Mbali Nkosi Goes From ANN7 Anchor to All Access Mzansi Presenter

The now former ANN7 anchor, Mbali Nkosi, has this past week been announced as one of All Accesss Mzansi's new presenters.

Previously, Nkosi was seen 'anchoring' Weekend Prime on ANN7, along with additional slots here and there filling in for other anchors. She left her gig at ANN7 to pursue things more in line with the fame she was chasing when she entered Big Brother Mzansi, on Mzansi Magic, earlier this year where she made it all the way to the finsl, but finished third.

However, she must have made an impression with the team at Mzansi Magic as she will now be a co presenter of the third version of All Access Mzansi, along with Nomzamo Mbatha (of Isibaya fame) and Anga Makubalo.

All Access Mzansi started life as simply All Access, MNet's (DStv 101) attempt at prime time glamour news. At launch, it was seen exclusively seen on MNet and was based in what was an awesome studio at MNet in the same studio that now houses the massive Superspot set. However, the
2010 SAFTA Award winning show has seen many tweaks over the years, including dropping the studio and becoming more like Top Billing with presenting done from some fancy location, changing and dropping of presenters, and even changing channels from MNet to Mzansi Magic, adjusting to a format targeting what the channel called a "black urban audience" along with adding "Mzansi" to its name. The show has been cancelled before, twice, and is now back for a third time.

ANN7 Anchor Contestant on... Big Brother?!

I really cannot make stuff like this up.

While watching Big Brother Mzansi this past Friday (don't as why), I noticed a face and a name that was very familiar to me, as a news guy... Mbali Nkosi.

If you do not know who she is, here is a picture:

And this is the banner on her Big Brother profile:

Yes, ANN7's weekend prime time anchor is a contestant on Big Brother Mzansi. Her profile on the Big Brother website highlights her work on Rockville, Zabalaza and Idols, but openly ignores the fact that she has been the weekend anchor on what is a news channel, something viewers are supposed to take seriously, up until a few weeks ago when she left to, well, enter the controversial house.

She is not the first ANN7 anchor to appear on a reality show. Late night anchor Lauren Jenae is a contestant on BET's Top Actor as well, again, something that has nothing to do with journalism or news.

This is also in addition to ANN7's anchor search competition, all of which seem to indicate that ANN7 is actually making an effort to not be taken seriously, which is sad considering that there are quite a few serious reporters and anchors at the channel.

The acting business is a tough business and for these people who are clearly young actors, not anchors, to have this gig on a news channel that pays a somewhat stable wage is helpful when going through that initial struggle phase. But do you know what other people also have to go through a tough initial phase and can do with a anchoring job on a news channel other than young actors? Young journalists. Just saying.