There will always be a need for community journalism, and moreover, there will always be young people looking at careers in news media.
Whose voices could give this statement more credibility than those of high school learners running their own news broadcasts?
The Randburg Nuusagentskap (RNA) was started during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 when Hoërskool Randburg could not have assemblies.
Also read: School news like never before
Through live streams on YouTube, learners write, produce, and present their own reports on school news. They have even started incorporating a current affairs section to inform learners about broader topics, including elections, the importance of voting, and details about how to vote.
These live streams are watched by people on hundreds of devices every Friday.
“Local media provides a sense of community. You know what is going on in your area and everyone supports each other,” presenter Jan-Rudolf Britz said.
“I personally enjoy reading newspapers and listening to the radio to stay informed about what is happening around me.”
Fellow presenter Shani Jansen van Rensburg, who is also the school’s head girl, agreed that it’s important for people to know local news as it creates solidarity around causes.
“People can know how to help and contribute when needed,” she said.
While she wants to study medicine or accounting next year, the matriculant said she will always appreciate the time she spent reading the news as it helped her and her fellow learners stay informed.
“It also helped a lot with my public speaking,” she concluded.
The teacher coordinator for the news agency, Jeaneli Piso said they try to focus on positive news as there is already much negativity in the public sphere.
“We celebrate the success of learners especially, and tell them important things they should know,” she said.
“We can use news media to help educate them on these things and get them ready for life.”
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