Two former ZO journalists remain on top of their game
Sunday Times journalist Orrin Singh and News24 journalist Kyle Cowan were both nominated for national awards
TWO former Zululand Observer journalists shone at the Vodacom Journalism Awards, where they were commended for their remarkable work at national level.
Sunday Times journalist Orrin Singh and News24 journalist Kyle Cowan were both nominated for national awards.
Cowan, who began his career at the Newcastle Advertiser before joining the ZO, is a perfect example of hard work paying off.
The investigative journalist, who made a name for himself in the media industry being among the first to expose the corruption scandal at Bosasa, claimed the national Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award in the investigative category.
‘During the final days of high school I had to finally make a decision on where I wanted to end up.
‘My English teacher had at some point mentioned to me I should look into journalism.
‘My first job was with the Newcastle Advertiser in November, 2013 after sliding my CV under the door a few times.
Editor Reveshni Douglas gave me my shot there, and I quickly settled in. I immediately loved the job and knew from early on I would have to put in the extra hours to make my mark.’
About a year later Cowan, who also won another prestigious awards in journalism, the Taco Kuiper Award, began his tenure at the ZO where he learned the skills he still uses today.
‘I was exceptionally lucky that Dave Savides, Carl de Villiers, Ronelle Ramsamy and Mrs Regina Anthony gave me a vote of confidence and decided to hire an unproven, but hungry young reporter.
‘In my time at the ZO I covered everything from tragic accidents and violent crimes to breaking news stories that inspired me to become better. It was an invaluable training ground filled with inspiring people.
Cowan sees himself staying in the news business for a long time to come.
‘At News24 I work with a fantastic group of people, and my editors Pieter du Toit and Adriaan Basson recognise the need for professional investigative journalism in a very fast-paced news environment, which is an invaluable opportunity for any reporter.
‘Ultimately, I also hope to be able to one day open a small school or training centre where I can pass on skills to on-the-job community journalists.
Our community papers, such as the ZO, need journalists who can dig deeper, for longer, and uncover the truth for the benefit of readers.’
Singh and three of his colleagues were nominated among the top three in the multi-platform category for their coverage of the devastating floods that hit KZN in April.
Singh said he appreciated the recognition. He worked at the ZO for two years after leaving the SABC in pursuit of a different news environment.
His love for the community and passion for investigative journalism saw him thrive in the print industry, leading to his latest gig at the Sunday Times.
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