Roelof Bezuidenhout
(He/Him)
London, South Africa
Covers:
Mostly travel, but also local cinema and opinion pieces
Doesn't Cover:
Mostly everything else.
Interview
How is social media changing news?
Social media hasn’t just changed news — it’s rewritten the rulebook.
It’s made everything faster, louder, messier, and far more democratic. Anyone with a phone can now break a story before a newsroom has even finished its morning coffee, which is both brilliant and terrifying. You get raw, real-time updates… but also half-baked opinions, and rumours/fake news dressed up as facts.
The upside? More voices. More perspectives. More accountability.
The downside? You need a filter — preferably a good one — because not every “BREAKING!” headline deserves your attention.
Short version: social media turned news into a global group chat. Great for access. Terrible for accuracy. Use with caution.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Michael Crichton
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
Yes - I was the sub-editor and a journalist
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
An article for the South African men's magazine Manwees (no longer in print) on organ donation.
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Find your own tone.
If you’re naturally funny, lean into it. If you’re naturally dark, go there. If you’re brutally honest, embrace it. Don’t dilute your voice.
Live a life worth writing about.
Travel, fail, get lost, talk to strangers, embarrass yourself — that’s where stories come from.
Tell the truth — especially the uncomfortable kind.
Authenticity beats perfection every time.
What's your favorite drink?
Red wine
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
I mostly read autobiographies.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.