Staff
The team at Stellenbosch Journalism comprises of permanent staff, part-time specialist lecturers from industry, and postdoctoral and visiting researchers.
Prof Herman Wasserman
Professor of Journalism,
Chair of the Department of Journalism
Chair of the Department of Journalism
Email: hwasserman@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Prof Herman Wasserman
Professor of Journalism, Chair of the Department of Journalism
Email: hwasserman@sun.ac.za
Short bio
Herman Wasserman is Professor of Journalism and Chair of the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He has published widely on media in Africa. His books include Tabloid Journalism in South Africa (Indiana University Press), Media, Geopolitics, and Power (University of Illinois Press) and Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa (Oxford University Press). His latest book is Disinformation in the Global South (co-edited with Dani Madrid-Morales), published in 2022 (Wiley-Blackwell). He is a Fellow and Board Member of the International Communication Association and an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. His awards include a Fulbright fellowship and the Georg Foster Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. Wasserman is Editor-in-Chief of the academic journals African Journalism Studies and the Annals of the International Communication Association, Associate Editor of Communication Theory and International Communication Gazette and sits on the editorial boards of several other international journals. He has consulted for, amongst others, the World Health Organization, UNESCO, Deutsche Welle Akademie, Digital Public Square, Africa Check, the Center for International Media Assistance, the Open Society Foundation and serves on the scientific committee of Reporters without Borders.
Herman Wasserman is Professor of Journalism and Chair of the Department of Journalism at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He has published widely on media in Africa. His books include Tabloid Journalism in South Africa (Indiana University Press), Media, Geopolitics, and Power (University of Illinois Press) and Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa (Oxford University Press). His latest book is Disinformation in the Global South (co-edited with Dani Madrid-Morales), published in 2022 (Wiley-Blackwell). He is a Fellow and Board Member of the International Communication Association and an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. His awards include a Fulbright fellowship and the Georg Foster Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany. Wasserman is Editor-in-Chief of the academic journals African Journalism Studies and the Annals of the International Communication Association, Associate Editor of Communication Theory and International Communication Gazette and sits on the editorial boards of several other international journals. He has consulted for, amongst others, the World Health Organization, UNESCO, Deutsche Welle Akademie, Digital Public Square, Africa Check, the Center for International Media Assistance, the Open Society Foundation and serves on the scientific committee of Reporters without Borders.
Research interests
Media Ethics, Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa, Media and Disinformation
Media Ethics, Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa, Media and Disinformation
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Prof Gabriël Botma
Associate professor
Email: gbotma@sun.ac.za
Office: +27 21 808 3488
Short Bio
Prof Gabriël Botma
Associate professor
Email: gbotma@sun.ac.za
Office: +27 21 808 3488
Short bio
In 2011 Prof Botma obtained a PhD degree with the dissertation Manufacturing cultural capital: Arts journalism at Die Burger (1990-1999). The dissertation was subsequently published as the book Brothers in armchairs: Cultural struggles at Die Burger (2014, Sun Press). He has also published the book Polemieke: Bekgevegte in Afrikaans in 2018 at Zebra Press and Race talk in the South African media at Sun Press (2019). Research articles he authored were published in prominent journals such as African Journalism Studies, Critical Arts, Communication and Journalism and Mass Communication Educator in the field of political economy, cultural studies and journalism education. Until his appointment at SU he was arts editor and theatre critic of Die Burger in Cape Town.
In 2011 Prof Botma obtained a PhD degree with the dissertation Manufacturing cultural capital: Arts journalism at Die Burger (1990-1999). The dissertation was subsequently published as the book Brothers in armchairs: Cultural struggles at Die Burger (2014, Sun Press). He has also published the book Polemieke: Bekgevegte in Afrikaans in 2018 at Zebra Press and Race talk in the South African media at Sun Press (2019). Research articles he authored were published in prominent journals such as African Journalism Studies, Critical Arts, Communication and Journalism and Mass Communication Educator in the field of political economy, cultural studies and journalism education. Until his appointment at SU he was arts editor and theatre critic of Die Burger in Cape Town.
