Briefly News editor receives INMA Elevate Scholarship, 2 more SA journalists on the list

Image: Lebogang Mashego/Supplied.

As part of the scholarship, supported by the Google News Initiative (GNI), the hard-news editor will receive sought-after training and mentorship to enhance her craft.

The young Johannesburg-based reporter says she is excited to have been selected and cannot wait to get started:

“I have been trying to find the words to express my feelings about being an INMA Elevate Scholarship recipient.

“The whole thing has been quite surreal. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I am grateful to be granted the chance to learn and grow professionally.”

Mashego cannot wait to learn from other journalists she will interact with as part of the programme:

“Being a member of the INMA programme is a great opportunity to network with other trained professionals and soak up as much knowledge from them as possible.

“It is also an opportunity to learn about global newsrooms, how to write impactful stories, better understand how the global media landscape works and how this knowledge can be applied in South Africa.

“I can’t wait to see how the knowledge and training I will get from INMA and GNI will help me grow as a journalist and a leader.”

The Briefly News current affairs editor reflects on media diversity

According to INMA, the third annual Elevate Scholarship programme focuses on diversity and inclusion and incorporates historically under-represented reporters within diverse media companies.

Mashego opens up about why she thinks inclusion is essential in South African media:

“The South African media landscape must be diverse and inclusive because we are a diverse country with different backgrounds, traditions, languages, and so on. There is no way around it.”

The seasoned media professional is a strong leader

Although she is relatively young, Mashego seamlessly heads up the current affairs team at Briefly News as its head of desk.

It is that same zeal and passion that led her to fight to be a reporter in the first place after discovering that studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) in Law was not her destiny:

“I've always wanted to be a writer, but I thought I needed to get a ‘real’ career before pursuing that dream.

“I [then] decided to study BCom Law but realised it was a miserable path for me. I could never see myself as a lawyer. I am passionate about writing and sharing stories.”

Mashego obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Rhodes University and is currently completing a course in digital marketing.

Before becoming part of the Briefly News family, the ambitious woman worked at Opera News and Women24, to name a few.

Rianette Cluley, the managing director of Briefly News expressed pride in the dedicated editor:

"We are so happy that Mashegois part of the INMA Elevate Scholarship."

Briefly News is South Africa's biggest news and entertainment platform which regularly keeps Mzansi up to date with current affairs, celebrity news and honest human stories.

Recently, Briefly News launched a Women of Wonder 2022 Awards to celebrate South African innovators, leaders and trailblazers. The project aims to inspire other women to succeed despite their challenges and to motivate them to go beyond their limits.