Prince Philip + Newzroom Afrika

From Our Own Correspondent

Friday 5pm phone call from Trisha Pillay-Singh, Newzroom Afrika Producer. “You’re going live in Pretoria 7.30pm UK time.” We’re ready to capture the mood of the British nation as it mourns the passing of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh. Afterwards, John Barber, who acts as a Deputy Lieutenant for the Lord Lieutenant and Her Majesty The Queen, will call, “His Royal Highness was always fun. Just like Her Majesty who has a wonderful wit!”

Bongiwe Zwane, Newzroom Afrika’s Managing Editor and Anchor, introduces, “London based Features Writer and Reporter Stuart Blakley joins us now with more reaction on the passing of Prince Philip. Good evening and thank you so much for your time Stuart and I know it’s during the day where you are – certainly this is a huge loss to the Royal Family…” The distinguished journalist Bongiwe is well known for commenting, “I’m God’s daughter before anything else. My King’s Queen.”

Newzroom Afrika is the African Continent’s premier 24 hour digital satellite television news channel. It is broadcast from Pretoria in South Africa across southern, east and west Africa. It is 100 percent black owned and 50 percent female owned. The Z in its name is of significance. It’s the initial of ‘Zenith’: this channel reaches the height of broadcasting and the breadth geographically.

Eight days later, Saturday 6.15am phone call from South Africa’s leading television Producer. “You’re going live in Pretoria 8.15am UK time.” We’re ready to capture the mood of the nation as it celebrates the life of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh even as things get grittier and questions tougher. Ayanda Nyathi, Newzroom Afrika Anchor, introduces, “Tributes are still pouring in all over the world following the passing of Prince Philip last week. Many have described the Duke of Edinburgh as a reliable man… others have remembered him as a complicated individual… Let’s bring in Stuart Blakley as a Features Writer and Reporter…” And so the newsreel moves onto the next story.