MANDY PONDANI

1. Your brief description (Bio)

My full names are Mandy Ndawonga Pondani, my father is from Dedza and my mother from Chitipa. So I consider both districts as my home

• Date of birth

I was born on 19^th November, a bunch of years ago

• And other brief personal issues you feel the world needs to know about you.

My parents divorced few months after I was born. I basically have never seen my mother and dad together. .  I speak about five Malawian languages, I understand over seven local languages and I am very proud of it.

Mandy is a friendly person. I believe friendship is the best support system for every person. It surpasses family most of the times.

• A brief academic background of yourself

I completed MSCE at Likuni Girls Secondary School with 17 points. I always aspired to be a journalist and I applied for the program during the UNIMA entrance exams. While waiting for the results I enrolled with Skyway Business College where I obtained a diploma in Computer Engineering and Hardware Maintenance. Immediately after my diploma I was shortlisted to pursue a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism (BAJ) at the polytechnic. Which I completed in 2011. In 2014 I got a scholarship to do a Master Degree in International Communication in China which I completed in 2015.

• How is your normal working day like?

My normal working day is busy. Busy to me is normal. The regular routine is to listen to news bulletins from a number of radio stations before I leave for work. I also surf on the internet on what’s making headlines in our local newspapers and also what’s trending on social media. This prepares me on what kind of story ideas I should expect to be pitched by my team. I identify gaps or missing links in particular news beats for better follow-ups.

• For a lady, and holding such a powerful position, how does that mean to the girl child out there?

It simply means with hard work and passion everything is possible. Nothing should ever stop a girl child from excelling in life.

• You hold other equally busier positions, (Bureau Chief, Executive Member for Misa Malawi, and the GS for Nyika Press Club) so, how do you manage holding all these positions and still be effective?

Time management, which is resultant of the zeal and commitment to see myself succeed. Failure is not anywhere in my lexicon. So whatever the case I find time for each of the offices and I do everything to the best of my ability so that I firstly do not disappoint myself and also the people that I am serving.

• What does it take for one to pursue such a programme? (what are the academic requirements)

Before the academic requirements, Journalism is about passion. So firstly have the passion. Remember it is an art and not a science. Then one can start thinking of the good grades in Languages, History, Social Studies e’tal. Ironically one needs Mathematic as well, remember there is Business and Science reporting out here!

• What personal attributes would an aspiring journalist supposed to possess?

One has to be inquisitive, pursuit for knowledge, patience (remember it’s a virtue), above all as an up and coming scribe someone should have the sixth sense and should make use of it

1. Is journalism a rewarding career? How marketable is it?

The greatest gratification for me is to see the change that I desire come to reality because of the work I do. SO yes in that respect to me journalism remains a very rewarding job. Remember it’s about passion. It is marketable because every day somewhere there is something wrong that needs to be corrected and only the ‘pen’ can do that all other factors constant.

1. For a journalist to be effective, what role should their respective employer (assuming you’re employed) play?

It begins with you the employee. The first thing is embracing the right attitude towards work, because the employer is already giving you the platform to prove yourself. If anything coaching and mentorship are very crucial in any workplace.

1. What caliber of people are the direct clients or recipients of your services?

At my workplace Times Group we exist to serve the public. Regardless of their gender, religion, political affiliation or sexual orientation.

1. Assuming somebody aspires to follow your career path, what are the likely challenges?

The usual stereotypes that girls can hardly make it, and that female journalists have loose morals. All those are just myths. It is all about personal choices. So just rise up and challenge the world!

1. How relevant is the profession, or the programme you studied to the current needs of the country?

People need information every day. It is as simple as that. With correct information people are able to make informed choices and to hold duty bearers accountable. Because what our country needs the most is an informed population and leaders who are accountable to the electorate. I also did international Communication, looking at how much of donor support Malawi gets every year for her various projects it is self-explanatory as to why we need international relations and communication in the curriculum.

1. Apart from newsrooms, where-else can one, with your qualifications, work?

People with media background can fill a lot of spaces in Public Relations, Corporate Communication, advocacy work, marketing, teaching just to mention a few.

1. Advice to aspiring Malawian youths.

You are a leader in every right and start thinking now of what you can do for mother Malawi. Chase that dream the sky should be the only limit.

Thank you for sparing your time to respond to this questionnaire. When submitting, please also forward some of your recent photos to accompany the article.

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