Keeping Bush Radio On Air – Brenda, Adrian Shortlisted for #NatNakasaAwards

Brenda Leonard and Adrian Louw

By Emma Derr

A few weeks ago, Bush Radio Managing Director Brenda Leonard and Programme Integrator Adrian Louw were nominated for the esteemed Nat Nakasa Award – and it’s just been announced that they made the 2018 shortlist!

The award is named after South African journalist Nat Nakasa, and is given to individuals who show exceptional integrity and courage in their work.

Nakasa embodied fearless journalism at a time – the 1960s – when media was anything but free. During a period when black voices were rarely printed or heard in the news, Nakasa was one of the most important and influential anti-apartheid reporters.

Read more on Nat Nakasa

The award is awarded annually by the SA National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), Print Media SA and the Neiman Society.

SANEF says that those who are nominated must have “shown integrity and reported fearlessly and tenaciously striven to maintain a publication or other medium despite insurmountable obstacles”, as well as resisted censorship and displayed commitment to serving the South African people.
She began working at Bush Radio in 1993 and says that the biggest accomplishment of her career is ensuring that Bush Radio is on air and legal at all times.

Nat Nakasa was often called a brave journalist, and Leonard says South Africa still needs people like this, even in the post-apartheid era, because journalists can expose corruption and educate.

“Even when there were threats to our sustainability, Bush Radio is important historically and currently influential,” Leonard said.

She said that Bush Radio has shaped the establishment and legislation of the Media Development Diversity Agency, which was created by an Act of Parliament to help disadvantaged communities who lack access to media.

Louw says, while Brenda Leonard keeps the organization running, he is responsible for programming, staffing, and mentoring.

He says his favorite part of the job is creating a safe space for young people to develop and become courageous journalists.

“The experience people have here changes lives and that’s the joy of being a part of an organization like Bush Radio,” Louw said.

He said that through his career, he has witnessed Bush Radio at the forefront of developing and defending the community sector of radio in the country. He said he considers Bush Radio one of the last “truly independent voices for the community”.

Nat Nkasa

“I think we create hope in people about what’s possible,” Louw said. “We only rise when the lowest of us rise, and Bush Radio has and always will rise with the people we serve in the community. This is my small contribution to making South Africa better.”

The winner of the Nat Nakasa Award will be announced on Saturday, June 23 at Randlords in Braamfontein, Johannesburg*.

* Brenda and Adrian have asked a former Bush Radio staff member (now based in Johannesburg) to represent the station at the awards dinner.

Related:

BBC: Nat Nakasa reburial: South African writer’s remains return