eNCA (DStv 403) anchor Joanne Joseph today showed what a true TV news anchor is, by resolutely demanding answers to her straight-forward questions and brazenly and brilliantly taking down pathetic PR trash, when an evasive government spokesperson repeatedly refused to answer Joanne Joseph what she asked.
The true TV anchor is not just a talking head reading a teleprompter.
In a textbook perfect how-to case for future TV news wannabe's, Joanne Joseph on Monday afternoon on eNCA brilliantly showed how the very best of TV anchors don't just repeat the words in front of them.
She showed how they can uphold and represent the public interest - especially as far as government spending is concerned - in asking the right questions, and then doggedly continue to persist that someone actually answer them with real answers.
On Monday afternoon Joanne Joseph interviewed the clearly out of his depth Lesiba Moses Kgwele, the spokesperson for the premier of the North West province.
The evasive Lesiba Moses Kgwele simply couldn't or wouldn't do what the job entails - which is to answer what the media asks.
Lesiba Moses Kgwele kept trying to cover and deflect over the issue of the North West premier who bought a new car for R1.3 million.
Joanne Joseph however was having none of it.
Expertly and deftly she started to eviscerate Lesiba Moses Kgwele live on the air - building an image for the viewer, and showing to the viewer through her questions and her persistence after not getting straight answers - how the government of the North West province, and by implication the North West premier and spokesperson have no defense, real answers or rebuttals for the crass car splurge.
Joanne Joseph deserves credit for resolutely asking Lesiba Moses Kgwele and again asking (and asking again!) the same question.
Because of time and other constraints, the majority of TV anchors in similar situations just give up, move on or usually just accept whatever a guest or spokesperson says on face value. They're satisfied with just getting the sound byte. But this isn't always real journalism.
In this case on the South African 24-hour TV news channel today, and in this brilliant example, Joanne Joseph stuck to her guns and it made the ordinary instantly extraordinary, great television, and real news.
In doing what TV news anchors don't do often enough, Joanne Joseph became a true representative of the voiceless - the millions of viewers who can't ask the questions, but who depend on someone like a journalist, reporter or TV anchor to try and ask the right questions on their behalf.
Even more than that, the TV viewer depend on them to actually also try and insist on a real and proper answer from the elected officials, people in power positions, and those PR people speaking on their behalf. Sadly, too often they get away with saying nothing, or saying irrelevant things.
Joanne Joseph properly kept pressing Lesiba Moses Kgele for answers.
Joanne Joseph was quickly (and remember this is a live television situation which is always extremely unpredictable) able to not only rephrase her questions, but to add even more perspective - to give the viewer simultaneously more insight and context as to why she is asking what she is asking, and why she is so insistent on wanting specific answers.
Joanne Joseph was also not scared to interrupt when Lesiba Moses Kgwele was clearly being evasive and give non-answer mumblings. Joanne Joseph knew time was running out for the segment and she wanted to get something real out of the person who speaks for the premier but who wasn't.
Lesiba, you are being evasive, so I'm going to put this question to you for the last time: I need to know what was the premier's reaction once she discovered that a car, costing R1.3 million, was acquired for her, within the context of the South Africa that we are speaking about where many people are living below the breadline," asked Joanne Joseph.
When the dumbstruck Lesiba Moses Kgwele again refused to answer her directly on her specific question and again went off with his own trash talking points, Joanne Joseph clearly had enough.
As the eNCA anchor - representing the viewer - she decided to cut the trash.
"We have explored that at length with you. Lesiba Moses Kgwele, spokesperson for North West premier," Joanne Joseph said as the ongoing, grovelling voice of the PR flack droned on non-sensically in the background.
The on-air takedown was complete. And perfect.
Watch it unfold:
