BY TANDZILE DLAMINI
KWALUSENI – Mbongeni Ndlela, the Founder and Managing Director of Eswatini Positive News, issued a challenge to future media professionals during a guest lecture to Year 4 Journalism and Mass Communication students at the UNESWA Kwaluseni Campus on 9 December 2025.
Ndlela urged them to build their own opportunities and prepare for a fast-changing industry by embracing creativity, maintaining rigorous compliance, and mastering instant digital reporting to ensure they lead the way in online news dissemination.
Ndlela delivered a powerful lecture that left students inspired and re-energised about the media profession. He urged the soon-to-graduate class to think beyond the traditional newsroom and tap into the wide range of opportunities found in entrepreneurship, innovation and digital media.
He emphasised that young journalists must move with intention if they want to succeed. “Do not wait to be hired. Create something that the industry will notice,” he told the students.
Highlighting the importance of operating professionally, Ndlela stressed that business readiness is not optional in today’s media landscape. “Strict compliance is the key that opens doors,” he said. “If your venture is registered and compliant, you will get business. Without that, advertisers will not take you seriously.”
The founder also encouraged the students to embrace the shift toward fast-paced digital journalism, describing it as the biggest unexplored opportunity in Eswatini. He noted that while many traditional outlets wait until the next day to publish stories, the digital space rewards speed, accuracy and immediacy.
“The future of news is instant. Break the story now, not tomorrow,” Ndlela emphasised, calling on the students to sharpen their digital storytelling skills.
During the interactive session, students asked how Eswatini Positive News maintains balance despite its positive editorial focus. Ndlela responded by explaining that every story is handled with accuracy and fairness.
He referenced the recent hailstorm that affected several communities. “We covered the national response to the disaster. The story was positive, but all facts were included. Balance does not mean negativity, it means truth,” he clarified.
The lecture left a clear impression on the young journalists, many of whom expressed feeling challenged, motivated and better prepared to enter the media field with confidence.
