There is something exciting about being the person who gets to tell a story first.

Shamona Buthuram was one of the youngest journalists when she began working at the Ladysmith Gazette. From the beginning, journalism gave her something she had never experienced before: the thrill of chasing a breaking story, uncovering the facts and knowing that her work could keep the community informed.

“Breaking news is one of the parts of journalism I enjoy most. There is a certain adrenaline that comes with knowing you have uncovered a story and are able to bring accurate and factual information to your readers”, said Buthuram.

More than just reporting

But journalism is about much more than simply reporting what has happened.

“My role as a journalist is to uncover critical issues in the community and give a voice to those who need it most. Local reporting serves as a vital safeguard for the public interest and I understand that every story I publish carries a responsibility to the people who read it.

“Behind every story is a responsibility to inform the public accurately and fairly,” said Buthuram.

Getting the facts right

“For me, verification is one of the most important parts of journalism.

“Before information is published, I have a responsibility to verify the facts and make sure that what we report is accurate and factual. In journalism, getting the story first is exciting, but getting it right is even more important.

“The trust of the community depends on the information we provide.”

Every day brings a new story

“One of the things that makes my job so interesting is that I never know exactly what the day will bring.

“Every day comes with a new story to uncover, new people to meet and new information to discover. No two days are the same. One moment I could be following breaking news and the next I could be speaking to someone whose story deserves to be heard.

“That constant change is what keeps journalism exciting for me!”

Choosing truth

As we mark World News Day 2026 under the global theme ‘Choose Truth’, the Ladysmith Gazette stands proudly as part of the Caxton network, representing credible, independent journalism across South Africa.

In partnership with international organisations such as WAN-IFRA, we remain dedicated to protecting information integrity and ensuring that our community receives news grounded in verified facts.

Why I love journalism

“For me, journalism is more than just a job. It is the responsibility of telling people’s stories, asking questions, uncovering what matters and making sure the community has access to information it can trust.

“Every breaking story brings a rush. Every interview brings something new. Every day brings another story waiting to be told.

“AI and fake news walk hand-in-hand. That is why community newspapers are so important. Because at least with us, you know the story is true, the photographs are not AI-generated and when you see a video of ours, we were actually there!” concludes Buthuram.

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