TUT journalism student excited for the future after City Times internship

Simphiwe Nkosi recalls her six-month internship at the City Times.

“I joined the City Times in February under the mentorship of Lana O’Neill to serve my six months’ internship programme as required by the Tshwane University of Technology.

“It was an amazing experience. I did not only find colleagues, but a family who nurtured me from the first day I stepped into the City Times office.

“The newsroom was so accommodating; it taught me all the changing dynamics of journalism. I was exposed to the corporate world and the working environment and learnt how to work with people, and also to be available to the community.

“This internship programme gave me an opportunity to advance my writing skills and I also learnt that journalism it is about team work – without team work there is no productivity, and having contacts makes your job simple.

“In everything you do there are challenges.

“For me, the hardest part of the job was chasing a deadline and missing information from a story which you cannot get from a source. I quickly learnt that after every job you need to make sure you have all the information needed and you have accurate facts.

“I made a point of always giving it my all because I was representing a company, brand and a team.

“The internship was a great platform for me because it laid a good foundation for my future in the media industry.

“I was also able to impart my theoretical knowledge to practical, since I was doing field work. The internship gave me exposure to the outside world and I obtained skills that will stand me in good stead in the future.

“Although I had the best time at the City Times, things turned a bit sour in March because of the lockdown.

“We had to work from home and I had a very hard time; however, it made me step out of my comfort zone.

“The anxiety that came with working during this pandemic was very bad, but I believe I worked at full capacity and left my mark at the City Times.

“In a nutshell, this internship was a joyful ride and a rewarding experience, and I can say I am ready to build a good name for myself in this industry.”

O’Neill said, due to lockdown, Simphiwe worked mainly in her hometown, Daveyton, and a couple of months in found members of the community literally tracking her down to share their stories with her.

“She certainly made her mark in Daveyton as an intern for the City Times. Despite the challenges that came with lockdown for all our journalists, it was a pleasure having her as part of the team.

“Simphiwe is a well presented, conscientious young woman who took the opportunity given to her very seriously from the start.  She was all ears in the newsroom, absorbing as much as she could and ensuring she followed instruction.

“She covered a variety of beats and jobs during her internship, including the mayor’s budget speech. Simphiwe will be an asset in any newsroom and we all wish her all the best for the future.”

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