Author, political journalist and traveller, Qaanitah Hunter is best known for her work as the political news editor at News24 and for her non-fiction books, Balance of Power: Ramaphosa & the Future of South Africa and Eight Days in July: Inside the Zuma unrest that set South Africa alight. Hunter speaks to MatieMedia’s Micaleb Lawrence about her journey into political journalism.
Working as a political journalist comes with many difficulties and discrimiation, says Qaanitah Hunter, author and News24 political editor. Being given an opportunity to serve as a panellist and speak issues women face, is of utmost importance to Hunter. PHOTO: Supplied/Qaanitah Hunter
Qaanitah Hunter recalls her one and only career aspiration as a young girl. “I wanted to be a political journalist and that was it,” says Hunter.
For Hunter, going to university after high school was an afterthought. “Straight after matric, I started working at a community radio station as a news reader.”
Wanting to work in political journalism with no experience or university degree of any sort, was a far-fetched dream, she says. But her determination and persistence paid off.
A non-traditional teenager
As a child, listening to the radio during a significant time of change for politics in South Africa, her interest in pursuing a career in political journalism continued to grow.
Image 3 – Multimedia journalist at News24, Kayleen Morgan photographs Qaanitah Hunter. PHOTO: Supplied/Qaanitah Hunter
The most prominent news headlines during her pre-teens that fueled her interests in politics was “[..] the time of the Jacob Zuma rape allegations trial and even the Schabir Shaik trial”, she recalls. “I was glued to the newspapers every chance I got, because these events interested me so much.”
As a teenager Hunter had very little interest in pop culture. Her focus was on the latest political news. “My siblings would describe me as someone who does not keep quiet,” she says. All Hunter wanted to discuss and keep up with was the news, and her family became fully aware of this.
Dominating the newsroom
Hunter looks back on her first experience working in the field. Although it was chaotic, there was a sense of urgency to tell the story, and describing the events with accuracy. And that is what covering politics is about, she says.
“I remember my first story in the field. It was covering a protest where Julius Malema was,” Hunter tells MatieMedia.
The News24 team attended the Franschhoek Literary Festival in May this year, serving as panellists at the event. Pictured above from left to right is News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson, News24 books editor Shaun de Waal and News24’s political editor Qaanitah Hunter. PHOTO: Supplied/Qaanitah Hunter
Working as an editor at one of South Africa’s most prominent publications, News24, the persistence Hunter carries, and the guidance of a mentor she’s had since the age of 20, unintentionally forced her to keep using her superpower in the newsroom:
“Ask if you do not know, or if you want to know something […] Constructive criticism got me to start craving the feedback from my editors in the newsroom,” explains Hunter.
Working in political journalism comes with many difficulties and that includes discrimination – whether you want it or not, says Hunter. This is true for her working as a journalist in and outside of South Africa.
For Hunter, growing into her womanhood was factored into her stepping into the world of political journalism. Her femininity and modesty in her choice of wearing a hijab while being a political journalist, played a role. “The political journalism newsrooms when I started off were such male dominated spaces,” says Hunter.
An undiscovered world beyond the politics
Hunter spoke to MatieMedia shortly after stepping off a flight from Ethiopia. “One thing I find really frustrating is that dogs in other countries do not know the meaning of ‘voetsek’,” she says.
She has travelled to about 25 countries. “I go to the most unexpected travel destinations, but I don’t go there as a tourist […] If it is not work-related, it would be to do research or learn other cultures and their practices,” Hunter tells MatieMedia.
Travelling gives her a broad sense of how the world works. That has been the biggest gift for Hunter in her twenties, she says. Going to the state house in India, visiting the Iranian president’s palace and being in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, are some of Hunter’s most treasured travel destinations.
“At the Iranian president’s palace, I used a bathroom with a toilet seat that had a golden crust. How uniquely insane is that?” says Hunter.
– News24 political editor, Qaanitah Hunter, spoke to MatieMedia’s Micaleb Lawrence about her journey in politics and some of her fondest memories while travelling to over 20 countries. PHOTO: Supplied/Qaanitah Hunter
“For me, I think the most admirable thing about Qaanitah is how relentless she is,” Hasani Gori, a specialist reporter at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Hunter’s first flatmate, who speaks to MatieMedia via Whatsapp communication. “She does not believe in a no and getting to watch her grow from working in community news to being the editor she is today is such an impactful image to witness.”
Hunter continues to grow her skills. She is currently busy with a Masters in Journalism at the University of Witwaterstrand in Johannesburg.
Her advice to young journalists is to look at the work of the journalists that they admire. By learning how others write, you can start to find the way you will work as a journalist, she says.