A generation of South Africans has woken up to Leanne Manas on their screens
What made you decide to embark on a career in broadcasting?
Leanne Manas: When I was younger, I was obsessed with music and used to present my own music show. I would go into my room and pretend I was presenting this music programme and I would cue up the music and get an audience – my friends or my parents – and I would get them to listen to me and I’d make up all these words in between. I always enjoyed it. I was clearly barking up the wrong tree thinking I was going to be in some form of entertainment or musical vibe, though. It turned out that I was suited for hard news and that’s where I landed. It was a journey to get there, to figure it out, having been declined for a lot of auditions. I’m grateful that I was declined for those roles. The moment when I realised that journalism and news were what I was actually passionate about, it didn’t take me long to work it out – a couple of moments in a newsroom and I wanted to take it as far as I could.
A lot of people don’t see that broadcasting is a career that is sustainable, and that you can get into long term. I realised right from the start that I wanted to grow with it and grow into it. I always used to look around at other broadcasters and see the ones who had been around forever, and still are. Take someone like Christiane Amanpour. She’s been doing what she’s been doing for decades and, for me, it’s inspiring. I look at her, and I have immense respect for her wealth of knowledge, for what she’s seen and what’s she’s done, and building a name, building a reputation, building credibility. This is a different industry to any other industry. When you turn on the news, you need to look at seasoned broadcasters; that’s why I believe broadcasting has become a career because we’re seeing more and more familiar faces who have been there for a long time, who have gained the trust of the country and the nation and continue to do so. It’s been a tough road, but I’ve kept going and I can safely say that I’ve managed to make a career out of this profession in broadcasting that I so cherish and love.
Being an anchor on Morning Live, you probably have to be up way before the sun has made an appearance. What is a typical day like for you?
There is no typical day, but one thing remains the same – that alarm clock goes off at 4am without fail, except on a Saturday and Sunday. It’s never easy; it’s something you never get used to, waking up before the crack of dawn. It’s almost robotic. The first thing I do, which I know is the wrong thing to do, is grab my phone and start reading. It’s essential for me, though – I have to catch up on everything before I leave the house. I’ve already read what’s happened on social media overnight and what’s trending on different fronts, so I’m seeing what the big breaking stories are. News is an all-consuming thing and you have to stay on top of it. Anything can be thrown at you at any minute and you have to know what you’re talking about.
This year, you celebrate two decades on Morning Live. What is the secret to this longevity?
It’s been an incredible journey. I have to pinch myself all the time to think how long it’s been that I have been doing this same programme. I have been waking up generations of South Africans to first guide them on their way to nursery school, then junior school, senior school, varsity and into their work life.
You’ve interviewed the who’s who of dignitaries and celebrities. Who has made a lasting impression and why?
To be honest, it’s everyday people who have made a more profound impact – someone with a story that resonates with others, or individuals who, in spite of their struggles, still find the light inside themselves.
You’re passionate about travel. Which have been your favourite destinations to travel to?
It’s my best thing to do – ever! It’s my spoil – exploring and discovering new countries and soaking up cultures of different people around the globe. One of my best trips was when we went to Iceland as a family in 2023. We rented a car and drove around Iceland for eight days. Next up on my bucket list is seeing the Northern Lights.
Text | Heléne Ramackers
Photography | Luke Tannous
For more information, go to leannemanas.com.
