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Lerabo Mbele
JOURNALIST Lerato Mbele will present Africa Business Report on BBC World News on DStv as from October 4. She shares some views and experiences:
What are the major challenges for women in the media?
In some ways it has become easier to pursue a career in the media in today’s world, because we live in the “information age”.
More importantly women like Christiane Amanpour, Dianne Sawyer and Ferial Haffajee have opened the doors for us and enabled female journalists to hone our craft without our credibility always being questioned.
However, journalism is a demanding career that often takes us away from our loved ones.
As a result some women feel they have had to sacrifice good relationships, motherhood and family functions in order to meet work deadlines or to travel on assignment.
In addition, reporting comes off the back of a gruelling schedule, which can take its toll on your mind and body.
But it’s the joy of telling great stories and opening the world’s eyes to the issues of humanity that feeds the soul. For that reason we keep on doing it.
How do you handle everything on your plate?
I’m a woman – multitasking is in my DNA.
My tablet is the most essential tool – it gives me a system to order and structure my day.
I must acknowledge the other people in my life, who make it easier for me to cope.
On Africa Business Report I work with a dynamic team of producers, who are astute business and media minds.
We share responsibilities and build on each other’s strengths. That helps when my life demands me to be elsewhere.
Nonetheless, being able to call a girlfriend and vent is a wonderful way to decompress and realign when I feel overwhelmed.
Also, a bit of pampering at the spa helps too.
At home I have help with chores and that alleviates a lot of pressure domestically.
I don’t have children as yet. Who knows how I’ll manage under those circumstances.
However, my mother has proven that on the back of two jobs, one can still be a loving and supportive parent, whilst still breaking barriers in the community.
In the end, I’ll take my cue from her.
How do you feel about your new BBC World News job presenting Africa Business Report?
Tremendously excited and a little daunted.
I feel like I’m returning to a world I know well, which is Business News, having been a senior anchor at CNBC Africa prior.
Plus the timing is perfect. Africa is on a growth path, where there are more investments, trade and innovation.
There is a rising middle class and young entrepreneurs are doing inspirational things. These are the people who characterise the new Africa.
It’s important for the world to see this aspect of the continent, so that there is a greater appreciation of Africa’s positive contribution to humanity.
What is daunting about the new show is that “Africa is not a country” and our team needs to encapsulate the stories coming out of 54 nations. That requires regular travel and deep insights.
We will have to be flexible, research a lot and live out of a suitcase.
The good thing is that the BBC has correspondents across Africa and many of my colleagues on the ground will make invaluable contributions.
A long way
When I began my journalism career 13 years ago it was only Africans who believed in the promise of Africa.
Today investors have realised that this continent has huge potential.
Interestingly the BBC was always ahead of the curve and made significant investments in its Africa broadcast network (especially BBC World Service Radio) over the decades.
In that spirit, BBC has now allocated a prime-time viewing slot to our sister programme Focus on Africa during the week and to Africa Business Report at the weekend.
In addition, each day we will make contributions on World Business Report, which will keep us apace with the movements of world markets.
In this way, we give credence to the fact that Africa is an integral part of world events. That realisation alone is a great milestone.
* Lerato Mbele is a journalist and broadcaster. Views expressed are her own.
- Fin24
What are the major challenges for women in the media?
In some ways it has become easier to pursue a career in the media in today’s world, because we live in the “information age”.
More importantly women like Christiane Amanpour, Dianne Sawyer and Ferial Haffajee have opened the doors for us and enabled female journalists to hone our craft without our credibility always being questioned.
However, journalism is a demanding career that often takes us away from our loved ones.
As a result some women feel they have had to sacrifice good relationships, motherhood and family functions in order to meet work deadlines or to travel on assignment.
In addition, reporting comes off the back of a gruelling schedule, which can take its toll on your mind and body.
But it’s the joy of telling great stories and opening the world’s eyes to the issues of humanity that feeds the soul. For that reason we keep on doing it.
How do you handle everything on your plate?
I’m a woman – multitasking is in my DNA.
My tablet is the most essential tool – it gives me a system to order and structure my day.
I must acknowledge the other people in my life, who make it easier for me to cope.
On Africa Business Report I work with a dynamic team of producers, who are astute business and media minds.
We share responsibilities and build on each other’s strengths. That helps when my life demands me to be elsewhere.
Nonetheless, being able to call a girlfriend and vent is a wonderful way to decompress and realign when I feel overwhelmed.
Also, a bit of pampering at the spa helps too.
At home I have help with chores and that alleviates a lot of pressure domestically.
I don’t have children as yet. Who knows how I’ll manage under those circumstances.
However, my mother has proven that on the back of two jobs, one can still be a loving and supportive parent, whilst still breaking barriers in the community.
In the end, I’ll take my cue from her.
How do you feel about your new BBC World News job presenting Africa Business Report?
Tremendously excited and a little daunted.
I feel like I’m returning to a world I know well, which is Business News, having been a senior anchor at CNBC Africa prior.
Plus the timing is perfect. Africa is on a growth path, where there are more investments, trade and innovation.
There is a rising middle class and young entrepreneurs are doing inspirational things. These are the people who characterise the new Africa.
It’s important for the world to see this aspect of the continent, so that there is a greater appreciation of Africa’s positive contribution to humanity.
What is daunting about the new show is that “Africa is not a country” and our team needs to encapsulate the stories coming out of 54 nations. That requires regular travel and deep insights.
We will have to be flexible, research a lot and live out of a suitcase.
The good thing is that the BBC has correspondents across Africa and many of my colleagues on the ground will make invaluable contributions.
A long way
When I began my journalism career 13 years ago it was only Africans who believed in the promise of Africa.
Today investors have realised that this continent has huge potential.
Interestingly the BBC was always ahead of the curve and made significant investments in its Africa broadcast network (especially BBC World Service Radio) over the decades.
In that spirit, BBC has now allocated a prime-time viewing slot to our sister programme Focus on Africa during the week and to Africa Business Report at the weekend.
In addition, each day we will make contributions on World Business Report, which will keep us apace with the movements of world markets.
In this way, we give credence to the fact that Africa is an integral part of world events. That realisation alone is a great milestone.
* Lerato Mbele is a journalist and broadcaster. Views expressed are her own.
- Fin24
