NovaNews is excited to announce a new content partnership that will bring dedicated coverage of Johannesburg directly to our readers.
As South Africa’s economic powerhouse faces mounting challenges, a bold new journalism initiative has emerged with a singular focus: putting Johannesburg under the spotlight it deserves. Our City News, a groundbreaking “pop-up, virtual, single-issue newsroom,” is revolutionising how we cover urban stories – and NovaNews is proud to bring their essential reporting to our readers.
Our City News represents an innovative approach to journalism – a dedicated newsroom with one clear mission: covering Johannesburg and all its residents. This isn’t just another news outlet – it’s a single-concept newsroom designed specifically for a city in decline, tackling both what’s going wrong and what’s going right in the economic heart of our nation.
The initiative recognises a fundamental truth: “An unhealthy Joburg is an unhealthy South Africa.” As the country’s financial and economic hub, Johannesburg’s wellbeing directly impacts every South African’s future. The challenges facing Joburg – from infrastructure decay to service delivery failures – mirror those confronting cities across the country.
Under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Sbu Ngalwa, Our City News is committed to holding city authorities accountable while amplifying the voices of ordinary Johannesburgers. “We are committed to producing the highest quality of interesting and challenging journalism,” Ngalwa explains. “We will be vigorous about facts and verification of our stories, and we will treat all our subjects fairly.”
The newsroom operates under the Press Council Code of Conduct, ensuring ethical, fair, and accurate reporting that serves the public interest.
You might wonder why a dedicated Johannesburg newsroom matters to readers across the country. The answer lies in the interconnected nature of South Africa’s urban challenges. The issues plaguing Joburg – from municipal mismanagement to infrastructure collapse – are the same problems affecting residents in every major city.
Our City News is an initiative of the Henry Nxumalo Foundation, an independent, non-profit enterprise committed to the highest standards of journalism, named after the pioneering South African journalist Henry “Mr. Drum” Nxumalo. This independence ensures that coverage remains free from commercial or political influence, focusing solely on serving the public interest.
Starting from this week, NovaNews will be featuring content from Our City News, bringing you in-depth investigations into Johannesburg’s most pressing challenges solutions-focused reporting highlighting what’s working in the city, community voices from across Joburg’s diverse neighborhoods, accountability journalism tracking city government performance and human interest stories that capture the spirit of Johannesburg’s residents.
