2018 has been a magnificent year for ALI Media Fellow Phathiswa Magopeni. Her career reached a new high when she was recently appointed as Group Executive: News & Current Affairs at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).
With the SABC’s commitment to attracting and retaining the best skills to address the evolving broadcasting environment enabled by technology, Magopeni was the best fit for this colossal role. Without a doubt, she exemplifies the core values of what it means to be an ALI Media Fellow.
The ALI Media Fellowship is a highly selective, pre-eminent programme with 24 fellows chosen from hundreds of nominations across the continent. ALI Media Fellows, like Magopeni,have amplified visibility, opportunities for coaching and learning, access to a network of peers and experts in financial journalism, leadership and development.
It’s not by coincidence that Magopeni is part of this exclusive and impressive group. Her academic achievements speak volumes. She has obtained an Honours degree, Master of Philosophy in Education, Integrated Marketing Communications Diploma, Master of Business Administration (MBA) and she is currently working on a doctoral proposal for a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) degree with Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS).
Contributing to South Africa’s citizenry
Excited and humbled by her SABC appointment, Magopeni said earlier that she was looking forward to being part of an institution which is crucial to providing independent news and information to South Africa’s citizenry.
In fact, Magopeni has been contributing to South Africa’s citizenry for years now. Her career in journalism began in 1998 when she joined the SABC in Cape Town and then eNews permanently in 2001. Although she left eNews for the SABC in 2005, Magopenirejoined eNews when it launched the first 24-hour news channel in South Africa in 2008. She has served in different capacities: as a Senior Desk Producer, Output Editor, eNews Prime Time Editor and then the Head of Terrestrial News Services. In 2013, she conceptualised and coordinated the successful launch of a fully-fledged IsiZulu news offering which airs on OpenView HD.
Bona fide leader
Magopeni is flying the ALI Media Fellowship flag high by being successful in her field of influence. She believes that authenticity, consistency, decisiveness, resourcefulness and accountability are essential to effective leadership. It’s clear that she’s a bona fide leader who is passionate about education and research.
The ALI Media Fellowship programme applies a reflective approach to learning. Fellows are exposed to a variety of classic and contemporary readings that focus on: public policy, the role of media, the media landscape, governance, resource availability, sustainability, transparency, gender issues, as well as sustainability and social justice. National and international experts from leading media, finance, business, civil society and government institutions are also invited to share their experiences and discuss new ideas, trends, innovative practices and cutting-edge financial reporting in Africa and across the globe.
*Additional information sourced from the SABC and LinkedIn.
