Journalist * Researcher * Author * Consultant * Rapporteur * Media
Trainer * Free Press Activist
Johannesburg, South Africa

Michael Schmidt is a field reporter with 26 years' experience and a reputation for producing unique and challenging copy, having worked for 19 years on some of South Africa's leading print titles including The Mercury and Sunday Times. He was involved as a senior journalist with the start-ups of ThisDay, of what is now Independent on Saturday, and of Ogojiii.

 He was group special investigative writer for Independent Newspapers' seven weekend titles before WAN-IFRA Training offer of 28.02.2017 page 3 of 5 going into journalism training. He expanded his work across Africa, and into parts of Central and South America, the Middle East, Europe and the Antipodes, and developed an intense interest in conflict reporting in transitional societies.

 In 2008, he gained his NQF4 trainer qualification and went into journalism training. He ran training workshops and oversaw projects – some with multi-million-rand budgets – for a wide range of continental and international media, academic, and philanthropic clients.

Michael has worked across Africa, in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Australasia and has personally facilitated a wide variety of journalism courses.