalists an opportunity to strengthen their skills and engage with industry experts.
This year’s seminar was themed ‘Community Journalism in a Digital Landscape’, reflecting the rapidly evolving media environment that community journalists navigate daily. The event provided a valuable platform for participants to explore the changing role of community media in the digital age and adapt their storytelling techniques accordingly.
Dr André Gouws, FCJ convenor of judges and senior lecturer at Akademia, delivered a presentation focused on equipping journalists with modern storytelling skills. His talk, entitled ‘The multimedia journalist: Telling stories in a visual world’, shared valuable insights on multimedia reporting and the diverse skills required in contemporary journalism.
The importance of visual storytelling was further emphasized through a presentation prepared by award-winning photojournalist Wayne Thomas. His presentation, ‘Through the lens: The power of visual journalism’, was shared and discussed among attendees, highlighting how strong visual elements can enhance journalistic storytelling and engage audiences in meaningful ways.
The seminar underscored the vital role that community journalists play in keeping local communities informed and connected, while also acknowledging the need for continuous professional development in an increasingly digital media landscape.
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- The Highway Mail group in high spirits
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- FCJ KZN Director Roelien D’Amico and guest speaker Dr Andrè Gouws
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- FCJ Director Roelien D’Amico and Mabore Sefara (Avbob specialist for communication and events)
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- The Zululand Observer editorial team – Dave Savides (consultant editor), Gugu Myeni, Ronelle Ramsamy (editor-in-chief), Mbuso Kunene, Tamlyn Cramer (sub-editor) and Conelia Harry