When the road gets rough… follow through!

 

I drove through the boom gate at the Grahamstown military base at about 2km/h and waved nervously at the soldier lifting the boom.  Although he waved back and didn’t stop me, he also  didn’t return my toothy smile. “Right… where to now?” I asked myself as I steered the car left and parked outside what looked like an office for guests.  I asked the soldier that I found inside this office where I could find Mr. Flotman – the communications officer whom I had been in touch with regarding the research for my audio documentary on women in the military.  He hopped in the car with me to direct me, and I drove slowly to Royden’s office. I was relieved to find Mr Flotman smiling and very welcoming, happy and  willing to help me. Why had I been so nervous in the first place?

The first week with Mr. Flotman made me aware of a few things. One: For a journalist who wants to do stories that involve the military, there is clearly always masses of bureaucracy involved.  Royden, as I now called him, had to complete a large stack of paperwork ensuring that everybody knew I was there and what I was there for. Two:  Having someone at your side who can help you to jump through the necessary bureaucratic hoops is valuable, yet could also hinder it in some ways.  I discovered this soon enough when I started interviewing. Royden was present throughout, which had real advantages, but also posed some problems. It made me feel uncomfortable having someone watch the process, as there is the possibility that the women won’t open up to me the way I hope they might. Yet I was also grateful that he was there because everyone knows him and I get in places quicker and easier- especially as he has planned well for my arrival.  

Take, for example, my interview with Captain Windvogel, the head nurse at the base. I conducted only one interview with her. The first question that she asked Royden was: “Is she allowed to be here?” and I wiped my brow knowing that I didn’t have to deal with that. At the same time, I became conscious that I need to establish a careful balance in my relationship with Royden. On one hand, I need him to help me understand the proper protocol  regarding my interaction with these women I interview, so that I do not step out of the boundaries of my agreement that has allowed me to gain access to them.  On the other hand, I want the women to have a space in which they can open up to me, without feeling constrained by presence of another officer. 

I guess I need to build a network of trust with the people I work with for this project – and that includes both the women whom I need to interview, and Royden.  So I will dedicate my time to also building that network. I have never worked with such a large institution before and I can see that I will face challenges.  My ability to overcome them it depends on my relationship with Royden, and also with the women with the women who will be at the centre of my story.  

For now, Royden and I get on well.  He has even placed me on the “The SA army Infantry Formation Fittest Soldier” Competition guest list. The 6th- 10th of August will see me following this competition, which has women in its teams and tests/promotes healthy and fit soldiers. I am keen to talk to women taking part in the competition and finding out more about their stories in the military as a whole. Until next week…

Nadia

Throwing Forward (far, far forward!)

Does it ever make you nervous to think too far ahead? To think about all the things that could go wrong, the things that may succeed and the things that will need more planning? Just thinking about our community partnership and how it will end up, come June, makes me panic slightly. I’m panicking because the team of four radio students- BK, Mike, Steve and I- will dwindle to only me. I panic because the Upstarters might not know as much as I hope they will, and can we keep this group of six Upstarters interested in the project for the entire year? Panic as I may, there still is hope. That hope is in the success of this week. 

Wednesday arrived this week, as Wednesdays do and I found myself less stressed and dealing mainly with the smaller details required to kick the Upstart radio project into action. All my planning and delegating had finally paid off as BK took the reins and prepped for the workshop. She covered interviewing skills again and began looking into scripting for radio. 

The highlight of the workshop was when we grouped the Upstarters into threes and got them to interview Jeanne duToit (our fourth year radio lecturer) and Jude Mathurine (the fourth year new media lecturer). I was as nervous, if not terrified about how Jude and Jeanne would treat the ‘newbies’. Jude somewhat lived up to my expectations, making it quite difficult for Roche’, Anesipho and Ziphozihle while they tried to interview him. When I say difficult, I mean: he took FOREVER to settle down, went off course with the questions, analysed their questions a little too harshly and then gave a mini-lecture after the interview. I felt sorry for my Upstarters and wanted to get them out of there ASAP! But hey, I suppose they learnt something from that- life doesn’t have any rehearsals.  

•   Anelisa, Thobani and Sinovuyo place Jeanne duToit (fourth year lecturer) in the hotseat as they ask her questions detailing her youth.

• From left: Roche’, Anelisa, Sinovuyo, Thobani, Anesipho and Ziphozihle having a squizz through the latest edition of Upstart while waiting for the taxi home on Wednesday. 

Saturday’s show saw Roche’ and Thobani on the airwaves for the first time. Roche’ couldn’t even write his script he was so panicked! But the show went off well as our anchor Xoliswa was there this time and his interaction with the six was great! They read their re-written Upstart scripts on air and then after a break, we posed the question to them: “If you were Mayor for a day, what would you do/change?” We had answers ranging from Roche’ wanting skating parks, to Thobani wanting all Upstarters to get free Blackberries. Issues we could delve into in later shows? I’m sure we could work on it- or rather raise some interesting debate about some of these and more in-depth issues these Upstarters face. The four girls were very relaxed this time round.

• Roche's nerves getting the better of him- but a stellar performance from him in the end.

 As the Upstarters become more acquainted with the fourth year radio students, the anchors, studios, equipment and idea of the community partnership, I am getting the feeling that they are also starting to open up. With them becoming more comfortable with us and each other, the potential for interesting and solid show ideas/topics will start to flow. Currently we are driving the ‘show bicycle’, but by second term, I want to see us (Mike, Steve, BK and I) holding one handle bar and Sinovuyo, Thobani, Ziphozihle, Roche’, Anesipho and Anelisa holding the other bar. Come June, I want them to be holding the bars and breaks, while I help them steer the bike and apply brake pressure when needed. It is not a distant goal at all and that makes me panic even more! But one thing at a time- or in keeping with my bicycle analogies, one grip at a time. 

Once the Upstarters have taken over from the radio kids, I would like for the show to sound or at least contain elements of the Upstarters with a hint of the radio students. I see a jingle being produced with their voices running throughout and a few stings to identify the Upstart slot on the Yung Amplified show. I want the show to be an honest, fresh, and prepared segment that reflects these youngsters’ personalities. Last night (Saturday), my friends and I were chatting about Carlie and Sade’ from Yo-TV in our younger days. We all knew who these two presenters were as we watched the show religiously, entered all the competitions and played all the games daily. I want our Upstart show to be as interactive, and as familiar to the Grahamstown youth as that show was to me. It will take time, but it will happen! 

How will they be able to produce a show like this? I’m still working on that answer but I know that, they will at least have all the skills in place to record, edit, interview and produce content for a show of this type by June. The trying periods will be the vacation times- as they will have to run their hour slot without us there. That crash course will prepare them for what may or may not come and how to deal with it as a team. Let’s hope that experience is a good one- I’ll keep you posted in the meantime though. 

 Nadia

• The team in studio on Saturday and having some fun with ideas around "if they were mayor for the day".

• We set the Upstarters to blogging after the show about their week's experiences.