Michael Appel leaves ANN7 for eNCA

For the first time since its inception, a major on-air talent has left ANN7 for another tv broadcaster, with Michael Appel leaving the organisation for eNCA.

Michael has been with ANN7 since inception and has really been one of the channel's cornerstones, playing a pivotal role in covering some of the major news stories over these last three years, including rolling coverage of the Oscar Pistorius trial. Coverage of that trial led to Appel being featured quite prominently in the highly buzzed about documentary based on the trial by the UK's ITV.


Michael has really been one of the on air reporters that have grown with their time at ANN7. Prior to being part of the channel, he worked at the channel's sister newspaper, The New Age.

Michael's loss will be a huge blow to ANN7. He, along with Keldon Ongmu have been the channel's two most reliable reporters and were the only constant at the channel given all the changes that they experience.

He now joins eNCA, who slowly seems to be hiring quite a few established journalists these days to reinforce an already strong lineup.

ANN7 runs a disclaimer onscreen whilst covering the Constitutional Court hearings today

"ANN7 wants to inform its viewers that due to the threats to the safety of its journalists the network will not directly cover to ConCourt proceedings and the EFF march today. ANN7 brings you the coverage of the ConCourt case through a third party video feed and expert opinion on our network."

Those were the words that scrolled across the screen today on ANN7 whenever the news channel broadcast coverage on the constitutional court hearings today.

It follows threats by EFF leader Julius Malema whereby he stated that he cannot guarentee the safety of ANN7 and The New Age staff that attend EFF gatherings.

What exactly the disclaimer means is up to interpretation though.

Whenever the channel showed visuals from inside the constitutional court, it showed a 'Courtesy: SABC' credit in the top corner. If this whole thing with the EFF had not happened, they would still carry the feed provided by the SABC, as other news channels do too, as it is just cost effective to do so and it would not make sense to have many cameras in a venue when one can do the job for everyone. That is why organisations like the SABC provide things like 'pool feeds.' The only difference is they would not have ran that strap on the screen nor would they have stated 'Courtesy: SABC.'

If ANN7 was editorially biased, I don't think they could have doctored the live visuals to cover certain individuals more favourably, so I don't know what they were covering their bases from.

Furthermore, the strap implies that the on air analysis would be proived by third party 'experts.'  However, as seen in the picture above, the only 'expert' providing analysis when this strap was running was Michael Appel. Though I think Michael is an exceptional reporter and analyst (he really is), he is still paid by ANN7 and thus is not 'third party' enough to calm the recent allegations made by the EFF.

The strap was just a waste. It was as over dramatic as ANN7's coverage of the whole situation. Though the story between ANN7 and the EFF warrants airtime, it is being unfairly fav
oured for on air coverage ahead of other news worthy stories simply because the people reporting the story are part of the story. That is one thing every journalist should avoid as far as possible. not embrace.

Chantal Rutter Dros Resigns From ANN7

Chantal Rutter Dros, the anchor of ANN7’s Prime bulletin, and face of the channel, is leaving the channel after just more than a year.

She anchors her last bulletin for the channel tonight, December 3^rd.

She joined the channel at inception and, along with Gerry Rantseli-Eldson, were the ‘faces’ of the channel that features mainly young, inexperienced on air talent. Gerry left after just a few months, and now Chantal is headed for the door as well.

The channel has constantly been going through major changes, and even greater problems, but one thing that has been constant was that when you tune in to ANN7 between 7pm and 9pm, Chantal would always be there providing a very high quality news bulletin.

This comes as a major blow to the channel that was just starting to find its groove and settle on a decent presentation. Though its on ait talents have been improving lately, no one at the channel is exactly good enough to be put in prime time. 

 Chantal also co-hosted the channel’s South African of the Year Awards earlier this year with Bonang Matheba, which was greatly praised by viewers.

Her departure is yet another in what has been a slew of departures from the channel’s more senior off air staff, who include Clintin Magoor, that worked mainly as an assignments editor for the channel.

She cites ‘personal reasons’ for leaving the channel and plans to take December off. When asked what her future plans are beyond that, she says she has yet to decide. 

She tendered her resignation around November 24th, around the same time Asanda Magaqa left the channel.

It is expected that her main fill in anchor, sports anchor Peter Stemmet, will be at the helm of ANN7 Prime until a permanent replacement is named. 

Some tweets on the departure:

Well it's my last Prime bulletin on @ann7tv tonight. Feeling quite emotional. Thank you to everyone for sharing this journey with me.
— Chantal Rutter Dros (@ChantalRutter) December 3, 2014

Michael Appel, who she did a lot of field reporting with, most notably the Oscar trial:

Goodbye to a mentor&colleague @ChantalRutter. "Tell me&I forget, teach me&I may remember, involve me&I learn" @ANN7tv pic.twitter.com/7IpfV7MnGd
— Michael Appel (@TheMikeAppel) December 3, 2014

An ANN7 parody account:

@TheMikeAppel @ChantalRutter @ANN7tv thanks for all the pep talks in the canteen! You'll be missed.
— 24/7 & all day (@ann7news) December 3, 2014

ANN7 Prime' s business news anchor, Tirrin Cosway:

Our last #ANN7Prime diary meeting with @ChantalRutter - @varupand @ThisLifeJhb @LaytonBeard @SnazoC & Pumeza all here for old times' sake.
— Tirrin Cosway (@Tirrin) December 3, 2014