Research interests
Media history, media, culture and society
Media history, media, culture and society
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Prof Mehita Iqani
Director SciCom
Chair of DST-NRF
Chair of DST-NRF
Email: mehita@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Prof Mehita Iqani
Director SciCom
Chair of DST-NRF
Chair of DST-NRF
Email: mehita@sun.ac.za
Short bio
Professor Mehita Iqani was appointed as Chairholder to the South African Research Chair in Science Communication at Stellenbosch University from January 2022. Prior to this she was Professor in Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she taught across the undergraduate and postgraduate programme for almost eleven years. She is the author and editor of several books on media, consumer culture, luxury, waste, and the global south, the most recent of which include African Luxury Branding (2023), Garbage in Popular Culture (2021), Consumption Media and the Global South (2016), Media Studies: Critical African and Decolonial Approaches (2019), African Luxury (2019) and Consumer Culture and the Media (2012). She is currently working on a new monograph about the links between science rhetorics and promotional communication. She is the incoming President of the South African Communications Association (2024-2025) after having served as Deputy President (2022-2023). She is a co-editor on the International Journal of Cultural Studies, an Associate Editor on Consumption Markets & Culture, and on the editorial board of Cultural Politics. Her PhD is in Media and Communication from the London School of Economics & Political Science (2009). She also holds an MA in Creative Writing (Wits) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (LSE). She is currently leading the research programme through the DST-NRF South African Research Chair in Science Communication, which broadly focuses on the theme of “science communication for social justice”, through issues-driven research in the fields of climate and environment, health and happiness and creative communications practice. She is currently developing new short courses and postgraduate programmes in these areas.
Professor Mehita Iqani was appointed as Chairholder to the South African Research Chair in Science Communication at Stellenbosch University from January 2022. Prior to this she was Professor in Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she taught across the undergraduate and postgraduate programme for almost eleven years. She is the author and editor of several books on media, consumer culture, luxury, waste, and the global south, the most recent of which include African Luxury Branding (2023), Garbage in Popular Culture (2021), Consumption Media and the Global South (2016), Media Studies: Critical African and Decolonial Approaches (2019), African Luxury (2019) and Consumer Culture and the Media (2012). She is currently working on a new monograph about the links between science rhetorics and promotional communication. She is the incoming President of the South African Communications Association (2024-2025) after having served as Deputy President (2022-2023). She is a co-editor on the International Journal of Cultural Studies, an Associate Editor on Consumption Markets & Culture, and on the editorial board of Cultural Politics. Her PhD is in Media and Communication from the London School of Economics & Political Science (2009). She also holds an MA in Creative Writing (Wits) and a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (LSE). She is currently leading the research programme through the DST-NRF South African Research Chair in Science Communication, which broadly focuses on the theme of “science communication for social justice”, through issues-driven research in the fields of climate and environment, health and happiness and creative communications practice. She is currently developing new short courses and postgraduate programmes in these areas.
Research interests
media and communication studies, discourse analysis, science and society, promotional and consumer cultures, inequality, luxury, waste, climate and environment, health and happiness, action research in communications practice, creative methods.
media and communication studies, discourse analysis, science and society, promotional and consumer cultures, inequality, luxury, waste, climate and environment, health and happiness, action research in communications practice, creative methods.
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Dr Marenet Jordaan
Senior Lecturer
Email: marenet@sun.ac.za
Office: +27 21 808 2625
Short Bio
Dr Marenet Jordaan
Senior Lecturer
Email: marenet@sun.ac.za
Office: +27 21 808 2625
Short bio
Marenet Jordaan graduated with a BA Publishing degree from the University of Pretoria (UP) in 2000 where she was awarded the vice-chancellor’s medal for the best student in the Faculty of Humanities. After completing her BPhil Journalism at SU, she worked at Die Burger and Rapport in various roles, including as editor of an entertainment supplement.From 2009 she was a lecturer in the Journalism Programme at the UP. While working at UP, she completed her MPhil Journalism through SU – focusing on the role of the then still quite new phenomenon of social media use at newspapers. In 2015 she returned to her academic home at SU to teach in the honours and master’s programmes. She completed her doctoral dissertation about the Afrikaans online news publication Netwerk2, in 2018. In 2020 she received an institutional Teaching Excellence award from SU.
She is currently the South African investigator on the comparative Worlds of Journalism Study.
Marenet Jordaan graduated with a BA Publishing degree from the University of Pretoria (UP) in 2000 where she was awarded the vice-chancellor’s medal for the best student in the Faculty of Humanities. After completing her BPhil Journalism at SU, she worked at Die Burger and Rapport in various roles, including as editor of an entertainment supplement.From 2009 she was a lecturer in the Journalism Programme at the UP. While working at UP, she completed her MPhil Journalism through SU – focusing on the role of the then still quite new phenomenon of social media use at newspapers. In 2015 she returned to her academic home at SU to teach in the honours and master’s programmes. She completed her doctoral dissertation about the Afrikaans online news publication Netwerk2, in 2018. In 2020 she received an institutional Teaching Excellence award from SU.
She is currently the South African investigator on the comparative Worlds of Journalism Study.
