Interview with an intern in the SABC Radio Archives: Akhona Quwe

SABC Radio Archives has acquired the intern services of Akhona Quwe, a qualified sound engineer.

The intern will be here for 8 months to acquire valuable skills, but also to help with the workflows at SABC Radio Archives.

Questions are asked to understand the type of skills that she has to offer, but also to get a better understanding of what she is doing at SABC Radio Archives.

Please tell us about your personal history as well as your studies. How did you become an intern here at SABC?

I grew up in family with quite a number of children; from my twin, to our brother and sister who are also twins. I was born and raised in Eastern Cape where I studied and passed my matric. Becoming an intern was quite a process to acquire in-depth knowledge about the operational workings at the SABC. I first become a learner in Port Elizabeth and after a period of internship, I was  recruited in the SABC Radio Archives.

What does your job entail here at SABC?

Ingestion of sound from backlog mini discs to Dalet, labeling of CDs and DVDs, recording on Wavelab , and editing on Dalet and Wavelab.

What have you learned already while you have been there?

How to ingest sound in the archives and how to label CDRs and DVDs. 

Tell us of any interesting anecdotes story with regards to your internship.

I am quite reserved but I do visit people to seek assistance when I get confused but as for any funny stories I have not experienced any yet.

What are you planning to do after this?

To get a job as an archivist and to further my studies.



Related posts:

- Intern in the SABC Radio Archives: Mbali Jzele - an interview 

- Interview with an intern at the SABC Radio Archives: NOKUTHULA MZELEMU

- SABC Radio Archives: interview with an intern – Thakani Ramufhufhi

- The value of internship in the SABC Radio Archives


Blog post & questions by Karen du Toit

The value of internship in the SABC Radio Archives

Obakeng Phiri, a sound engineer, completed his internship at the SABC Radio Archives on Friday.
He has been with the SABC Media Libraries for longer than a year!

He answers a question about the value of archives and what he has learnt while being here.

He makes a very worthwhile analogy of archives being "the keepers of our ancestors!"

Best of wishes to all our interns for their next endeavours!


Related posts:

Interview with the intern in the SABC Radio Archives: Obakeng Phiri

Saying goodbye to the intern at the SABC Radio Archives

Saying goodbye to the intern at the SABC Radio Archives

The interns that have been working in the SABC Media Libraries have completed their final day today.
It is with sadness that we have to say goodbye to the last of them, hoping that we would be seeing them here in our corridors in future!

Mbali Jezile comes with a technical background at school where she studied computer programming and web designing. She was also a general administrator at an Internet Café.
Part-time she did some acting at the Market Theatre.

She answered the question about what the experience meant to her working in the SABC Radio Archives, and what she learnt about the importance of archives.

Best of wishes to her for the future!


Related post:
Intern in the SABC Radio Archives - Mbali Jezile - an interview


Blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Wordless Wednesday - Intern with mini-disc recording

The Moshito 2011 experience

Moshito 2011: SABC Media Libraries exhibition
Patrick Jack from SABC Record Library

Moshito 2011, the yearly music conference and exhibition, took place 31 August to 2 September last week. The SABC Media Libraries and the SABC News Archives had an exhibition in Newtown as well.

Obakeng Phiri, the intern in the SABC Radio Archives, gives us some of his impressions:

Obakeng Phiri on the far right, explaining the SABC Media Libraries' exhibition

The conference was aimed at developing and stimulating the domestic music industry. 

The event featured over 30 sessions of panel discussions, information sessions and workshops. Music industry and related specialists from all over the world also took part in the conference.

I was asked to join my colleagues on Friday at the music conference to showcase the SABC Media Libraries, by telling people who we are and what we do.

We had two laptops set up for people who came to visit our area, which gave them a broader understanding on what the SABC Media Libraries is all about. We also had a DVD playing out for people who passed our stall, which mainly highlighted our cultural diversity, and on what makes them so unique - in terms of clothing, music and dances.

Wandile Goba of the SABC New Archives on the right

 On a personal note the conference gave me a broader understanding about SAMRO and on how it affects the SABC. They are interdependent. It is very critical for me due to the fact that I work with archive material.

Some more photos:

Nonhlanhla Mazibuko (SABC Record Library), Florence Moshatana (SABC Radio Archives),
Nokuthula Mzelemu (SABC Radio Archives)

Nokuthula Mzelemu (SABC Radio Archives)

Moshito 2011 was held at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown

Blog post by Obakeng Phiri and Karen du Toit, photos by Obakeng Phiri and Nokuthula Mzelemu, interns in the SABC Radio Archives.

Mediatech 2011 - travelling forward into the future



Obakeng Phiri
SABC Radio Archives

 The SABC Media Libraries attended Mediatech 2011 as part of SABC Technology Division. Obakeng Phiri, the intern in the SABC Radio Archives, gives us an overview of what he encountered.

Mediatech 2011 was a great experience! It was like going through a time machine, so we can see what the future holds.

