Solidarity, Honesty and Structural Change needed for Women in Media

bongiwe53
3 hours ago
4 min read

Offering a candid reflection on leadership, exclusion, resilience and the urgent need for collective support systems for women in media, News24 Deputy Politics Editor Bongekile Macupe delivered a deeply personal keynote that moved beyond inspiration into testimony at the February fraymedia Foundation Rise & Shine Women in Media Breakfast Series.

Macupe opened by acknowledging both her excitement and vulnerability about speaking. “Being here is both exciting because I love being in the company of women… but it’s also scary and daunting,” she said, noting that keynote speakers are expected to “leave you with something to think about… or something that propels you to take action.”

From Comfort to Challenge

A journalist for 16 years, nine of them covering education, Macupe described how professional restlessness pushed her to step outside her beat. She volunteered for political stories while at City Press, eventually covering major national events and anchoring a podcast on the ANC conference.

When she was approached about applying for her current role at News24, she said her mindset was simple: “I thought why not… I’ve got nothing to lose.”

That decision would test her more than she anticipated.

Entering Power Under Scrutiny

Macupe spoke frankly about hostility she faced after her appointment as Deputy Politics Editor: “I was met with scepticism, ridicule… and outright disrespect from colleagues who believed that I didn’t deserve this position,” she said.

She described being mocked publicly by peers and questioned privately by friends, including one who implied her promotion came only through faith rather than merit.

Inside the newsroom, resistance continued. Some journalists challenged her authority, not as professional debate but as defiance. “It wasn’t that I’m debating because I really don’t think there’s a story — it was to say, you are not going to tell me,” she explained.

Even routine editorial meetings triggered anxiety. “My stomach would turn… because I knew I am going into this space where everything I do is monitored.”

The Gendered Reality of Leadership

Macupe stressed that her experience is not unique but structural.

“As a woman, especially black women, stepping into any position of power comes with an expectation of failure,” she said. “We are doubted before we even begin. Our competence is questioned. Our leadership is undermined. Our wins are minimised.”

She contrasted this with how men are often perceived: “Men… are assumed to be capable by default.”

She also pointed to double standards in media reactions to leadership appointments, noting that male appointments are celebrated while women’s credentials are interrogated.

The Cost of Silence

One of the keynote’s most striking themes was Macupe’s critique of “performance culture” among professional women.

“We are this generation that always wants to appear as if I’ve got it all together… and you know that you are not on top of things,” she said.

She warned that this façade harms younger women entering the profession, who assume success is effortless. In reality, she explained, the pressure can be crushing — particularly for women balancing leadership and caregiving responsibilities.

“I don’t have it all together… it’s difficult to be in these spaces,” she said, adding that even after years in her role, “it’s still so hard.”

Leadership Through Persistence

Despite resistance, Macupe described a turning point she cannot fully explain but recognises in hindsight. Over time, she led her team through major political events, sometimes serving as acting editor.

“The team is stable, is strong and looking back I am proud of how far I have come,” she said. “Proud that I didn’t crumble under the weight of doubt, proud that I proved to myself… that I could do this.”

A Call to Organise, Not Just Cope

Macupe’s central message was forward-looking: survival is not enough, structural support is essential.

“Why are we not organising?” she asked. “Why are we not creating safe spaces for each other… saying I am going to be your anchor, I am going to be your mentor?”

She urged women to move beyond silent endurance and instead build collective systems of care, mentorship and professional backing. She described envisioning networks where women could seek guidance, emotional support or professional advice when facing challenges.

Her message was stark but hopeful: “We are in war… but we will stay the course, we belong in these spaces.”

Macupe closed with a reminder that progress rarely arrives through comfort. Change comes when individuals choose solidarity over isolation and action over resignation.

“It’s hard, it’s exhausting,” she said. “But we are here to stay.”

Five Key Lessons from Bongekile Macupe’s Rise & Shine Keynote

1. Reject the myth of having it all together. Authenticity and vulnerability are essential for personal wellbeing and for mentoring the next generation.

2. Build intentional networks. Support structures should not be accidental; they must be organised, resourced and accessible.

3. Share knowledge across generations. Experienced professionals have a responsibility to guide younger entrants so they do not face the same trauma alone.