I watched the launch last night with bated breath and felt proud of e.tv! They are slick, rehearsed and professional. Well done e.tv!!

After 21h00 last night, the sports broadcaster stated that the Royals were 103/3 in the IPL final when in fact they had already won an extremely thrilling final.

The idea of 24-hour news is for it to be up-to-date and relevant - not the same junk repeated over a few days like SkyNews.

I don’t know about you but jislaaik I’m now getting really gatvol of all the bad news. South Africa once again seems to be falling through its own poephol. I think I’m going to puke if I hear any more s#*t about Jacob Zuma, Zimbabwe, Crime, Eskom, the Oil Price, Inflation, Soaring Food Costs, Bafana Bafana or even friggin Paris Hilton. I’ve absolutely had it with all this negativity, doom and gloom! I’m really SAT of it all ek se!!! How about you?

I mean it’s not like I want to gooi the ostrich vibe and bury my head in the sand. This shit is real and it’s serious and it’s happening all over…but not to me….YET!!! Nevertheless I can’t help but read it, hear about it it, see the headlines, hear the rumours…EVERYWHERE. It’s like they are brainwashing me boet. And the worst part of it is that I feel totally and completely HELPLESS. Useless. Disempowered. Castrated (almost.) Frustrated (completely.) I keep getting this heavy ball of anxious dread filling my guts and it feels really KAK! And the worst part of it all is that I am a motivational speaker who needs to stay positive and optimistic.

To top it all off, winter is coming so I can’t even feel good about the lekker weather any more!

Peter de Villiers, our new Springbok Rugby Coach, was quoted in a Sunday Times interview published on 4th May as saying: “The local media thrive on negativity. They have nothing good to say about their country. If there is something bad about this country the local media will break a leg to be the first to write about it. They’re a bunch of negative people who live in a world of their own, and are merely there to earn a living and not make SA a better place.”

I agree completely with the ou. I’m think that most of our journalists, reporters and editors are uninspired, negative, disaster focused, sensation seeking, sad sorry scumbags. They find fault in everything and never propose any workable solutions. Many of the ordinary people of South Africa are busy doing wonderful little things every day, but none of it is newsworthy. Here’s the truth: There are roughly 6.6 billion people on planet earth. And according to the World Health Organization, some 56 million deaths occur per year, at the current global average. That works out to about 153 400 per day. That’s right – 153 400 deaths every 24 hours! So it’s not really hard work to find disasters, accidents, catastrophes, murders, muggings and general mayhem to fill the headlines. It’s actually pretty easy.

But during that same 24 hours, about 350 000 babies are born. That’s right, every 24 hours, around 350 000 beautiful, miraculous, perfect, pure, happy, untainted, precious little beings begin their journey on this planet. And what do journalists write about this? F%*k all that’s what! Unless of course a six month old baby is stabbed to death – then we never stop hearing about it!

Every day about 48 million of us get up, take a s*#t, clean our teeth (hopefully) and get on with our life. And many of us perform little acts of respect, compassion, kindness, service, giving, helping and creating. As Cath Jenkin wrote recently in her blog: “There is noise and joy and emotional honesty in the way we live. When we as a nation are happy, we celebrate. When we are sad, we are sad together. Does anything else really matter? At least we are together in the queue for petrol and/or torches.”

But for our media this is not newsworthy. It’s just life.

So I gave it all a lot of thought. Then I did some more real deep thinking. And guess what - buggerall happened! So I stopped thinking for a while, by learning to meditate. Then I stopped reading most of the newspapers. Then I stopped watching the news on TV and listening to the news in my car. And I stopped listening to people with negative chirps and bad energy. And I stopped focusing on what was going wrong in my life.

Then I started to meditate every morning, after doing some simple yoga stretches and synchronized breathing exercises. And I replaced my morning cup of coffee and cigarette with some herbal tea and a dagga joint. (OK – joking about the joint!) And I re- read the Power of Now and Conversations with God and a Short History of Nearly Everything. And I began to visit an awesome positive website called sagoodnews.co.za. And MAN did I start to feel better. MUCH BETTER. Then I started to watch every sunset possible, ride my bicycle, watch funny video’s on Youtube, work in my garden, walk on the beach – I fu&%#ng started living again BRU! From the inside out! And it finally hit me between the eyes, an epiphany:

You can’t change your thinking in order to improve your behaviour. You need to change your behaviour in order to improve your thinking. It’s taken me many years of searching and many many books, self development courses and personal growth experiences to come to this simple truth.

