media update’s Talisa Jansen van Rensburg spoke to the founder of
Good Things Guy, Brent Lindeque, about what blogging means for the media industry and how it is changing the way South Africans consume news around them.
Winning Blog of the Year three times in a row must be amazing! What other goals and aspirations do you have for Good Things Guy?This whole journey has been so humbling, and to be awarded the best blog in the country for three years in a row is a little overwhelming. There are hundreds and thousands of incredibly talented bloggers grinding every day, and just to be placed in the same space as them is an absolute honour.
The evolution of the
Good Things Guy platform has been phenomenal to watch. It’s almost like, through our stories, the country has found unity; the sentiment of the entire country has changed. And people are starting to feel a little more inspired by each other and a little more proudly South African. It’s been a beautiful thing to watch.
As for 2020, I’m building onto the platform [and have] some new developments in the pipeline.
Our readerships expand daily, with locals and a growing international audience tuning in to find the good news. We are also now featured in over 150 ‘out of home’ screens, which include hospitals, shopping malls and other public spaces where our good news can inspire.
The
Good Things Guy podcast is growing daily and often appears in the Top 10 SA podcast, as well as on the Apple ‘featured South African podcast’ lists. On top of that, we just want to keep telling the stories that matter to people who need to hear them.
Since Good Things Guy only publishes good news, what do you think your award says about the South African media industry? Are South Africans moving away from the negative narrative?News is so important — but so is balance, and that’s what we, [as a good news website], offer. Four years ago, good news was not [really] part of the [mainstream media’s] narrative in South Africa. But in just four short years,
Good Things Guy has changed that. Many big news sites report on our stories and use our site as a source.
But, I think the biggest achievement is the way that
Good Things Guy inspires others to do good and be kind.
The site has also moved from just being a blog to a recognised news site, which is a massive step forward.
Good Things Guy has published positive news about various topics including people, the environment and business. How do you decide which stories make the cut?It’s really not that difficult as there are so many good news stories all around us.
Good Things Guy was a platform created to showcase the good things happening in our beautiful country; to try to offer some balance to South Africans who often feel completely overwhelmed. Where there is bad, there will always be good — and the countless stories of ordinary South Africans doing extraordinary deeds are proof of this!
We receive hundreds of stories every day, and really just feature the things that make us smile. What's really great is there are now a host of different contributors who all enjoy different things, which means our stories are just becoming more diverse!
Do you think blogs are an important part of South Africa’s media landscape? What do they offer that traditional media does not?One million percent, yes! Blogs are platforms that come with a massive level of trust in their readers. It’s an extended and far more real version of journalism where opinions can be voiced without an editorial mandate dictating the tone or angle of the piece.
As consumers, we find ourselves being influenced more and more by opinions that are real and relevant, and blogs are exactly that. We have no commercial agenda — just a desire to tell our stories, irrespective of subject matter.
Why is it important to recognise blogs? Why are awards such as Blog of the Year an important aspect for blogs and companies alike?As the world of content evolves, it is important to acknowledge the evolution of the media landscape and its role in day-to-day communications:
- 10 years ago, you needed a TV station and license to be a broadcaster.
- Eight years ago, you needed a radio studio to be a DJ.
- Five years ago, you needed a newspaper or magazine to be a print journalist.
Today, you can be any of the above with a computer and Internet connection, for free. As the world of streaming, podcasting, twitching and blogging expands, our choices on what to read, hear, watch and believe are having to evolve in order to remain relevant.
Blogging should not be seen as ‘amateur’ or ‘small’ — just as podcasting and streaming should not be seen to be less important (or have less reach) than traditional radio or TV.
They are different, they are more personable and they have more character and grit; they are consumed on-demand, and they are fast becoming an integral part of the formal media landscape.
Do you think it is important that news sites look at delivering more good news or just stick to the bad news affecting the country? Let us know in the comments section below.
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