Research interests
journalism ethics; journalistic role conceptualisations; comparative journalism studies; journalism education; scholarship of teaching, learning and assessment.
journalism ethics; journalistic role conceptualisations; comparative journalism studies; journalism education; scholarship of teaching, learning and assessment.
Teaching
First-year level: Knowledge Skills 172 (across faculties)
BAHons Journalism: Media, Power & Culture; Media Ethics
MA Journalism and PhD Journalism supervision
First-year level: Knowledge Skills 172 (across faculties)
BAHons Journalism: Media, Power & Culture; Media Ethics
MA Journalism and PhD Journalism supervision
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Ms Anneli Groenewald
BA Hons Convenor
Email: annelig@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Ms Anneli Groenewald
BA Hons Convenor
Email: annelig@sun.ac.za
Short bio
Anneli Groenewald is a lecturer in journalism practice at the Department of Journalism. Anneli has extensive experience as a journalist and has worked at Beeld, Farmer’s Weekly and finweek. She previously taught journalism practice at the University of Johannesburg.
Anneli holds an MA in Creative Writing and her debut novel, Die Skaalmodel, won the debut award in NB Publishers’ Groot Afrikaanse Romanwedstryd. She remains involved in the media industry, mainly through her involvement in a community newspaper in the Overberg.
Research interests
Narrative storytelling; presence effects in texts; affect theory.
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Mr Fumani Jwara
Communications Officer SciCom, Social Media Coordinator Dept of Journalism.
Email: fumanim@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Mr Fumani Jwara
Communications Officer SciCom, Social Media Coordinator Dept of Journalism.
Email: fumanim@sun.ac.za
Short bio
Fumani Jwara is the Communications Officer for the South African Research Chair in Science Communication and the Social Media Coordinator for the Department of Journalism. His research interests are in music and music technology, media industries, queer studies and diplomacy studies. He is passionate about the interdisciplinary links between the arts, business, social justice, and STEM orientated fields in providing holistic solutions to addressing challenges facing South Africa. He recently co-authored Higher education queer spaces in Southern Africa: Policies and practices (2022) in the book (Un)Silence LGBTI: Experiences and Identities in Institutions of Higher Learning in South Africa (UNISA Press).
Fumani Jwara is the Communications Officer for the South African Research Chair in Science Communication and the Social Media Coordinator for the Department of Journalism. His research interests are in music and music technology, media industries, queer studies and diplomacy studies. He is passionate about the interdisciplinary links between the arts, business, social justice, and STEM orientated fields in providing holistic solutions to addressing challenges facing South Africa. He recently co-authored Higher education queer spaces in Southern Africa: Policies and practices (2022) in the book (Un)Silence LGBTI: Experiences and Identities in Institutions of Higher Learning in South Africa (UNISA Press).
Research interests
music, music technology, media industries, queer studies, autoethnographic research, diplomacy, STEM and society.
music, music technology, media industries, queer studies, autoethnographic research, diplomacy, STEM and society.
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Ms Saffron Greeff
Part-Time Department Assistant
Dr Meghan Judge
Fellow at SARCHi,
Chair in Science Communication
Chair in Science Communication
Email: mjudge@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Dr Meghan Judge
Fellow at SARCHi,
Chair in Science Communication
Chair in Science Communication
Email: mjudge@sun.ac.za
Short bio
Dr Meghan Judge is a fellow at the South African Research Chair in Science Communication at Stellenbosch University. She completed her PhD at WiSER in the Oceanic Humanities for the Global South project, where she focused on ocean-human relations and formulating an eco-social relational praxis for inquiry. She has exhibited and presented her work widely, including her solo exhibition Static Drift at the Wits Art Museum (2022), film The Lonely Sailor Weather Report that travelled international film circuits (2021), given university talks such as Static Ocean (2023) and curated discussions between artists and scientists including Swaying in unknowability: submerged listening with haunted kelp forests (2024). The focus of her work at the chair, extending from her PhD and ongoing research, has been on cross, trans and beyond-disciplinary engagements across creative and scientific communications that take up justice and temporal convergences of deep and urgent time. Currently, Judge is working toward publishing a monograph on relational and situated communication that takes its lead from the material activities of the ocean along the Agulhas Current. She has designed courses and taught at undergraduate level and is currently supervising and coordinating postgraduate work. She holds an MA in Digital Art (Wits, by distinction). At the Chair, Judge has organised symposiums and is co-editing collections on the topic of ecological storytelling and is currently lead researcher on the Humusha art/science platform.
