Dear reader,

Yesterday marked the official summit of a month of journalism for our class - the BAHons Journalism class of 2025. With it comes the confirmation that hoping for predictability was a fool’s errand. The feeling of being on top of things was short lived and is sorely missed. 

At the risk of sounding entirely too pessimistic, I must clarify that journalism has swept me off my feet — literally and metaphorically. Finding a solid footing has been a challenge of note when the ground seems to shift every day, but I’ve been more (optimistically) engaged with work for the past five weeks than I have been in all three years of my undergraduate degree. There is no lack of activity, both in and outside of class.

This was highlighted last week with the protests on campus. It has been 10 years since #FeesMustFall, and financial exclusion in tertiary education remains a prominent issue nationwide. Were we, as novice journalists, prepared to handle such a sudden outburst of action? Probably not. 

Out of the frying pan, into another frying pan that is also on fire. 

But we made it! And we successfully produced two (in my humble opinion) amazing articles, covering the events of the week. 

What was, at first, a tentative bond based on the shared trauma of our entrance interviews, quickly turned into real friendship. While I do not want to slow our momentum by ruminating, it is important to take note of what we have learned:

• Always wear comfortable shoes. You never know when you might need to run after sources, or away from stun grenades.

• The chairs in the newsroom provide optimal transport for wheeling around important information.

• Coffee can only provide artificial energy for so long. Naps during class hours are inevitable.

• The lecturers will try their very best to scare us (whether they have been successful is a matter of personal opinion).

After the chaos that was the past five weeks, I am very proud to present our very first newsletter. Here you will find lovely articles from our team, and an exciting peek into the world of SMF News.

I hope you enjoy coming on this journey with us.

Keep on buzzing!

Anke Spies, newsletter editor.

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