Adriaan Basson
When I was Editor-in-Chief of Die Matie in 2002, the biggest talking points on campus were language policy, initiation (“ontgroening”) and transformation.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. 24 years later, it seems to me that language, residence culture, and transformation issues still dominate a large part of the university’s agenda.
It is also clear to me that much has changed since I left the crummy office of Die Matie on the top floor of the Neelsie, which effectively became my home.
Stellenbosch University (SU) in 2026 is a much more worldly, connected, advanced, and technologically driven institution than it was two decades ago.
This meant that Die Matie also had to change. As printed newspapers died globally, Die Matie also moved online – a good thing. Today, we are no longer talking about online-only; video and artificial intelligence (AI) will soon be the media through which people consume news.
So, what advice would I provide to Die Matie’s main editorial team for 2026/2027?
Firstly, take risks. Do not be safe. Be loud and stir the pot. Boring is bad. If nobody talks about you, you are irrelevant. Lead the conversation on campus. Do not be followers. Plant ideas. Host debates. Challenge authority.
Secondly, cover the news of the day, as well as the power structures and politics beneath the surface. Who are the power brokers in Council? How important is the Convocation? Who are your sources in the Senate? You need to know these things to understand why decisions are being made. Do not fear confronting the administration and asking the hard questions.
Thirdly, AI will revolutionise our world, but original journalism is more important than ever. In an era where slop will dominate the internet, truth and facts are more valuable. Double down on becoming the one place where people must come to see what is really going on. This will require you to spend time in the field, speaking to real people about things that cannot be scraped.
Fourth, video, video, video. Video must become your primary storytelling format if it is not already. Text will not disappear, but audiences worldwide have made it clear that they prefer to watch the news on their phones. Use the incredible platforms available to you to create captivating videos and distribute them widely on the social media platforms that students prefer.
Lastly, keep reminding Stellenbosch that it is not an island but part of the larger South African higher education landscape, with a responsibility to the entire country and continent. This requires you to know what is going on in the sector, attend Parliamentary meetings, read the department’s annual report and connect with student media on other campuses.
Die Matie plays a pivotal role in preparing Stellenbosch students for life after campus. Do not be shy about challenging, provoking, and stimulating them to start thinking like responsible adults in an ever-changing world.
