Free, fair and fearless
Republikein bids farewell to fierce long-time journalist Francoise Steynberg
JEANETTE DIERGAARDT – After 20 years of being a print journalist, Francoise
Steynberg is ready to unpack new challenges as a radio news editor.
“Republikein will sorely miss her and wish her all the best and continued growth in our profession,” Dani Booysen, editor of Republikein, said.
“It was my whole life, my family”, Francoise says in her final days at the Afrikaans daily Republikein, where she has worked for the past 12 years under the helm of Namibia Media Holdings (NMH).
Francoise says one of the most powerful aspects of her job is that a journalist “really can make a difference by bringing attention to certain topics that would otherwise be ignored.”
Her passion for journalism and love for animals is the reason she became an environmental journalist.
Francoise was an editor at 22 at Brits Post where she started working with a team of women in 1993 after obtaining her BA Honnours degree in political science at the then PU for CHE in Potchefstroom South Africa.
For Francoise, the most exciting place to be is in a newsroom, where she has spent most of her weeks and weekends as an adult.
From being a small-town farm girl from Okahandja to travelling to more than 30 countries, Francoise is no stranger to the flavours of the world.
“My recipe for world peace would be for every young person to travel the world .”
She believes travelling broadens horizons and exposes people from different walks of life and traditions to each other, fostering a deeper and kinder understanding between people.
Careers thrills
One of the most thrilling and lifeconsuming experiences of her journalism career was working on a rhino poaching case where her Mandarin came in handy. She can also speak a little German and Otjiheroro.
“This case took over my life. I would postpone my holiday to Thailand just to be at the court case.”
The same court case resulted in death threats towards her from a Chinese rhino poacher. Writing about the case brought awareness to the cause of protecting rhinos and stronger sentences for wildlife crimes.
Francoise says she experiences freedom when writing and telling her stories. She remains fair in her writing and when faced with the difficulties that come with the territory of being a journalist, she is fearless.
“We will miss Francoise in the newsroom. It will be strange without her,” says Monique Adams from the My Zone publication at NMH.
“Republikein will sorely miss her and wish her all the best and continued growth in our profession,” Dani Booysen, editor of Republikein, said.
“It was my whole life, my family”, Francoise says in her final days at the Afrikaans daily Republikein, where she has worked for the past 12 years under the helm of Namibia Media Holdings (NMH).
Francoise says one of the most powerful aspects of her job is that a journalist “really can make a difference by bringing attention to certain topics that would otherwise be ignored.”
Her passion for journalism and love for animals is the reason she became an environmental journalist.
Francoise was an editor at 22 at Brits Post where she started working with a team of women in 1993 after obtaining her BA Honnours degree in political science at the then PU for CHE in Potchefstroom South Africa.
For Francoise, the most exciting place to be is in a newsroom, where she has spent most of her weeks and weekends as an adult.
From being a small-town farm girl from Okahandja to travelling to more than 30 countries, Francoise is no stranger to the flavours of the world.
“My recipe for world peace would be for every young person to travel the world .”
She believes travelling broadens horizons and exposes people from different walks of life and traditions to each other, fostering a deeper and kinder understanding between people.
Careers thrills
One of the most thrilling and lifeconsuming experiences of her journalism career was working on a rhino poaching case where her Mandarin came in handy. She can also speak a little German and Otjiheroro.
“This case took over my life. I would postpone my holiday to Thailand just to be at the court case.”
The same court case resulted in death threats towards her from a Chinese rhino poacher. Writing about the case brought awareness to the cause of protecting rhinos and stronger sentences for wildlife crimes.
Francoise says she experiences freedom when writing and telling her stories. She remains fair in her writing and when faced with the difficulties that come with the territory of being a journalist, she is fearless.
“We will miss Francoise in the newsroom. It will be strange without her,” says Monique Adams from the My Zone publication at NMH.
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