Thomson Foundation

Sikonathi Mantshantsha: Why we must never forget where we came from

Published: July 27, 2010

Sikonathi Mantshantsh was inspired by the words of Baroness Dean during a visit to the House of Lords

By SIKONATHI MANTSHANTSHA

“When you become leaders, don’t forget where you came from,” said Baroness Brenda Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde.

Simple as it is, that’s quite a humbling leadership lesson. Especially so when it comes from a person of Baroness Dean’s stature.

Coming from Africa as I do, I have witnessed the plundering of resources for the benefit of the few. Too many ‘liberators’ have become oppressors; too many public servants have turned their back on their constituents. Those constituents may be sick patients queuing for service at a hospital or the electorate waiting for the benefits of ‘independence’ and ‘freedom’.

The need for journalists to start asking the real questions and keep authority in check is brought about by people forgetting where they came from.

The need for media intervention to raise the plight of sick people deprived is too often, in my view, because officials have forgotten where they came from. The need for journalists to start asking the real questions and challenge authority is greater than ever … because people forget where they came from.

It is only fitting, therefore, that aspiring leaders like myself and my colleagues at the Thomson Foundation had to be reminded early in their leadership quest by somebody like the Baroness to remember ‘where they came from’.

That the message was delivered in such a historic House as that of Lords makes it even more important and an essential leadership lesson for me.

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» Misha Hussain
» Mona Farah
» Manqoba Mchunu

Mona Farah: Meeting so many leaders is the best thing that can happen to a journalist

Published: July 27, 2010

Mona Chami, left, finds great value in listening to the experiences of media chiefs and course colleagues

By MONA FARAH

The first two weeks in Cardiff! Ooohhhh … how would I describe them?

Meeting so many leaders is the best thing that can happen to a journalist. People like ITV editor David Mannion and former Manchester Evening News editor Paul Horrocks make decisions while working under tremendous pressure. To learn how they made those decisions was a real education.

David also made me realise that you can be both a dynamic leader and human. The way he spoke of the seriousness of his responsibilities while talking about his job with a smile and joke enabled me to relate to him as an equal.

On a serious note, his comments about the death of his staffers in Basra made me think deeply about the role of the leader, as I was myself in Basra at the time. As David explained, they are the times when you must focus on what you can still change and control; look to the future and do you best. “I had to remember I still had people in Basra to lead and a job to do,” added David.

The way he spoke of the seriousness of his responsibilities while talking about his job with a smile and joke enabled me to relate to him as an equal.

That kind of advice, coming from somebody with such responsibilities, is priceless.

David is, of course, not the only person who has taught me new things about leadership. Listening to my colleagues speak about their work challenges makes me realise that my own situation is not unique. In a broader context, I have come to see that many of us share the same concerns over human rights.

So now in we go into the last two weeks of the course. I can only hope these will be at least as intense as the first two weeks.

After all … you only get one opportunity to train as a Future Leader with the Thomson Foundation!

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» Misha Hussain
» Sikonathi Mantshantsha
» Manqoba Mchunu

Misha Hussain: Can I take my skills to the next level – to be the front man of front men?

Published: July 27, 2010

Misha Hussain, at the rear of this group shot with Baroness Dean, a trustee of the Thomson Foundation, at the House of Lords

By MISHA HUSSAIN

‘To be the best, you need to know the best, and the TF future leaders programme is designed to put you in the know.’ So ran the slogan for the Thomson Foundation’s Future Leaders course.

It was a tall order, and a lot of room for disappointment … so how do I feel after two weeks on the course?

Meeting people from different parts of the world was also had a great impact on me. In the words of Peter Bazalgette, one of the course facilitators, creative networks need to “have many flowers, be talent friendly and multi-cultural”.

Well, having journalists from over seven different nations and three different continents has definitely been an eye-opening experience.

The course brings together broadcast and print journalists, and I realise there is a lot we can learn from each other if the future is going to be a together on an altogether different platform – online journalism.

From a journalistic perspective it was interesting to meet Paul Horrocks, former editor of the Manchester Evening News. I found his workshop on dealing with editorial crisis very interesting. By using real life examples of difficult editorial decisions that he had to make, Paul gave us the opportunity to consider how we would have reacted under time pressure.

During the first two weeks of the course I’ve had the opportunity to speak with and learn from journalists and leaders across the British media – and it has inspired me.

I realise there is a lot we can learn from each other if the future is going to be a together on an altogether different platform – online journalism.

It seems that certain skills are common to many of the leaders, like being able to communicate and gather the best people around you.

Interestingly enough, it was David Mannion, the ITV editor in chief, who said you must never be afraid to put the best people around you, even if they are better than you.

The course also allowed me to closely analyse my own leadership qualities. Having been the frontman in companies I have worked for over the last 10 years, this course was taking the challenge of leadership to the next level. That is to say, can I be the front man of the front men?

However, it isn’t all about networking and making contacts. I’m hoping that I walk away from this course with not only a set of very influential colleagues in the media world, but also a group of trusted friends who I can rely on for guidance and advice in the future.

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» Mona Farah
» Sikonathi Mantshantsh
» Manqoba Mchunu

Where are they now? The journalists who travelled with dedicated editor Wamanrao Deshmukh

Published: May 7, 2010

Lord Thomson and Wamanrao Deshmukh

This was a proud moment for Wamanrao Bhimrao Deshmukh.

The smiling Indian editor is pictured receiving a certificate from Lord Thomson, owner of a worldwide newspaper empire and founder of the Thomson Foundation, during a European study tour for international journalists in 1970.

Today the photograph is a treasured possession of his son, Dr Anil Deshmukh. Until the recent discovery of the picture, this career highlight had remained a family mystery. For shortly after returning from his European adventure, Wamanrao Deshmukh died, aged 42.

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Thomson Foundation helps launch new Nigerian daily newspaper

Published: December 9, 2009

With just three weeks to go before launch, Thomson Foundation consultant CHARLES McGHEE arrived in Abuja to support the birth of a new daily newspaper

Thomson assignments are challenging at the best of times, but when they are carried out at short notice against seemingly impossible deadlines they become even more ‘interesting’ into the bargain.

“You’ve got three weeks,” said Thomson Foundation Head of Training, Tim Rogers, “to help redesign a weekly newspaper in Nigeria and convert it into a national daily. Oh, and by the way, can you leave next weekend?”

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How Thomson trainers inspire journalists worldwide

Published: September 3, 2009

Thomson Foundation trainers and consultants have worked with thousands of media professionals and organizations around the world. Here four of them give a taste of their work.