Harm versus storytelling

ABOUT WENDYL

Wendyl Martin is a freelance copywriter and content editor working for local and foreign clients. After many years at a Cape Town newspaper, he is enjoying writing about a wide-range of topics for UCT. In his spare time he enjoys karaoke, going to live music, cake and wine.

Minimising harm while doing the job of telling stories was a continual conundrum for me in newspaper publishing and while managing a news desk and a team of reporters.

Harm comes in different forms: there are the effects of information and published stories, there’s the safety and well-being of the workers you lead and there’s your own well-being and mental health.

I’m currently detoxing from almost 13 years of full-time media work; I’m freelancing while soaking up this pause and what feels like a crossroad.

The work was a ride that at times offered adventure, chasing, action scenes, sips of fine wine, stimulating art, camaraderie, solidarity, deep pondering about the meaning of existence, and eventually burnout.

In July 2021 I closed a 13-year chapter in newspapers, five of which were spent as News Editor managing a team of reporters Weekend Argus.

Months later, I have been reflecting on this time, particularly the last bits within the COVID-19 pandemic. I have been reflecting on the decisions I made – or was a part of – within the balance of harm, benefit and executed storytelling.

The team had daunting tasks ahead of them; armed with only their wits and an A4 permit titled ‘Permit to Perform Essential Service,’ they ventured out to gather stories, pictures and videos amid a backdrop of plummeting copy sales, diminished advertising and revenue, dystopian protocols, enforced movement control and, worst of all, pay cuts. It is challenging to motivate a team, let alone yourself, to work with these dynamics.

Yet media workers did it, with much bravery. Many are still at it. On the first day of the South African lockdown in March 2020 my former colleague Tracey Adams had her phone taken by a police officer while she was filming police apprehending a man in the Capricorn area. Testing positive or dying from Covid-19 in a time before vaccines

and antibodies were real threats. Rest in peace Lungile Tom of eNCA in Cape Town, Zanele Zulu of Independent Media in Durban and Solly Maphumulo of Sunday Independent in Joburg and, those I have not named. You are all remembered as being talented, caring and committed by your colleagues. You are story-soldiers who died in service. I am sorry… if only… it should not have happened.