Radio Today interview

Drinking with Ghosts

Director of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism Michael Schmidt discusses themes from his forthcoming book, "Drinking with ghosts" - a look at SA's hidden war truths pre-1994, and at present foreign policy, defence and enforcement practices that echo our past...

http://paulgpereira.podomatic.com/entry/2014-08-12T04_25_44-07_00

Draft cover: the subtitle will change!

Book review: Hamilton Wende

"Michael Schmidt’s book is a fascinating exploration of the dark corners of South Africa’s past and its transition to democracy. It is also a testament to his career as a journalist. His dedicated and uncompromising quest to uncover the truth of what he finds shines through on every page. Schmidt’s revelations move from South Africa’s nuclear programme under apartheid to the problems of today’s deeply unequal society, tracing the threads of secrecy, privilege and the violence that are needed to maintain it. It is a book that illuminates both past and present and is an invaluable contribution to understanding what South Africa is today. It is also written with verve and passion and is an unputdownable read. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in South Africa and its changing role not only in the continent, but in the broader world." - Hamilton Wende, journalist and author of several books including True North: African Roads Less Travelled (2008)

Book review: Max du Preez

"Now this is real journalism. Informative, authoritative, properly contextualised, exceptionally well written. Schmidt is a great storyteller with a keen eye for detail. The best ‘reporter’s notebook’ I’ve ever read: an intelligent, engaging guided tour through the tumultuous last three decades of our region." - Max du Preez, founding editor of Vrye Weekblad, award-winning author of several books including Pale Native (2003)