Dr Meghan Judge is a fellow at the South African Research Chair in Science Communication at Stellenbosch University. She completed her PhD at WiSER in the Oceanic Humanities for the Global South project, where she focused on ocean-human relations and formulating an eco-social relational praxis for inquiry. She has exhibited and presented her work widely, including her solo exhibition Static Drift at the Wits Art Museum (2022), film The Lonely Sailor Weather Report that travelled international film circuits (2021), given university talks such as Static Ocean (2023) and curated discussions between artists and scientists including Swaying in unknowability: submerged listening with haunted kelp forests (2024). The focus of her work at the chair, extending from her PhD and ongoing research, has been on cross, trans and beyond-disciplinary engagements across creative and scientific communications that take up justice and temporal convergences of deep and urgent time. Currently, Judge is working toward publishing a monograph on relational and situated communication that takes its lead from the material activities of the ocean along the Agulhas Current. She has designed courses and taught at undergraduate level and is currently supervising and coordinating postgraduate work. She holds an MA in Digital Art (Wits, by distinction). At the Chair, Judge has organised symposiums and is co-editing collections on the topic of ecological storytelling and is currently lead researcher on the Humusha art/science platform.
Research interests
social history, non-linear time, materialities, relational ontologies, oceanic humanities, justice
social history, non-linear time, materialities, relational ontologies, oceanic humanities, justice
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Dr Meli Ncube
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email: mncube@sun.ac.za
Short Bio
Dr Meli Ncube
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Email:mncube@sun.ac.za
Short bio
Meli Ncube holds a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT). He has been researching the influence of social media on democracy in Africa with a particular focus on Zimbabwe since 2014. He is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Journalism where he conducts research on aspects related to disinformation, its impact on journalism and trust in the media. He explores ways in which investigative journalism may counter disinformation in African contexts.
Meli Ncube holds a PhD in Media Studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT). He has been researching the influence of social media on democracy in Africa with a particular focus on Zimbabwe since 2014. He is currently a postdoctoral research fellow at Stellenbosch University’s Department of Journalism where he conducts research on aspects related to disinformation, its impact on journalism and trust in the media. He explores ways in which investigative journalism may counter disinformation in African contexts.
Research interests
disinformation and journalism, investigative journalism and countering disinformation, social media and democracy in Africa
disinformation and journalism, investigative journalism and countering disinformation, social media and democracy in Africa
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Specialist Staff
Dario Milo
Media Law
Short Bio
Dario Milo
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Professor Dario Milo is a partner at Webber Wentzel attorneys, where he leads a team focusing on all aspects of public and constitutional law including reputation law (including defamation and privacy), media law and information law. He also lectures in media law, access to information law, and privacy law at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he is visiting adjunct professor in media law. Dr Milo is an expert in freedom of expression at the Columbia University Freedom of Expression Project and was appointed to the High Level Panel of Media Freedom Experts (chaired by Lord Neuberger) by the UK and Canadian governments. He is also an adviser to the European Commission on anti-SLAPP policy.
Professor Dario Milo is a partner at Webber Wentzel attorneys, where he leads a team focusing on all aspects of public and constitutional law including reputation law (including defamation and privacy), media law and information law. He also lectures in media law, access to information law, and privacy law at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he is visiting adjunct professor in media law. Dr Milo is an expert in freedom of expression at the Columbia University Freedom of Expression Project and was appointed to the High Level Panel of Media Freedom Experts (chaired by Lord Neuberger) by the UK and Canadian governments. He is also an adviser to the European Commission on anti-SLAPP policy.
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Deon Raath
Photo Journalism and Mobile Journalism
Short Bio
Deon Raath
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Deon Raath is the Multimedia Editor at Rapport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Managing the photographic department and developing Rapport’s digital and video content. He is a skilled photographer and innovator. Developing new products, expand Rapport’s digital footprint and packaging the content to reach new viewers forms an essential part of his day-to-day.
Deon Raath is the Multimedia Editor at Rapport in Johannesburg, South Africa. Managing the photographic department and developing Rapport’s digital and video content. He is a skilled photographer and innovator. Developing new products, expand Rapport’s digital footprint and packaging the content to reach new viewers forms an essential part of his day-to-day.
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Heléne Booyens
Print Media Production
Short Bio
Heléne Booyens
Short bio
Heléne Booyens is an editor at Struik Nature, Penguin Random House.
Heléne Booyens is an editor at Struik Nature, Penguin Random House.
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Izelle Venter
Media Entrepreneurship
Short Bio
Izelle Venter
Short bio
Izelle Venter is the head of Media24TV that operates TV channels and a production facility that caters for various markets. Izelle has been working in media since 1998, with a focus on editorial and commercial initiatives.
