News lives on

NEWSROOM DRAMA BACK WITH BITE

It’s been over a decade since The Bulletin became the top newsroom in South Africa. Back in 2005, the Anton Harber series became one of the top-rated telecasts on SABC3. The show survived for three seasons and explored the newsroom in a novel way. It showed how newspaper departments, advertisers and the people they report on coexist. The Bulletin is restored back to its former gutsy independent roots in the fourth season of the drama series Hard Copy. Originally created by then Mail & Guardian editor Harber, Market Theatre director

Even the small roles are populated by really great actors Tim Greene Director

Malcolm Purkey and filmmaker Jann Turner, the show is set in the newsroom of a struggling Independent newspaper.

Eight years down the line, crime reporter Benny Jacobs has taken over the editorship, wrenching the paper back to its fierce investigative roots after many years as a tabloid.

The cast of news staff surrounding him are all new and features a host of top acting talent, including names like Nokuthula Ledwaba (Umlilo, Rhythm City), Nicola Hanekom (Heartlines, Isidingo) Armand Aucamp (Sterlopers, Balade vir ’n Enkeling) and Masasa Mbangeni (Scandal, The Dying Screams of The Moon).

“The joy of reprising a beloved show such as Hard Copy is that people remember it so fondly, so it’s been really easy to attach top talent to the project,” says says writer and director Tim Greene. “Even the small roles are populated by really great actors.”

The show has been expanded into an hour-long format and tells multiple stories grappling with issues around journalism today.

Stories include a photographer who digitally alters a photo and comes to regret it; a sport journo who befriends a top athlete, only to discover he’s a doping cheat; a news editor who buries a story which involves a family member; and the battle for dominance between print and digital media. The show airs from October 3 at 9pm. – Citizen reporter