Wits Journalism alumni

The Wits Journalism department has produced a number of successful journalists and members of the media. Some of our students have continued their studies at Columbia University, New York and others have taken up various influential positions all over the world.

Wits Journalism alumni are encouraged to stay in touch with the department and to make use of it to network and liaise with their colleagues in the media industry. If you spent some time at the Wits Journalism department, please let us know what you've been up to by sending an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Some of our proud alumni:

BATE FELIX - West and Central Africa corresponent for Reuters News Agency. 

1.       What are your best memories of Wits Journalism?

My best memories would be preparations towards the initial launch of Vuvuzela [the campus newspaper]. We were all excited to be part of the project. To be in a newsroom situation where we had to plan our news diary, write stories about our community and meet tight deadlines. I still remember one day when Prof Anton sat beside me, pushing me to hurry up and finish a story because we had to meet the deadline. Talk about deadline pressure.

2.       Tell us about your position now and how you got here?

I'm now a Dakar, Senegal-based West & Central Africa correspondent for Reuters news agency. I cover political, economic and financial news spanning about two dozen countries in the region. I began as an intern in Johannesburg after completing my degree at Wits Journalism. After the internship, I was selected to join the Reuters graduate trainee programme in London. After the programme, I was posted to Brussels as a European Union correspondent based in Brussels for over two years before moving to Dakar early in 2011.

3.       Any advice for future students of Wits Journalism?

Read. Read. Read. Insatiable curiosity, like someone said, makes the good reporter. Keep an open mind, try to learn as much as you can and be prepared to work very hard.