Let's break out the confetti and inflate those balloons because it's time to celebrate media update's ninth birthday!
We're compiling a lineup of our top nine favourite and unforgettable media pieces to mark this special occasion.
Each member of our team named their favourites of the last year, with the top media update piece at the very end.
Curious if your top pick made the cut? Stay tuned to find out!
So, grab yourself a slice of cake and gear up because media update is about to commemorate our most cherished pieces!
Saads Abrahams — Content Creator
There are some writers who will go down in history for their writing — like William Shakespeare. And one of these writers (in my opinion) is Stephen King — the king of thrillers.
Writing this piece was not only fun but also super educational for me as a writer. The tips I took away from this piece are to:
- take risks with your writing
- show-not-tell
- write because you love it, and
- not assume that everyone is going to like what you write ... and that's okay.
As writers, we tend to write about what is trending and sometimes forget about the content that will stand the test of time.
This piece was a cool reminder to write about current events and create content on something that will stay relevant for a longer period of time.
These tend to be the most meaningful pieces of work we will ever create. As content creators, remember to create work that will be evergreen!
Alrika Möller — Content Creator
I found this piece particularly interesting.
Before this came out, I had never heard of the term broetry before, but now I see it everywhere.
It is an important aspect of writing, as it lends a voice to modern masculinity and invites them into a female-dominated world of writing.
The article educates us on a lesser-known form of poetry and writing, which is a major part of the media industry.
Also … the concept is really funny.
We have all found ourselves in the position of searching for jobs and job opportunities. All of us have also listened to the radio on multiple occasions.
We often think we know about all the jobs related to the radio industry, but there is so much more that we might not have considered.
I love this piece because I hope it introduces someone to a career they didn't know existed and, hopefully, gives them a new dream.
Emma Schuman — Proofreader
Diversity and inclusion are so important — not just in broadcast but in all forms of media.
Fair, unbiased and equal representation within the media is something that everyone needs to be aware of. It encourages a more diverse narrative, involves a more inclusive audience and has the power to break through stereotypes.
I chose this piece because it highlights that everyone has a voice in the conversation.
Photojournalism. Is it journalism, or is it art? Is it even real journalism?
This question had me intrigued — and I loved reading the full explanation!
This piece delves into the details — how it's different from just taking photographs, other forms of journalism and how it is perceived in the journalism world.
It reveals how, even in a world full of images, some moments only need to be captured once to tell the whole story.
Robyn du Preez — Deputy Editor
The media update team got to speak to the director of education and outreach for the Sesame Workshop International South Africa.
The local entity's television show began
more than 20 years ago with the goal of using
television as a source of education. Since then, it has reached children in more than 150 countries.
The insights we received from Payne clearly show the empowering nature and potential this medium continues to have — especially for young women worldwide and their futures.
As a publication based in South Africa, we hold our country's values, heritage and history in high regard.
As such, it was only fitting that we acknowledged the significance of women being celebrated around our annual Women's Day, which falls on 9 August.
In this article, we stressed the importance of
actively using content to
inspire, educate and build awareness surrounding the values that we hold, as well as the
importance of
celebrating South African women.
media update pick
Everyone working as a freelance journalist is navigating the jungle of truth. But there is so much more to ethics in this space.
This piece does not only help freelance journalists focus on ethics, but it also educates readers on the ethical standards in journalism so that they can find journalists and articles that they trust.
Ethics will always be an important topic of conversation, and freelance journalists need to be held to a high ethical standard.
Do you have a favourite piece that we missed? Let us know in the comment section below.
The celebrations are continuing all week long. Click here to find our PR list and celebrate with us.