So if you, like me, are feeling anxious, concerned, depressed or gatvol, why not try changing your behaviour and DOING something differently, from today.

For example:

Greet every SAP policeman you meet with a friendly smile or handshake and thank them for protecting you and your loved ones. Boy do they need some motivation!
Visit www.sagoodnews.co.za. Often.
Read an inspiring book.
Write a poem.
Get into nature (or walk barefoot on your lawn!)
Write down everything you have to be grateful for. Every morning.
Play inspirational music, especially when the news comes on your radio.
Find some way to exercise your body a little more. (Endorphins are lekker!)
Try out one of the 100 available techniques of mediation or relaxation.
Watch the sunrise and/or sunset.
Create a morning ritual to make your day beautiful.
Find out and speak about the good news.
Choose to be happy.

And don’t allow the media to f%&k with your mind.

Most importantly, seek out and speak your own truth and live a whole life.

You deserve it.

And in doing so, you will change your life and make a massive difference to this special place we call home.

PS: To all the media people out there - I’m all for a free press. Really. I’m just sick and tired of your continued obsessive focus with everything negative. When are you going to realize that you are not merely reporting on what is happening – you are CAUSING some of it by your actions. Yes – YOU! You are helping to perpetuate a dangerous cycle of violence and destruction. I accept that bad news sells, but soon there will be nobody left here to buy it! Please cheer up and get a life or piss off and go find another job. Serious. I’ve had it with your sensationalism and scandal. Enough already. Start doing your job and working a little bit harder to creatively seek out and give some headline space to the good stuff going down in SA. Trust me, it’s there!

(Pheeew it feels good to have got that off my chest!!!)

I wish you an awesome day. Choose to make it that way!

Mark Berger.

Mark Berger Training
Tel: (021) 554 0787
Cell: 083 259 5250
www.markberger.co.za

Well done on your statement, it is true and has inspired me to try and do exactly that!

Quite a lengthy comment you got going there Mark. Truth is you're pissing in the wind...If eNews just did stories on saving kittens and kids walking granny over the street, their advertisers would leave them, people would immediately switch to Sky/CNN/Al Jazeera. We live in a real world, where clouds are clouds and not marshmallows and where people kill people for NOT having a cellphone. It doesn't mean they shouldn't focus on the good things like development but you can't expect people to look at life through rose tinted glasses. People want bad news, newsworthy news, its the nature of the human condition...

I agree that the negatives need to be kept alive. This is because the spin doctors in this country are working hard at building a scar tissue around the minds of South Africans. There will be more people killed in "peace time" South Africa today that in in war torn Iraq. 50 people a day are murdered here!!! Why is this unimportant and why is it being ignored. It is a international tragedy!!

South Africans are slowly being passified into a zombie like state where this scenario is being completey avoided and swept under the carpet. We cannot afford to ignore it by presenting some kind of fairy tale world of love and peace while the murder, rape and corruption continues!!!

Mark, there is no place for idealism in the news. The job of a journalist - first and foremost - is to report the truth. Unblemished and uncensored. Unfortunately the truth can sometimes be ugly, but that is the reality of the world we live in. Ignoring the problems won't make them go away. I will agree with you on one thing : do not focus exclusively on bad news (as appears to be the case) but let us know about the good stuff as well. Anyway...congrats eNews. This represents a great leap forward for our country. A free press is the hallmark of a liberal and freethinking society, and I am very excited to see what the future holds.

I must agree with the comment!! However I hope that this will be South African Channel for Africa, rather than a South African channel for South Africa.I would like to see E go into a deeper analysis on the current issue, by, for eg,exposing to the world,especially our fellow Africans, so that our people are in a better position to understand why most foreigners cannot return home. I'd like to see E educate SA, show them the sacrifices fellow AFRICANS made during the Apartheid years.. what's lacking in this country in EDUCATION.

