Every photo tells a story, and the recent Top Billing photo shoot for new billboards for SABC3's weekly lifestyle magazine show is as noteworthy for who's not in it, as the six people who are.
Top Billing's photoshoot, with Tswelopele Productions and SABC3 constantly hyped up that the fact that "all of the Top Billing presenters are together" in one room.
"For the first time under one roof to have all the Top Billing presenters doing a photoshoot," said Basetsana Kumalo, chairperson of Tswelopele Productions.
The photoshoot included Janez Vermeiren, Jeannie D, Bonang Matheba, Lorna Maseko, Simba Mhere and Jonathan Boynton-Lee.
Where then does that leave longtime Top Billing presenters Jo-Ann Strauss and Ursula Stapelfeldt who were both conspicuously absent from the photoshoot which will be made into billboards to celebrate the show's 21st anniversary on South African television?
Well, I couldn't ask on the specific day since South Africa's press - specifically TV critics and writers who are writing and being read nationally but who are not based in Johannesburg were completely dissed by Tswelopele Productions and SABC3's marketing and publicity team who couldn't communicate and even just tell that the event would be happening. (And if you don't know, you can't plan or make a plan.)
When Top Billing says "with the press joining us" what it actually means and underlies is unequal access to a non-exclusive event - one which the production punts as a "milestone". It's actually just Johannesburg-centric press who were informed and invited to attended the photoshoot at the 54 on Bath hotel.
So why is Jo-Ann Strauss and Ursula Stapelfeldt excluded?
Jo-Ann Strauss has of course started her own primetime TV talk show on another South African channel, Glambition on Mondays on e.tv.
Jo-Ann Strauss who is off Top Billing could possibly return with Tswelopele saying "we will be regrouping to discuss Top Billing with Jo-Ann in July".
Last week I also made a media enquiry to Tswelopele and SABC3 about the situation regarding Ursula Stapelfeldt and which wasn't possible to do at the "milestone" event.
"We chose the six presenters for the billboard shoot who are most featured on the show, now and for the past six months," says Tswelopele. "We needed to give Ursula Stapelfeldt a chance to do Bar-One Manhunt. We do this from time to time in order to allow presenters to do different things that add flavour and variety to their careers and personal interest."
"Now that Ursula Stapelfeldt is no longer going to do Bar-One Manhunt, Top Billing will continue to use her services as the need arises," says Tswelopele Productions.
