Conversation With Sumeya Gasa

Tell us about yourself

My name is Sumeya Gasa. I am a 25-year-old award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker and researcher based in Johannesburg. After graduating from the University of Witwatersrand, I went on to work as a multimedia journalist, first, with News24 and later joining Chronicle – the multimedia partner to the Daily Maverick.

During my time at Chronicle, I won the CNN Africa Journalist Award: Ecobank Economics category, Vodacom Journalist of the Year Regional Online Award and 3rd Prize at the Taco Kuiper Awards. I am also one of Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans 2018.

I am currently pursuing a Masters in Digital Arts at Wits. My research topic was informed by my experience of living in Cape Town and investigating gentrification and the impact it has on generations of displaced families.

My research is focused on technologically hybridising physical spaces to present audio-visual stories in an interactive and performative way while telling the story of the gentrification of Johannesburg. At present, I work at the Wits Justice Project as an investigative multimedia journalist. I also teach two courses at the Market Photo Workshop and video editing at the Wits School of Film and Television. In my spare time, I mentor a number of budding filmmakers and digital artists.

I am committed to advocating for social justice through creative work and research. I have had my work published in some of South Africa’s most influential publications including Daily Maverick, News24 and the Socio-Economics Rights Institute’s (SERI) Media. My academic work was featured in the second edition of Ellipses – an online academic journal focusing on creative research – the first of its kind in the world.

What do you like most about what you do?

I enjoy telling stories that matter and using my creativity to do so.

How did you start your career?

I studied film, television, psychology and arts management but I have worked as a multimedia investigative Journalist ever since I graduated. I knew I wanted to be a journalist since I was very little and everything just worked according to plan.

What are the challenges you have encountered working as a woman in media and how did you handle them?

The main challenge is that of safety when accessing spaces that are not woman-friendly. So I usually have to ask a male friend to accompany me when I report in new places

What is your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is to stop improving or stop growing. To reach a point where I feel I have plateaued.

Who do you admire the most in your field?

My former employer, Diana Neille. She taught me so much about journalism and about myself. The growth I underwent with her was remarkable and I am ever grateful for the experience.

What advice do you wish you had been given at the start of your career?

I’m actually glad I didn’t get any because I have learned things that no one could have told me as I walked a really unique path. I have made mistakes and learned from them and those experiences made me who I am today. And I am happy about that.

Hot chocolate or tea?

Tea

AWIM Festival 2019 will be in Kenya, shall we go to Nairobi or Mombasa?

Mombasa