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UNESCO appoints Rhodes Professor

The School of Journalism and Media Studies Professor Guy Berger has been appointed as the new UNESCO Director of Freedom of Expression and Media Development. Prof Berger said he is excited, somewhat nervous, but also sad to be leaving Rhodes after spending more than 16 fruitful years at his alma mater. The Director of Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO is a job with a global remit, which will challenge Prof Berger to learn and think more widely than South Africa and Africa. He is expected to start in his new job in Paris in November, at a time when UNESCO will be holding its biennual inter-governmental conference. Prof Berger started working at Rhodes mid 1994 and he headed up the School of Journalism and Media Studies until this year. During that period he has overseen many of the school’s projects such as the New Media Lab, Highway Africa conference and the Sol Plaatje Media Leadership Institute. He also lectured and researched in new media, media policy, convergence and journalism education, and supervised 25 postgraduate theses.

Right2Know launch in Grahamstown

The Right2Know Campaign (R2K), a nation-wide coalition of people and organisations opposed to the Protection of Information Bill – also known as the Secrecy Bill – was launched in Grahamstown recently, with a list of keynote speakers, including veteran struggle activist and Grahamstown College of Divinity Rector, Dr Barney Pityana addressing the local community. Marking the launch, members of the organisation and various grassroots organisations including the Unemployed People's Movement (UPM), Students for Social Justice and the Rural People's Movement met at Raglan Road and marched to the Cathedral in Church Square, before a list of speakers, including Dr Pityana and members of various civil society organisations and academics, addressed the crowd. In his plea to "stop the rot" in South African politics, Dr Pityana, head of the College of the Transfiguration and former Vice-Chancellor at the University of South Africa (UNISA), encouraged South Africans to think critically about the implications of the Bill, if it is passed.

Five distinguished Old Rhodians honoured

Members of the Rhodes community who have enhanced the reputation of the University and served as role models in society were recently honoured at the annual Old Rhodian award ceremony, where three old Rhodians were awarded the Distinguished Old Rhodian Award. The 2011 three award recipients are Mr Connie Molusi, Mrs Judith Bishop and Mrs Margie Keeton. This year' event also saw the launch of the Emerging Old Rhodian Award, given to ex-Rhodians under the age of 40, who are already starting to make an impact in society. This year's Emerging Old Rhodian Award winners were Dr Garth Cambray and Mr Tembeka Ngcukaitobi. On receiving his award, Mr Molusi, who enrolled at Rhodes in 1985 to study a BA in Journalism and Politics and has since become a leading figure in South African media, holding the position of CEO of Johnnic Communications now Avusa, before joining Telkom Media as Chairperson of its Board, said it was "with the deepest humility that I stand here in front of you and accept this award".

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