OK so ETV has launched Well Done.
Beeeg problem!! The weather presenter is not South African.
Why are we not using local talent to present, instead etv pays some other person who is not South African to present to Us South Africans, this is ridiculous.
What a dissapointment not to see a South African Presenting The Weather

Yeah what's up with the American weather presenter, he can't even pronounce the names of places well. Not good enough e.tv
I'm sure there are many talented and experienced South African (note: both white and black) weather news professionals. This speaks volumes of the country's mentality towards EE and AA. Why appoint an American white male and you dare have the audacity to preach demographic representivity. It's sad that so many white males are at the bottom of the food chain in the employment line in the name of EE/AA, and yet companies are employing more and more white males from other European countries and of course the US. I know I know the arguments around skills development, the brain drain and how the task force of South Africa's workforce at times do not have the skills or expertise to perform certain jobs (minus presenting the weather), ESKOM and SAA being the most obvious embodiment of skills shortage and gross mismanagement of funds and gawd knows what else.Stop chasing away white South African males from jobs not because of merit but to meet AA/EE targets. Then we turn around and employ Herr Von Papen from Germany but we chased away my next door neighbour Mnr Olivier because hey, he benefited from the previous political dispensation. Regardless of whether he's only 26, a recent graduate and the only thing he has to do with previous dispensation if by reading through museum old books on Apartheid and racial segregation.
From a 26 year old black male, qualified honours cultures and not enjoying the benefits of AA/EE
PS: since we are all jumping on the black bandwagon, Indians and mixed raced citizens are not black, let's stop using the black card as our ticket to the gravy train. Earn your keep and retain your integrity, I've worked my way to where I am, never privileged, grew up in a township, and hey.. I'am not doing too badly, decent job and there is a Masters I look forward to next year.

Although I am very happy that South Africa has their own 24 hour news station, I am absolutely baffled as to why they would choose to spoil it with the american weatherman?!? I thought that the whole point of having our own channel is to stop forcing american crap down everyone in Africa's throats? I do have to commend ETV for making me laugh by making fun of his pronunciation of difficult SA town names in a promotional ad for the weather(?), which in itself looks like their scraping the barrel for newsworthy stories, but in a country such as ours, I'm sure they could have found a credible, knowledgible LOCAL meteorologist. Come on, white (and black, coloured etc.) South African men have it hard enough to find jobs as it is, why hire a foreigner? I do feel sorry for him, as his obvious attempt to be very thorough has left us bored half way through the weather, and makes me simply wish for the funny/eccentric story at the end of the news, which made ETV a firm favorite amongst many of my friends, even if they would not admit that it is their favorite bit too. Please, sort out the teething problems, and give us what you promised: a African News station, with a perspective that is relevant to South African viewers. I think that the station has huge potential and look forward to see where it goes in future.

The innovation is good and with the foundation laid and the rights vested to them by the freedom of press in our country, I am sure they will deliver as expected and possible conquer the best in the world.

Well done E you rock!

And I think the weather dude give's the station a nice international sound. And as soon as he gets his polokwane's sounding correct - there wont be any complaints :)

peace

i watch e.tv news 24/7 because what is entailed in that is quality, accuracy and soft. From e.tv news we are getting breaking news, soft news, and hard news.

I also like the selection they make about news, and also the intertainment from outside the country. That tells us that journalist of e.tv are the best, they go in the field to seek information in order to keep us viewers informed about what is happening in the world around us.

The other thing about e.tv is, e.tv IS THE BEST!!!

She's my role model people and the anchor of E-News...I'm proud of that women..Actually all South African Women who make things happen, not fearing to take chances, who's got Men Leadership style, motivators...I can say it all about them......

i'm one in the few men who truly appreciate women..... Keep on walking women.....This is your Destiny....If you're not doing it yourself, who will !!! Coz we men - We'r like Fashion and Weather...unpredictable.....Everchanging like cars

Go- E-TV...Go Debra.......

Great ETV love it!!!!!!!!

We live in a country & time where it's easier to slag someone off and point a finger at the many challenges we have. Sure we have challenges, we're an incredibly unique country & continent filled with diversity that makes us a rich continent, country & nation filled with opportunity and greatness. Let's support locally brewed energy & effort as they build themselves into global class victors. Well done Debra, Jeremy, Redi & the amazing team behind & in front of the scenes. U do us tremendously proud!