Izelle Venter is the head of Media24TV that operates TV channels and a production facility that caters for various markets. Izelle has been working in media since 1998, with a focus on editorial and commercial initiatives.
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Kayla Alexander
Audience Development and Analytics
Short Bio
Kayla Alexander
Short bio
Kayla Alexander is head of audience development at Media24’s Netwerk24. She completed her studies at Stellenbosch University’s journalism department in 2015 and has been active in the news media landscape as a radio journalist, multimedia reporter, social media editor, and audience development specialist
Kayla Alexander is head of audience development at Media24’s Netwerk24. She completed her studies at Stellenbosch University’s journalism department in 2015 and has been active in the news media landscape as a radio journalist, multimedia reporter, social media editor, and audience development specialist
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Nokuthula Manyathi
Podcasting
Short Bio
Nokuthula Manyathi
Short bio
Nokuthula Manyathi is the deputy multimedia editor at News24. She oversees the day-to-day news output of the newsroom’s video and audio journalists. She’s also spearheading News24’s podcasting and audio department; work produced through the hub has won several awards, including a gold and bronze statue at the New York Festivals Radio Awards. In 2022, she was chosen by the Online News Association as one of 26 women globally leading change and innovation in journalism. She’s a graduate of Columbia University’s Journalism School and Wits University.
Nokuthula Manyathi is the deputy multimedia editor at News24. She oversees the day-to-day news output of the newsroom’s video and audio journalists. She’s also spearheading News24’s podcasting and audio department; work produced through the hub has won several awards, including a gold and bronze statue at the New York Festivals Radio Awards. In 2022, she was chosen by the Online News Association as one of 26 women globally leading change and innovation in journalism. She’s a graduate of Columbia University’s Journalism School and Wits University.
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Pauli van Wyk
Investigative Journalism
Short Bio
Pauli van Wyk
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Pauli van Wyk is a journalist with Scorpio, the investigative arm of Daily Maverick. Her focus and interest is on the intersection of government and private sector corruption.
Pauli van Wyk is a journalist with Scorpio, the investigative arm of Daily Maverick. Her focus and interest is on the intersection of government and private sector corruption.
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Wayne Muller
Arts Journalism
Short Bio
Wayne Muller
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Wayne Muller is a communication specialist, academic and freelance arts journalist. He holds a PhD in Musicology and MPhil in Journalism from Stellenbosch University. He has written on classical music and opera, dance and theatre for various publications, and was the deputy arts editor of Die Burger.
Wayne Muller is a communication specialist, academic and freelance arts journalist. He holds a PhD in Musicology and MPhil in Journalism from Stellenbosch University. He has written on classical music and opera, dance and theatre for various publications, and was the deputy arts editor of Die Burger.
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Wendy Stelzmann
Editing
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Wendy Stelzmann
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I have spent the more than two and a half decades (and counting) of my career in magazines and believe that quality content is at the heart of great journalism. I am passionate about words and good storytelling, and have a special interest in health and wellbeing. I am currently an assistant editor at YOU magazine.
I have spent the more than two and a half decades (and counting) of my career in magazines and believe that quality content is at the heart of great journalism. I am passionate about words and good storytelling, and have a special interest in health and wellbeing. I am currently an assistant editor at YOU magazine.
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Koketso Sachane
Broadcast Journalism
Short Bio
Koketso Sachane
Short bio
Koketso Sachane is a seasoned journalist, broadcaster and film producer with over 20 years in the South African media and communications industries.A former Open News / eTV news anchor, broadcaster and reporter, Sachane currently hosts “The Meeting Point”, a current affairs program on South African talk station SAFM.
Sachane’s knowledge of wealth as a communicator includes serving in government as media liaison to the Western Cape MEC for Transport and Public Works, spokesperson to the National Minister of Public Works, as well as Communications Manager at South African Tourism.
As an interlocutor, Sachane has participated in and facilitated public discussions at Cape Town’s Open Book Festival, the Stellenbosch Woordfees and has been a discussant at book launches for various authors including Advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi “The Land is Ours” and Jacques Pauw “The President’s Keepers”. Sachane’s film experience includes his work as Executive Producer on Covid Comms’ series of Covid Diaries as well as producer and script writer on Electoral
Reform documentary for civil society organisation My Vote Counts.
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William Horne
Numeric literacy and financial journalism.
Short Bio
William Horne
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William Horne is a rogue (read: non-practising) economist, business journalist and waistcoat enthusiast. From science journalism to marketing and building 3D models for architecture firms, he’s been round the block, despite his bad knees.
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