Newsroom visit for Orban School journalists

Armed with inquisitive minds, a group of Orban School journalists journeyed through the Caxton Joburg North newsroom with keen interest to find out what went into making sure they get their local newspaper delivered to their doorstep.

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The outing saw Rabiya Amla learn about Codes of Ethics, and how the team lay out the newspaper. “I did not know they have to design and adhere so strictly to the template.” For Amla, and her peers, seeing how a newsroom worked was important, as it would help them know how to navigate their own, since they write for their school newspaper, The Purple Overview. Their paper was started back in 2021 as a way to afford creative learners the chance to learn more about writing and design, while still sticking to COVID-19 rules of distancing, at the time.

The school’s Louine van der Vyver said they are fortunate to have creative and industrious learners at the school. “They thrive on stimulation and enjoy a good challenge. They are proud to serve their community by bringing them stories that relate to all of them.” She said that in 2021, when the choir was disbanded and they weren’t allowed to play sports, learners grabbed at the chance to fill their hours with something meaningful.

Salma Mehtar joined the editorial team of The Purple Overview because she wanted to try something different, and she ended up really enjoying it. The paper started off being printed as a termly paper, but their determination has them believing that they can do it monthly.

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The young journalists write about school events, behind the scenes of the annual production, and interviews with teachers or peers who’ve made an impact in the community. “They also report on pre-primary activities, sport days, heritage, interesting class content, new teachers or learners, fun days, and more,” shared Van der Vyver.

For Ariana Alekar it interested her to learn that the Northcliff Melville Times is not printed at the newsroom. “There are so many rounds of checking – back and forth between writers and sub-editors and editors,” she said. While, for Thomas Jordaan, he wanted to learn to be more creative.

Van der Vyver explained that visits like these help children see the vast career paths they can consider. “They get a feel for that specific career path and that helps enormously in decision-making.”

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