But i have to say though,the American weatherman is a bit of an undermining factor to our aspiring meteorologists.Frankly the whole American accent and all sucks.I get too much of that at work already and with wannabe fake friends.

There nothing that is irritating like the attitude of most South African, the negativity in this country is driving me up the wall. If they are not bashing the president for lack of leadership, they are killing each other.and then there's the 2010 issue, you will hear most saying oh its going to be a flop I mean come on now where is the positivity and support. How about take a stand and stop complain and start by being proactive in building up our country. Why Idolise international countries when you can by being proud of what and who you are... African

AFRICANS STOP BLAMING EACH OTHER FOR YOUR MISFORTUNES. LETS WORK TOGETHER AS ONE AND REMEMBER UBUNTU

The weather is very detailed and even includes smaller towns...its great!Well done ETV

How many times do they have to repeat a story? Surely they have a bit of extra footage to change it even slightly if they are going to show it AGAIN the next day.

Not enough news. There's SOOO much going on, why stick to so few stories?

Heard the 21 gun salutes and that there was a State visit. Watched eagerly through the day to see what it was all about. But there was nothing on eNews. Heard the next day I should have watched TV3 for it.

Love the weather guy. So tired of those over-dressed "poppies". Best part of the eNews.

Aljazeera News is still my best for well balanced world news AND they have so many South African reporters

I have watched their breakfast show Morning News Today and all they are doing is repeating stories over and over and over... If you have watched the first half hour of the programme you've watched the whole three hours. Typical of etv..they are famous for repeats. I don't know why the fuss was about.

Well said Mark, I try and do the same,foget all the news crap.Be positive, you'll feel the difference,
I'm a weather freak BUT A YANK on Our weather, come on

Lets not forget that this is a brand new concept to our shores.

To compare it to Sky and Al Jazeera is a little unfair, only days short of a fortnight of being on air.

Lets not forget how long those stations gave been around. They have an international infrastructure that they use very well to enhance thier bulletins.

With regards to repeating bulletins, while they need to pick up on the new stories within bulletins, any 24 hour news station will effectively repeat the same bulletin.
The trick is to put new angles, visuals etc in as often as possible and as they mature and more staff are put into place, this will come right.

Re-doing news stories, probably isn't as easy as it seems especially not having reached international status just yet, they wont have that infrastructure in place to get reporters from all over the world and thus provide on the spot updates and new angles everytime.

But surely you have noticed an increase in new material in the past few days? There have been live crossings to the Union Buildings, to various politicians around the country as well as to other parts of the country, covering any number of topics (I saw Vavi was in studio this morning)

This can only be put down to teething problems and the usual problems with being a virgin at this platform. Things wont fit or flow properly for a while but once they get the hang of it and are established, it will become easy and even pleasurable. (excuse the pun)

On screen thier presenters are trully faultless, from the seasoned vets like Mr Maggs, Redi and of course the likes of Deboarah, Tshepang, Macfarlane (nice jump from SABC), Uveka (same thing) and all the others, to the new faces of sport and news (many voices I know from radio), Tsepo and young Mr Edwards. They are the cream of South African talent and it is not possible that such a team, that is so established with that much experience could deliver anything less than a world class product.

Let them learn to crawl before they walk and inevitibly run.

Lets get behind this unique South African brand that is doing things differently by not waiting for a Sky News or Al Jazeera or CNN to come and set up shop here and do it thier way through just another bureau.

As with anything that the E-brand touches, its world class and is here to stay.

ican tell u SA rocks every where u go, we managed to be a first African country to award soccer world cup that will playing surely on 2010, so what can it stop us to tell the world the news about the global events we will host such as 2010 here in SA and beyond. thanx e tv.

Etv news is ok for following local news seeing that generally SA news doesn't feature in the world out there.
As for International breaking news, ETV news is very slow and often only brings big international events home 24hrs later. So if you want up to date international news, ETV is not the place to be tuning in.

it's about time as South Africans start getting the respect that we deserve from abroad.Etv is doing that at the moment.