City Pulse editor awarded Nieman Fellowship

Gail Smith

For the past 68 years, mid-career journalists around the world have been given an opportunity to study at Harvard for a year. Thus far more than 1 100 journalists from 77 countries have studied at Harvard as Nieman Fellows. This year Smith will join 27 American and international journalists.

"I am delighted and feel honoured by this nomination. I look forward to having time to reflect, read and capture ideas. As an inveterate student the prospect of spending a year at Harvard is a real bonus," she said.

She will engage in studies that will deepen her understanding of issues such as identity, race, class, gender, culture, poverty, popular culture, media, politics and power accross different disciplines.

A self-confessed feminist, she is currently writing a book titled Remembering History: A Feminist Excavation of the 50s which tells the stories of women who lived during that time. The interview committee said Smith was "passionate about her work and has the capacity to tackle a range of issues from poverty to history and popular culture. Her analytical mind challenges conventional wisdom with great effect."

Chairperson of the committee, Mathata Tsedu, said they had no doubt that Smith would be a worthy and great fellow who would represent the country well and contribute to South African journalism upon her return.

She is one of the four Africans in the programme. The other are Tangeni Amupadhi, editor of Insight Namibia, Malawian broadcast journalist Kondwani Munthali and Gambian Alagi Yorro Jallow, managing editor of the Independent Newspaper.

"We are pleased that three other Africans have been selected for this year's fellowship and wish all the fellows well.

"Their participation in this programme will definitely contribute to the development of journalists and journalism in Africa," said Tsedu.

Smith's fellowship is supported by the Nieman Society of Southern Africa. Previous recipients of the fellowship include Sanef chairperson Joe Thloloe, Tsedu, Rapport editor Tim du Plessis, Die Burger editor Henry Jeffreys and SABC's Kim Cloete whom Smith is replacing.