Breaking barriers: Sammy Mncwabe’s Journalism Journey

2019 Journalism Diversity Fund recipient Sammy Mncwabe’s career is a testament to the twists, turns, and triumphs that define modern journalism. Broadcasting from the dramatic backdrop of Chamonix, Mont Blanc during the prestigious UTMB Week, Sammy details how the support of the Journalism Diversity Fund (JDF) aided her career journey.

CNN Expansion London 04/23 Sammy Mncwabe

Arriving in the UK back in 2008 as an experienced South African sports journalist, Sammy envisioned her path leading straight to new heights in media. However, unexpected challenges forced an unplanned detour prompting a pivot into marketing and the pharmaceutical sector, all while continuing freelance reporting and furthering academic qualifications.

Despite rich experience and advanced degrees, Sammy recognized a need for an industry-recognised qualification to reclaim a mainstream position in sports journalism. Self-funding prior studies left resources stretched, and it was at this crossroads that the JDF helped her achieve her qualification.

Guided to News Associates in Twickenham, Sammy dived into the NCTJ Diploma in multimedia journalism. The application process was daunting, a challenge not just in logistics but emotionally. Asking for help wasn’t easy for someone always independently earning, but Sammy found empathy and encouragement from the JDF panel as well as financial support.

Sammy Mncwabe and Christiane Amanpour at CNN.

The pandemic brought its own upheavals, shifting coursework and community online, but the JDF continued to offer resources, technology, and encouragement. This support allowed Sammy to focus fully on studies, ultimately graduating and launching a career that soon saw her in newsrooms such as CNN and at momentous events such as Sunderland’s Rugby World Cup opener to Chamonix’s UTMB Week as a freelancer.

Sammy’s experience proves how the JDF not only enables access through vital funding and mentoring but changes lives and careers, helping shape a more representative newsroom.

For candidates from diverse backgrounds, Sammy’s advice is clear: “Hold on tight to what makes you different. Authenticity is your superpower.” Journalism demands ambition and strategy; not every opportunity will align with your values, but taking bold steps can unlock new doors.

As the industry evolves from traditional staff roles to the creative freedom of freelance work, diverse voices and perspectives become ever more crucial. There’s space, Sammy reminds us, for stories of every kind.

A selection of digital articles by Sammy Mncwabe.

Sammy signs off with: “We need more journalists. We need more journalists of colour. We need more content from people of colour. So, stay the course, work hard and just fulfil your dreams. You deserve to be here in the space, you belong here. But most importantly, share your joy, thrive and be the best journalist that you can be […] we as diverse journalists are here and we are not going anywhere.”

Click here to find out more about the Journalism Diversity Fund.