Philani Nombembe
Journalist | Lecturer | Editor | Journalism Educator
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About
Journalist, editor and journalism lecturer with more than 20 years' experience in professional journalism, newsroom leadership and higher education. Spent more than 17 years at Sunday Times/TimesLIVE, progressing from reporter to acting bureau chief and acting national news editor, with responsibility for reporting, commissioning, editing, editorial planning and mentoring. Currently a lecturer in journalism and media Studies at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) since January 2024, teaching Business Reporting, Specialist News Writing, Editorial Management and Political Communication.
Teaching draws on professional newsroom practice and uses practical reporting, writing, editing, and sourcing and verification exercises. Professional work includes community media and audio projects, including Voice of Phillipi and Milnerton Multi-Media Connect, involving community radio, podcasting and youth media training. Currently completing a PhD in Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, researching journalism, political communication and media framing in South Africa.
Experience
Lecturer: Journalism and Media Studies - Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
(2024-01)
- Develop and teach coursework in Business Reporting, Specialist News Writing, Editorial Management and Political Communication.
- Teach reporting, interviewing, news judgement, writing, editing, sourcing and verification through practical, newsroom-oriented exercises.
- Develop assignments and newsroom simulations that require students to research, report, verify, write and edit stories.
- Set and mark assessments and provide feedback to students.
- Teach and assess through online and blended learning platforms.
- Mentor students in journalism practice, research and professional development.
- Founder and Editor of FID Pulse, a faculty news platform involving story development, commissioning, editing and publication.
- Developed Spotlight Podcast as a student/media initiative supporting practical storytelling, interviewing and digital audio production.
Lecturer / Teaching Facilitator – Honours Programme - Rhodes University – Sol Plaatje Institute for Media Leadership (SPI)
(2026-01)
- Teach on the Honours programme in the Sol Plaatje Institute for Media Leadership.
- Contribute to postgraduate teaching in journalism and media studies.
- Facilitate students' engagement with journalism practice, media leadership and contemporary media issues.
- Assess student work and provide academic feedback.
Reporter | Acting Bureau Chief | Acting National News Editor - Sunday Times / TimesLIVE
(2006-06 - 2023-10)
Progressed from reporting into editorial leadership in a major national newsroom.
- Participated in editorial planning, story allocation, commissioning, and editing and newsroom resource allocation.
- Commissioned and edited news reports and maintained standards of accuracy, verification, fairness and journalistic ethics.
- Managed competing deadlines and editorial priorities and co-ordinated reporters, photographers and editors during breaking-news coverage.
- Mentored reporters and contributed to newsroom development and quality control.
- Reported on politics, national and local government, business, courts, crime, education, health, municipal governance and accountability journalism.
- Maintained relationships with sources and institutions across government, business and civil society.
Journalist - Sunday World
(2024-01)
- Report and write news and enterprise stories on public affairs, politics and community issues.
- Develop stories through interviews, documentary research, public records and source development.
Co-founder and Facilitator - Voice of Phillipi
Co-founded a community radio and podcast initiative intended to give local residents and young people a platform to participate in media production.
- Managed the editorial process for radio and podcast content.
- Trained community members and youth in radio presenting, interviewing, audio editing and podcast production.
- Developed content addressing issues affecting underserved communities and encouraging public dialogue.
Facilitator - Milnerton Multi-Multimedia Connect
- Initiated and guided a community media project providing a platform for local voices and developing media literacy.
- Facilitated audio production and podcasting activities.
Community Media Facilitator - Community Radio / Audio Development
- Advised and assisted community initiatives seeking to establish sustainable community radio and podcasting projects, drawing on journalism and radio experience.
Education
PhD - Journalism and Media Studies - Rhodes University
Master's - Public Relations Management - Cape Peninsula University of Technology
BTech - Journalism - Cape Peninsula University of Technology
National Diploma - Journalism - Walter Sisulu University
