The Amazwi School of Media Arts’ Narrative Journalism and Fieldwork Studies program (2007) worked with rural Shangaan and Sotho women on the craft of reporting, ethnographic fieldwork, storytelling, narrative structure, writing basics, the literary toolbox, editing, and much more. The goal of this program was to not only train women as rural foot reporters for South African print media but also to assist in the preservation of (and increase media content documenting) South African cultures (past and present), rural social issues, and the voices of the voiceless.
Amazwi’s apprentice-style, academic experience includes the following coursework using both the newsroom and the field as the classroom:
This course will solidify the English Grammar and Language skills of each student. English Language, Grammar, and Editing Instructors evolve throughout the year of coursework from Language and Grammar Instructors into Editors of student work and Grammar Mentors.
This course is a blend of traditional reporting and the skills of an ethnographer and anthropologist. Students will explore basic techniques of reporting from organization and pre-fieldwork planning to full-blown immersion reporting and informal community-based research. Coursework will take place in the newsroom and during fieldwork practicums.
This course works with students in identifying the qualities of a good story and the basics of writing from word choice, sentence structure and paragraph structure (complimenting the work of their English Language, Grammar, and Editing Instructors) to story structure, literary tools, reporting results, and working with senses (complimenting the work of their Fieldwork & Reporting Instructors as well as their Narrative Toolbox Instructors). Writing Instructors will serve as guides for each student into the craft of storytelling and writing basics.
As often as possible, a set of special workshops focused in the field or in the newsroom were offered and instructed by Amazwi’s Founder and members of the organization’s Editorial Team. These varied throughout the year based on stories being covered at that time and student interests in freelancing, poetry, and narrative-elements.
Amazwi is always looking for writers and photographers to conduct specialty workshops on a volunteer basis. In 2007, notable workshops included Pulitzer journalist Thomas French (Workshop: Interviewing for Narrative) -and- author and editor Laura Wexler (Workshop: The Structure of Storytelling).
** If you are an editor, writer, or photographer, and you’re interested in working with SOMA graduates or Villager journalists on a week-long workshop, please contact Maggie Messitt: maggie@amazwi.org
Amazwi’s SOMA students worked closely with their instructors throughout the research, reporting, writing, and editing stages of their work. The writing of SOMA students (class of 2007) was published in a narrative-focused, regional newspaper called The Amazwi Villager, printed twice throughout the ten-month school term. In 2008, a team of five SOMA graduates and three international volunteers 1) transitioned this student publication into a monthly community newspaper for the Lowveld villages of Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge, Thulamahashe, The Oaks, and Hoedspruit; 2) an online publication updated weekly; and 3) launched an online edition of the newspaper, updated weekly.
Amazwi’s focus in 2008 and 2009 has shifted to the ongoing professional development of SOMA graduates (Class of 2007), and the further development of the Amazwi Villager, written specifically for and by the residents of Acornhoek and surrounding communities.