I got a broader understanding on how digital radio works. Also on what neighboring countries are doing and how much spectrum is available. I got an understanding about DRM, DRM30 and DRM+ and of its features in SW, MW and AM. People listening to radio will be able to see the title and other information of a song that will be played on radio. It will allow listeners to use the info to research or download the song. The quality of the audio will also be better. 

What caught my attention was the Zenon Media all in one audio radio solution designed easy to use for radio stations from a single broadcaster until nationwide networks. This is a system that runs on different server technologies such as clustering, ISCSI SAN networks for high redundancy and with different databases. Database and applications are multi-language and can be translated in each language. It also supports all broadcast formats. It comes with all tools for music scheduling, audio editing, statistics and full redundancy, seamless local switch and a switch to backup studio in case of emergencies. It works like Dalet, but better.

Mediatech gave me the opportunity to sharpen my skills in broadcasting and update me on the latest technology.

Thank you SABC for making it happen!

Interview with an intern at the SABC Information Library: Agrineth Mashile

Agrineth Mashile
Intern: SABC Information Library

The SABC Information Library has acquired the services of two interns since March of this year.
The interns are here for a couple of months to acquire valuable skills, but also to help with the workflows in the SABC Information Library.

Agrineth Mashile is a qualified Librarian.

Questions addressed to the intern to understand the type of skills that they have to offer, but also get a better understanding of what they are doing now here in the SABC Information Library.

Agrineth, please tell us about your personal history as well as your studies. How did you become an intern here at the SABC?

My name is Agrineth Mashile. I was born and grew up in a small village in Limpopo province and started school at Moomane primary and continued to Ngale secondary till 2006. I went to the University of Limpopo (Turfloop campus) from 2007 till 2010 to study Information Studies and Communication studies. It was a four years degree.  Last year when I was busy with my research I got the internship advertisement from my lecturer and I applied immediately. I got a call from Thembi asking me to come to the interview. In January I got another call telling me that I went through and qualified for the internship.

What does your job entail here at the SABC?

Here at the Media Library (Information Library) we are two interns which means we have to rotate. I started by scanning SABC radio bulletins and special collections. I have to index them as well. After a month I started scanning daily newspapers. Now I work with books: circulation, accessioning, cataloguing and classification, shelving and assisting clients with the Internet and relocation of books. Next month I will be working with magazines.

What have you learned already while you have been here?

I’ve gained a lot of experience more especially with indexing. Surely I can take a post that needs an indexer. I have also acquired knowledge on how to handle people with different attitudes and expectations, while maintaining my professionalism.

What suggestions do you have for us with regards the collection of the Information Library?

I think the students from Sound Engineering should have some kind of library orientation because they are leaving the library in disarray everyday; misplacing and hiding of books. 
There must be some kind of security alarm installed when somebody goes out of the library with stolen books.

What are you planning to do after this?

 I enjoyed working here! It will be a privilege if maybe I can have a permanent job here, apart from the wish to work for big institutions like the National library of South Africa. I want to further my studies and do systems management or knowledge management.

Related post:
Interview with an intern at the SABC Information Library: Veronica Machate


Questions and blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Interview with an intern at the SABC Information Library: Veronica Machate

Veronica Machate
Intern: SABC Information Library

The SABC Information Library has acquired the services of two interns since March of this year.
The interns are here in the SABC Media Libraries for a couple of months to acquire valuable skills, but also to help with the workflows in the SABC Information Library.

Veronica Machate is a qualified Librarian.

Questions are asked to understand the type of skills that they have to offer, but also to get a better understanding of what they are doing here in the SABC Information Library.


Please tell us about your personal history as well as your studies. How did you become an intern here at SABC?

I was born and raised in Bushbuckridge in a place called Acornhoek. I started school in 1994 and matriculated 2006. I went to the university of Limpopo Turfloop campus in 2007 where I studied for a bachelor degree in information studies which I obtained in 2010 and I will be graduating on the 14th of this month. During my final year of my study I worked as a part-time student assistant in our university library and also worked as a computer laboratory assistant. I heard about this internship from our lecturer. I applied and fortunately I was called for an interview. In January I was called and told that I was appointed.

What does your job entail here at SABC?

My job differs according to the sections in the Information Library. They have a newspaper, magazine and book section. After every three months I have to rotate. During my first three months I have worked in the newspaper cutting section where my job entailed the scanning of daily newspapers, using a flatbed scanner, indexing SABC articles and also responding to requests. From May until July I will be working in the magazine section and in this section my job entails indexing and cataloguing magazines articles. Thereafter I will be rotating to the book section.

What have you learned already while you have been there?

I have mastered responding to requests, scanning of daily newspapers and more especially indexing of SABC and magazine articles.

Tell us of any interesting anecdotes story with regards to your internship

During my first month I was always hanging my access card on my neck even on the street where I live so that people could see that I’m working at the SABC.

What are you planning to do after this?

My plan is to get a job as librarian either in the SABC or any other sector and to further my studies in the field of Information Studies.


