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20 years of pure success

Octavia Tsibes



Born and raised in Windhoek, Gerine Hoff attended Centaurus High School before she matriculated from Windhoek High School.

Her mother encouraged her to apply for a job at Republikein as a translator and typist, and regardless of not having experience in this field, she got the job.

“In the past 20 years, I have filled a number of positions in the newsroom, including moonlighting as an editorial secretary at one stage, before taking over the reins at Kollig, which is an arts and entertainment supplement for Republikein, and becoming supplement coordinator before I was promoted,” she said.

After completing her high school she took a gap year and while in England did a course in beauty therapy. “When I returned to Namibia and was working in the industry for a few years, I realised that a change would do me good,” Hoff said, who is the coordinating editor of Windhoek Express (WE).

Hoff was also fortunate to join a two-year mentorship programme called Women in News that was offered by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

In April 2017 she took over as coordinating editor of WE, which is one of Namibia Media Holdings' (NMH) community newspapers and is one of the youngest in the stable.

“WE celebrated its fourth year in September and like any toddler, sometimes it still has temper tantrums. In a nutshell, along with a journalist, we make sure to get feel-good stories out there,” she says.

In August this year WE become a Sunday newspaper. “It is the first Sunday paper to be published in Namibia in more than two decades; things have changed quite a bit,” Hoff says.

Over the 20 years, Hoff has moved through the many ranks in the editorial department, which she is proud of.

The project she is proud of the most is initiating and spearheading Republikein's Bridal Couple of the Year Competition.

“Twenty years ago I never would have thought I'd still be in the industry. In actual fact, I started looking for another job within three weeks after first starting here. But it wasn't long and the job, the excitement, my colleagues and news began to grow on me. “There is a saying in the industry that once there is printer's ink in your blood, you're addicted, and that is definitely the case with me.

“I love my job, which makes it easy to get up in the morning, to head to the office and complete a days' work. It's not moonlight and roses every day and we certainly have many heart-breaking stories that need to be covered too,” she says.

Hoff says besides being in the office and chasing deadlines, she loves reading and catching up on her favourite TV series. She has two young children, who at this stage rule the roost. “Maybe one day my husband and I will get our life back!” she adds.