Menar Journalism Training re-sharpened my journalism skills

Journalism needs constant training to cope with ever changing policies, technology and information. Menar Journalism Training provided us with a great opportunity to gain new insights into the world of coal mining by interacting with the best in the mining sector.

Attending Menar Journalism Training 2002 this year was far more than just an opportunity to escape our head office in Auckland Park and breath in a new elegant atmosphere in Melrose but an intense two days of mind blogging information sharing sessions.

“A Journalist is born free, but everywhere is in chains”- Latiefa Mobara and Herman Scholtz opened of minds to the foundation and constitution of the Press Council and operational ethics of the Press Ombud.

Lucas Ledwaba took us through a very sad journey of his personal experiences while he was covering The Marikana Massacre opening our minds to critical questions to ask about the less talked about issues of the human catastrophe.

Mamokgethi Mololpyane accompanied by her two puppies gave us a thorough analysis of the good the bad and the ugly of the mining labour policies.

The ever enthusiastic guru, Peter Major raised his bar from covering a broad perspective of natural resources by zooming in to current trading of mineral resources in the markets. Peter is a human treasure in the mineral resources sector and hence needs to be preserved for generations to benefit from his wealth of knowledge.

I was scared of going underground to experience the mining of coal at Kangra Coal Mine in Mpumalanga, because of the wrong attitude against mining in rural outskirts of the Eastern Cape. We were told that mining is for those old boys who failed to pass at school and all those negative articulations about mining deaths. But when I got to Kangra, I was introduced to safety precautions before going underground. Once in my work life I wore a uniform. My experience in the coal mine was overwhelmingly great.

 By Joe Manciya