How Andisiwe Makinana navigates politics, power and industry obstacles

News24

9 hours ago

As the country commemorates Women's Month, News24 politics editor Andisiwe Makinana reflects on her journey as a woman in journalism.
As the news industry continues to evolve in an era of AI and disinformation, News24 politics editor Andisiwe Makinana believes that the core values and principles of media ethics will remain indispensable.
'I think the basics will always remain,' she shared.
Kitted with a rich understanding of journalistic values and a passion for informing the nation, senior journalists like Makinana, play a vital role in maintaining a well balanced and informed society.
Growing up, Makinana found her calling in the media space through a character on the beloved South African soap opera, Generations. Now, two to three decades later, the single mom and newsroom leader finds herself taking on her own version of 'Tsego Motene', the detective-like and quick-thinking journalist from the popular TV drama.
Doing it all for the past 23 years, Makinana has managed to work her way up to a managerial position, all while raising her now 13-year-old son.
'I am what you call a senior journalist, and I can own it because I've been doing this since 2002,' she shared. But, despite over two decades in the industry, her role at the helm of News24's politics desk, which she stepped into in November 2024, is her first managerial role.
The Mthatha-born writer grew up in a household that encouraged her to learn, read, and be inquisitive.
'I grew up in a family where my father bought the Daily Dispatch, so I've always been in the news. I've always read newspapers, even before I knew what a government was, or what it meant. I've always followed the news of CNN and so on – so, I've always had this interest," she explained.
I was very privileged because I really loved writing and reading, and that was also a benefit for me as my parents were teachers.
Andisiwe Makinana, News24 Politics Editor
As for her advice for those looking to carve a space for themselves, she re-emphasises the importance of rooting your work in those core foundational media values.
It's obviously important to go to journalism school – don't do the shortcuts. Those three to four years at a tertiary institution show you what you would be exposed to every day and get that practical experience as a journalist.
Andisiwe Makinana, News24 Politics Editor
But aside from the theory and practical side, journalism is an industry that requires tenacity and an unwavering passion for seeking out the truth. Makinana herself admits that because of her deep love for her craft and the purpose of uncovering the truth behind the political veil, she can't picture herself doing any other job – and she's been offered roles as a political spokesperson, which she's turned down, as it takes her away from that hunger for reporting.
Having grown through the industry to get to where she is today and navigated the space as a black South African woman, Makinana has overcome various obstacles – which she keeps in mind when it comes to her own leadership approach and style.
As her team has a large number of women, specifically black women, in it, she tries to guide and mentor them from the wisdom and lessons of her own experience in her career.
Being a black woman, a young black woman, in the industry and having traversed the same road as them, I sort of understand some of the obstacles of the media landscape in a patriarchal world.
Andisiwe Makinana, News24 Politics Editor
From dealing with inappropriate sexist and racist comments while out reporting to feeling unsupported by former mentors in her earlier roles, Makinana strives to keep an open-door policy within her own team – so that they feel heard and protected.
'I have an open-door policy, so if people are struggling with anything, they can come to me. I take lessons from my own experiences, I've learnt a lot from them and know how to handle such situations to better protect my team and guide them on how to react to different situations.'
To help keep trusted journalists protected and employed to inform the nation, Makinana believes subscribers play a pivotal role in maintaining a well-balanced society.
'Newsrooms need resources for journalists to do good journalism – and that's where subscribers come in,' she said.
Without resources, supported, sustainable and trusted news sources and newsrooms, media ethics would be lost and disinformation and fake news would be hard to discern, so subscribers play an important role in helping journalists in covering the stories that matter and uncovering the truths of our world.