The Witness has launched the second edition of its flagship Digital and Print Media Learnership Programme, designed to equip young South Africans with a comprehensive range of skills needed for today’s fast-paced, multimedia news environment.
Building on the success of the previous programme, this year’s learnership offers hands-on training across a broad spectrum of media areas.
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Structured to provide a blend of practical and theoretical learning, the programme covers critical areas including journalism basics, media ethics and law, digital content creation, social media strategy, marketing for media, data analytics, advertising and media revenue models.
By expanding into these varied domains, the learnership aims to prepare participants for a wide range of roles within the news media industry.
Duanna Maraj, digital manager for The Witness and Capital Newspapers, said she was delighted that the expanded programme would offer various entry points into the industry for the programme members who underwent a rigorous selection process.
“The Witness has always been dedicated to nurturing talent, but this year we’re taking it even further — we’re giving these young people a holistic programme that provides entry into the industry at the end of the programme,” said Maraj.
The programme delves into both print and digital content creation, where participants learn to produce engaging content and multimedia pieces.
Digital content creation is more than just adapting print stories online; it’s about creating rich, interactive content that captivates digital audiences.
To support data-driven decision-making, the data analytics module teaches learners how to interpret audience insights, engagement metrics, and performance data.
“Analytics is how we understand our audience’s interests and habits, and it helps us make smarter content choices,” Maraj explained.
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“By giving our learners exposure to analytics, we’re teaching them to adapt content to reader demands, helping them create stories that resonate.
“We’re here to invest in the future, to build a stronger, more innovative media workforce, and to empower young people to tell the stories that matter,” Maraj added.
