2013 South African Visitors

Mr. Gerben van Niekerk
University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Gerben van Niekerk, 28, is the manager of the University of the Free State Student Media Lab. The Lab guides all formal student media activities including the radio station, newspaper and social media.

 From 2008 to 2010 he worked as anchor for the commercial radio station OFM. Thereafter, he was involved in launching and managing Southern Africa’s first health-based radio station.

 Gerben went back to his roots in 2011 when he rejoined the University of the Free State – this time managing the campus radio station, newspaper, website and new media. Currently, Gerben is busy completing his masters degree in media studies, as well as studying towards a degree in psychology specializing in media psychology. 

Ms. Keabetswe Magano
University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Keabetswe Magano, 20, is in her final year at the University of the Free State (UFS) in South Africa, where she is a student of media studies and journalism. She is the editor-in-chief of IRAWA Post, the official student newspaper at the UFS, and a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society.

 Since 2011, Magano volunteers for the student publication as a sports and news reporter.  Also, she covers student related issues such as student leadership.

 Her goals for the Alfred Friendly Midterm Seminar are to learn more about digital journalism and the journalistic values and ethics in the United States. She would like to improve her writing skills and deliver more accurate news: “As an aspiring reporter I would like to contribute towards building an accountable and responsible society in South Africa.” In the future, Magano plans to pursue her post-grad studies in journalism.

 Magano has a wide range of interests such as politics, sports, agriculture and education.