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27 August 2019 | Story Moeketsi Mogotsi | Photo Johan Roux
SRC 2019
Katleho Lechoo, newly elected SRC President on the Bloemfontein Campus and Sonawible Dwaba, outgoing SRC President.


The University of the Free State’s Student Representative Council (SRC) elections took place on the Bloemfontein, Qwaqwa, and South campuses during August. 
The following candidates were successfully elected as 2019/2020 SRC members on our three respective campuses.

BLOEMFONTEIN CAMPUS SRC:
President:
Katleho Lechoo

Deputy President:
Agobakwe Mboweni

Secretary:
Nothabo Zungu

Treasurer:
Zandile Makalima

Policy and Transformation:
Kamohelo Thakheli

Student Development and First-Generation Students:
Thobeka Buti

Commuter Students:
Karabo Mtsweni

Associations Student Council:
Mandilakhe Magalakanqa

Student Organisations Council:
Dieketseng Motaung

Academic Student Council:
Lebofsa Malete

Day Residence Council:
Gert Terblanche

Campus Residence Council:
Tyrone Willard

Postgraduate Student Council:
Mahlomola Khasemene

International Student Council:
Simba Matem

Student Media and Dialogue Council:
Karabo Masike

Universal Access and Social Justice Council:
Micaula Jewell

Civic and Social Responsibility Council:
Nthato Musa

Arts and Culture Council:
Motshidisi Rasego

Sports Council:
Sphumelele Dube

QWAQWA CAMPUS SRC:
President:
Xolani Sandile Sibiya

Deputy President:
Thembinkosi Phenyane

Secretary General:
Nelisiwe Bridget Masango

Treasurer:
Ntandoyenkosi Khumalo

Policy and Transformation:
Bongiwe Nakile Khumalo

Student Development and First-Generation Students:
Thokozani Siphiwe Zuma

Commuter Students:
Thabiso Celimpilo Masuku

Media and Publicity:
Simphiwe Sinenhlanhla Dube

Associations and Religious Affairs Student Council: 
Sicelo Mathews Twala

Campus Residence Council: 
Thabo Abraham Motaung

Arts and Culture Council:
Andile Saviour Maseko

Academics Council:
Siyabonga Mpumelelo Mbambo

Sports Council: 
Tshepiso Fortune Tshabalala

Universal Access and Social Justice Council: 
Siphamandla Joseph Shabangu

Postgraduate Student Council:
Thato Karabo Moloi

International Student Council:
Mamokete Mokhatla

SOUTH CAMPUS SRC:
President: 
Phehellang Ralejoe

Deputy President:
Nokubonga Mangaliso

Secretary:
Mpumelelo Ndzube

Treasurer:
Sithembiso Khoza

Policy and Transformation:
Casles Phasha

Commuter Students:
Sthembele Kunene

News Archive

Photo manipulation in journalism: evil, crutch or lifebuoy?
2017-09-04

Description: Albe Grobbelaar Tags: Photo manipulation, Albe Grobbelaar, Albe, OJ Simpson, journalism, Department of Communication Science, Communication Science   

Albe Grobbelaar, veteran journalist and lecturer in the
Department of Communication Science at the UFS.
Photo: Rulanzen Martin


Since the 1800s the manipulation of photographs has been common practice, and who can forget the OJ Simpson Time magazine cover in 1994? Albe Grobbelaar, lecturer in the Department of Communication Science at the University of the Free State (UFS), asked in a special lecture on 18 August 2017 whether “Photo manipulation in Journalism” was an evil habit, a crutch or a lifebuoy.

“As a journalist I have always been interested in photography. And the principle of photo manipulation or tampering with photos, as we call it, is something that has interested me ever since,” Grobbelaar said. Photo manipulation is an area that has garnered many academic interest and is not a new trend but a practice that started in the 1830s when photos came into popular use. “It is not always done with ulterior motives, artists played with photographs to get unique effects.” Photo manipulation is not only to create fake news, but is sometimes used to convey novelty and create shock to news readers. 

Different viewpoints for different circumstances
He talked about the spectrum of viewpoints on photo manipulation. Some conservative journalism schools say photos should never be retouched while other feel it is fine to tamper with pictures. “What I tried to convey in the lecture was that one should consider different circumstances differently,” Grobbelaar said. As a journalist he believes that news photos should never be manipulated.

He mentioned the example of the mugshot of OJ Simpson that the Los Angeles Police Department released to the media. “Newsweek and Time both used the photo on their front pages, but Time deliberately darkened the picture so that OJ, a black man, would appear more sinister,” Grobbelaar said. It is, however, common practice in the fashion industry to retouch images that are used in fashion magazines. 

Use own judgment to validate photos
In the age of social media it has become easy to manipulate photos and which has been labelled fake news. “I would advise people to use their own judgment when validating the authenticity of photos,” Grobbelaar said. It is important to verify whether they are from a reliable news outlet.

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