Related posts:

SABC Radio Archives: Interview with an intern - Thakhani Ramufhufhi
Interview with an intern at the SABC Radio Archives: Obakeng Phiri
Interview with an intern at the SABC Radio Archives: Nokuthula Mzelemu
Intern in the SABC Radio Archives: Mbali Jezile - an interview

Questions and blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Intern in the SABC Radio Archives: Mbali Jezile - an interview

Mbali Jezile
SABC Radio Archives

The SABC Radio Archives has acquired the services of four interns since March of this year. The interns are here for a couple of months to acquire valuable skills, but also to help with the workflows in the SABC Radio Archives.

Mbali Jezile, the intern, has a National Certificate Vocational in Information Technology.

Questions addressed to the intern to understand the type of skills that they have to offer, but also get a better understanding of what they are doing here in the SABC Radio Archives.

Please tell us about your personal history as well as your studies. How did you become an intern here at the SABC?

 I was born and raised in Soweto at Diepkloof. I am currently living In Orange Farm South of Johannesburg with my Grandparents and I’ am a sister of two. I have always been passionate working in the media related field. I’ve obtained a National Certificate vocational in IT. I heard about an internship in my previous college. I applied in God’s favour I was one of the successful candidate.

What does your job entail here at the SABC?

My job as an intern requires me to be given mini disks by an archivist for dubbing, setting audio levels and editing into DALET system. Up to now I have been dubbing for NEWS ACTUALITY and IKWEKWEZI FM audio materials which will be used for cataloging, and preserved for rebroadcasting.
I also print CDs and do air checks for RSG, SA FM and METRO FM and then file them in sequence at the backlog for permanent storage.

What have you learned already while you have been here?

Honestly I must say as an individual who has less knowledge in sound, I have learned so much.
I have learnt to operate in DALET; recording from a mini disk machine into DALET system; how to edit; set audio levels; listening and selecting relevant information and saving in a required format.
I have also learned how to print disks using solution canon menu software, and doing air checks.
I know how valuable those records are for the archivist.

What suggestions do you have for us with regards the preservation and digitization of our audio collections?

I think the server can be used for backup. The server can store information and backups are electronically transferred each day and can be access immediately when necessary. 

Please tell us of any interesting anecdote or funny story with regards your internship here at the SABC

I remember when I got a call from our mentor Thembi telling me I was one of the interns who made it through. I was excited up to the point that I even misunderstood the date, and I came the day before, only to find out I was supposed to come the following day. I was so *embarrassed*! Luckily I was not the only one who misheard the date but with one of the interns, who is now my colleague and friend (Nokuthula). We both had a great laugh about it.  

What are you planning to do after this?

I am hoping to acquire a great deal of knowledge and work experience and adopt skills provided and put in practices in any media or technology related company. I also want study web design in my part time.

Related posts:
Interview with an intern at the SABC Radio Archives: Nokuthula Mzelemu
SABC Radio Archives: interview with the intern - Thakani Ramufhufhi
Interview with an intern at the SABC Radio Archives: Obakeng Phiri

Questions and blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

SABC Radio Archives: interview with an intern – Thakani Ramufhufhi

Thakani Ramufhufhi
SABC Radio Archives

The SABC Media Libraries have acquired the services of a couple of interns. We have four interns in the SABC Radio Archives (as part of the SABC Media Libraries). They are busy us helping change our workflows for the digitization process, as well as acquiring some valuable skills along the way.

They answered a few questions as well:

Thakani, please tell us about your personal history as well as your studies. How did you come to be an intern here at the SABC?

Answer:  I was born in Thohoyandou a small town in Venda area in Limpopo Province. Growing up I was always interested in music so I came to Johannesburg in 2008 to study sound engineering which includes music production. I worked for a sound hiring company called Sound Stylists in 2009 and also worked for Univen Radio last year. A friend told me about SABC internships last year. I applied and fortunately I was amongst those who were chosen.

What does your job entail here at the SABC?

Answer: As Sound Archives Intern I record mostly SAFM audio material from mini discs into the Dalet system for cataloging. I help to print CDs for airchecks and also collect CDs from main control and does sound check on them to check if the programmes recorded correspond with the labeling on the CDs.

What have you learned already while you have been here?

Answer: Before I got here I had no idea on how sound archives operate but now I have an understanding on how things are being done in the archives. Preservation and digitization of the audio collections using the equipment we have. Basically I never worked with mini disc players before.

What suggestions do you have for us with regards the preservation and digitization of our audio collections?

Answer: Regarding digitization I feel that the methods being used are quite recent and good, but I think it would be better if we start saving our audio collections on big hard drives as we will sooner or later run out of room to store CDs.

Please tell us of any interesting anecdote or funny story with regards your internship here at the SABC

Answer: During the first two weeks of our internship we received lunch vouchers because we were still on training and we thought we were going to get free lunch for the whole 10 months period, and when we found out that that was not going to happen it broke our hearts.

What are you planning to do after this?

Answer: After completing my internship I hope to get a job in a broadcast or production company where I will still be working with audio because I’m really passionate about sound.

Questions and blog post by Karen du Toit, Afrikaans Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.

Related post:
Interview with an intern at the SABC Radio Archives: Obakeng Phiri