April marks the birthday month of the Tshwane Bulletin. It was during this month that the publication made its inaugural print appearance, amidst the somber news of the passing of our beloved “Mother of the Nation” and iconic figure of the struggle, Mama Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
The first print issue was dedicated to providing significant political updates and local content tailored for the reading pleasure of the community.
Our journey hasn’t been easy, but against all odds, we have managed to survive, especially amidst the decline in print media. Without any funding, we have relied solely on advertising to sustain the publication.
“I worked on designing the eight-page publication late into the night, choosing not to include any advertisements. Afterward, I began making phone calls to seek advertising opportunities,” shared Publishing Editor Tebogo Modiba.
“It was a challenging journey. I recall weeks spent proposing business ventures and reaching out to potential partners, only to find that the majority were either uninterested or lacked the necessary budget. Despite these setbacks, I persevered, never losing hope and refusing to give up.”
“That’s when I received a call from a client who was running a shoe campaign featuring a popular artist. They expressed interest in utilising our newspaper to target the residents of Tshwane.
“My excitement soared as I recognised that this was the turning point where we needed to deliver. Together with my partners, we diligently produced a high-quality publication that left the client delighted with the results of their investment.”
We initiated the recruitment of individuals within our community who were eager to gain experience in journalism and graphic design.
Our objective was to provide them with opportunities to develop skills in creative writing and news media, empowering them to pursue their interests and aspirations in these areas.
Our main focus lies in providing training for aspiring journalists and media practitioners. Over the years, we have successfully guided numerous students in their journeys.
Annually, we offer training opportunities to 12 learners from diverse tertiary institutions, enabling them to fulfill their internship requirements.
Through the establishment of Tshwane Bulletin, we have successfully launched additional publications including Capital Sport, a sports-focused publication, The City Star, a regional publication, and North West Bulletin in Rustenburg.
All of these entities operate as subsidiaries of Tshwane Bulletin and are incorporated into our monthly print supplements.
Since 2018, we have been dedicated to delivering news to the community of Tshwane through both print and digital platforms. Our ongoing mission is to ensure that the news we publish is accurate, impartial, and fair, serving the fundamental purpose of informing our readership responsibly.
We are proud to have nurtured exceptional talent within our publication, with some individuals moving on to work for government departments, while others have pursued independent publishing ventures, establishing their successful publications.
From restructuring company management to experiencing the loss of key team members, our journey has been far from easy. However, we remained resolute, determined not to allow political challenges to jeopardize the survival of our product.
We are also members of AIP, association for indepent publishers and also subscribed to Press council, Tshwane Bulletin proudly displays the “FAIR” stamp of the Press Council of South Africa, indicating our commitment to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Print and online media which prescribes that our reportage is truthful, accurate and fair.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our readers for their unwavering support of the publication. It truly is a community project, and your continued engagement is invaluable to us. We also express our appreciation to our advertisers for placing their trust in the Tshwane Bulletin Brand as their chosen platform for communicating and promoting their products and services.
Let us persevere in our mission to inspire and uplift the community, addressing social issues through the pages of the Tshwane Bulletin as a dedicated community newspaper. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our readers and the broader community we serve.
As we honour the memory of the late Mama Winnie, I would like to extend warm birthday wishes to the Tshwane Bulletin Newspaper. May the publication continue to serve as the unwavering voice of the voiceless, echoing their stories and advocating for their rights.
Thank you
Publishing Editor | Tebogo Modiba