On the fifth of July 2022, the Patchworkers had the privilege of meeting John Pienaar, Drivetime Presenter at Times Radio. This was the week of several resignations within cabinet including Rishi Sunak and Savij Javid. With the epoch of a new British democracy commencing, Pienaar was brilliant at expressing the era of journalism from print to online media and how this relates to our current political climate. 

Personally, I am a political contributor (and now culture writer) at The London Financial. This role was somewhat of a surprise for my career development. I have found, however, that disseminating British policy changes have also allowed me to understand it better. Without this, I may have never found my way to the Patchwork Foundation, though when I started writing for the London Financial I often struggled with tone and appropriate handling of politically sensitive topics and interviews. John Pienaar spoke a lot on what it was to be a journalist with integrity and gave a few tips on how to retain a neutral tone, despite the rapidly changing etiquette of both journalism and British politics. The main advice I took away is to be aware of how we disseminate news mainly through personal blogging and social media. When I first started writing news, I always thought that I was giving valid arguments for both sides, but I’m afraid that I may have been affected by the juxtaposition method in current media. Viciously fighting both corners to arrive at a conclusion rather than giving space for the causes themselves. Pienaar was kind to reassure us that many new writers fall victim to this but gave very wise advice on how to balance and recover your set when needed. 

Furthermore, Pienaar’s team were kind enough to give us a tour of the office and subsequent recording studios. I think most Patchworkers agree that The Sun’s double decker photo booth bus was one of the highlights of the night. It was enlightening to have honest conversations about the lack of diversity in journalism alongside this. After receiving a photo of myself on the ‘front cover’ of The Sun from the photo booth, this was made even more stark. This was not just because it seemed like a clever marketing idea, but also because The Sun was one of the most popular tabloids in the estate I grew up in. The Sun has always seemed characteristic of the culture and a sentiment of childhood nostalgia for myself. So, to receive advice on how to break down the barriers of journalism was even more important, and something which I am very grateful for. 

The three steps into journalism Pienaar recommended were: 

1. Start or contribute to a blog and apply for work experience.
2. Work towards a NCTJ and (although only recommended with caution) submit opinion pieces to newspapers such as The Independent.
3. Apply to graduate / apprenticeship schemes and junior roles (some of which will include the NCTJ).

Wherever my fellow Patchworkers end up, I believe Pienaar’s masterclass will be remembered. This is because it grounded us back to the main values of the Patchwork Foundation itself. For example, Pienaar was certain that in order to be the best journalist you can be, you must be willing to talk to anyone, collaborate with anyone and sympathise with anyone’s story. This is because as a journalist you have to talk to those that don’t hold the same beliefs as you and reach a conclusion. This is similar to the Patchwork Foundation’s own value that you need to immerse yourself around everyone in order to humanise these figures and understand them better as people. This in some respects is the only way we can truly learn from one another. Although journalism is changing and the basis of our politics as well, Pienaar was strong in suggesting that we can return to this level of integrity.

Written by Amber Bereznyckyj, 2022 Patchwork Masterclass Programme Participant