In this discussion, host Hasanain Abdullah sits down for a deep dive into the shifting tides of journalism, censorship, and storytelling. From the death of print to the rise of AI and the “attention economy,” we unpack what it truly takes to survive and thrive in today’s chaotic media landscape.
Rylands Fisher was the guest for the discussion, his bio includes:
Ryland Fisher is a veteran journalist, editor, author and community activist.
He has 45 years’ experience as journalist, editor, author and business executive.
He is the former editor of Cape Times. He has an omnichannel experience in the broadcast, online, the authoring of books as well as events.
As a columnist he has written for the Daily Maverick, M&G, Moneyweb.
For the past year, he has interviewing and profiling guests on his podcast, “Crossing the Line”.
The discussion touched on the following:
How has journalism changed over the last six years? The contraction of print, the closure of historic publications, and the explosion of citizen journalism. We also explore the vital role of community media in covering current affairs
We had a look back at publication, Grassroots, a voice for the voiceless during Apartheid that was banned and ultimately ceased existence. We contrast that state censorship with today’s platform censorship, where journalists are killed in Gaza, whistleblowers are silenced, and corporate giants Google & Meta control the narrative.
Despite poor business support, Grassroots was sustained by paid advertisers like Mukhtar Hiring Services, Allies Printing Press, and Elite Supermarket.
As an author himself who published “Making the Media Work for You and Race, among other titles he discusses the role of literary festivals like the Open Book and Cape Flats Book Festival in connecting the youth to history and “setting free the demons of the past.”
Fisher Moved from steering the historic Cape Times to hosting his own podcast, Crossing the Line, Hasanain reflected on what has been lost in the shift from print to digital audio—and what has been gained for South African storytelling. Featuring a nod to the channel’s most-watched video with David Afrika.
With audiences distracted by TikTok and disinformation, the point was raised on how credible journalism can compete? Fisher shared his insights around which included moderating high-level events and his role as founding chairperson of the Hanover Park Foundation which provides university bursaries.
