Less of Abramjee's petitions, more 'Metrorail Diaries'-style campaigns, please

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] There was an interesting debate buzzing on Twitter last week, sparked by Mail & Guardian editor Nic Dawes disagreeing with a campaign by Yusuf Abramjee, the redoubtable head of the National Press Club and head of news and current affairs at Primedia Broadcasting, to get journalists to sign a petition on the controversial Joburg e-tolls. 3 May 2012 12:02

Powerful journalism is easy peasy (and here's how to do it)

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] There something very interesting going on in the Eastern Cape: it won't win awards but it's a totally new kind of journalism for South Africa that has the potential to really make a difference for ordinary people and improve the running of our cities and towns. It also takes the wind out of the sails of those parts of the ANC and SACP that wish to curtail media freedom and acts as a bridge builder between the media and the authorities. 29 Sep 2010 09:19

Unprecented times call for unpredecented action

[Gill Moodie: @grubstreetSA] Do you remember how satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys suspended all satire of the government in the first year of Nelson Mandela's presidency? It was a remarkable move, borne of those first years of democracy that were so infused with optimism as Mandela's extraordinary leadership skills kept the country focused on what was good - and not bad - about South Africa and its future. 22 Sep 2010 11:00