First, a successfully produced three-part series. Then, a One World Media Award nomination. Now, the award itself!
We couldn’t be more excited to announce that Radio Workshop’s I Will Not Grow Old Here won the Best Podcast and Radio Award at this year’s One World Media Awards ceremony. The three-part series explores youth unemployment in Alexandra township, Johannesburg. The One World Media Awards recognise the best media coverage of the global south: stories that break through stereotypes, change the narrative, and connect people across cultures.
“We worked together to honour the struggles and joys of people’s lives within Alexandra. We never imagined that the story of a young woman living in a part of the world that is not often spoken about would reach all the way out into the world and touch people. That’s the power of a story. And we are even prouder that it’s an African story!”
Lesedi Mogoatlhe, Editor of the podcast.
23-year-old Mary-Ann Nobele produced this story about the community she grew up in, and wanted to use the medium of audio storytelling to bring listeners into the lives of young people. She said: “This podcast series was born out of our youth radio project at community radio station Alex FM. For more than ten years, young people in Alex have been broadcasting about matters that affect them and their communities. We hope the success of I Will Not Grow Old Here draws attention to the ongoing challenge of unemployment that young people face in South Africa.”
We’d like to thank the Open Society Foundation for their support in producing this story and congratulate the Radio Workshop podcast team on their incredible work. Lesedi Mogoatlhe, Dhashen Moodley, Jo Jackson, Mike Rahfaldt, Rob Rosenthal, and of course, Mary-Ann Nobele – you’ve made us proud.
Thank you to the One World Media Awards and its voters for their recognition and we look forward to what this means for the future of podcasting in Africa.
Notes to Editors:
I Will Not Grow Old Here podcast team:
● Youth reporter: Mary-Ann Nobele
● Senior producer: Dhashen Moodley
● Managing producer: Jo Jackson
● Editors: Lesedi Mogoatlhe and Rob Rosenthal
● Audio engineer: Mike Rahfaldt
● Alex FM team in Johannesburg
About Radio Workshop
Radio Workshop trains youth across Africa to make radio and podcasts. They provide the tools and teach the skills. Youth bring them their creativity, local knowledge, and passion for tackling the issues that matter to them and their communities. They are the new generation of African journalists, thought leaders, storytellers, and activists.
In 2021, Radio Workshop launched its very own podcast, produced in collaboration with its youth reporters and radio station partners. The podcast tells intimate and layered stories about a broad range of youth experiences in Africa. Episodes of Radio Workshop are distributed across major digital platforms, connecting our youth reporters to international audiences. The podcast is also provided to our radio station partners as free-to-use content for broadcasts.
Listen to them on Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Stitcher
About One World Media
One World Media is a non-profit organisation founded over 30 years ago by a group of journalists who recognised that international reporting at that time was limited and often reinforced stereotypes. They set out to encourage and celebrate more and better quality reporting from the global south. Since then they have been working to support journalists and filmmakers globally to tell stories that inform and connect us all. Celebrating their 35th Anniversary in 2023, the One World Media Awards recognise the best media coverage of the global south. Stories that break through stereotypes, change the narrative and connect people across cultures.
