LINDA G. PAGE

Key Responsibilities:

Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
(December 2013 - Present

As Chief Director: Strategic Communications, I provide executive leadership and strategic direction in the planning, development and implementation of integrated communication programmes that support the department’s core mandates of agriculture, rural development and land reform. I lead the communication portfolio to ensure alignment with national priorities, organisational goals, and the department’s service delivery objectives.

• Strategic Leadership & Corporate Governance
  Led the development and implementation of communication, media, and stakeholder engagement strategies that contributed to greater public understanding and support for national land reform and rural development programmes.
  Oversaw the formulation of communication protocols, policies and operational standards to ensure effective governance, compliance and consistency across the communications function.
  Successfully managed the directorate’s strategic planning processes, aligning communication priorities with the department’s Annual Performance Plan, Strategic Plan and broader policy agenda.
• Operational Oversight & Resource Management
  Directed the operations of the Chief Directorate, managing a team of over 40 communications professionals across various units including media, internal communications, content development, stakeholder relations, and digital platforms.
  Oversaw the full project lifecycle of communication initiatives — from planning and execution to monitoring and evaluation — while ensuring alignment with the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and other regulatory frameworks.
  Managed the communication budget and procurement processes, ensuring cost-effective delivery through sound financial stewardship and supplier negotiations for broadcast and print media placements.
• Human Capital Development
  Provided high-level supervision, performance management, and mentorship to staff, fostering a high-performance culture and promoting skills development.
  Recruited, coached, and retained diverse talent across the communications function, and implemented systems to support capacity building, succession planning, and employee retention.
• Stakeholder & Risk Management
  Acted as official spokesperson for the department, managing reputational risk by providing accurate and timely information to the media and the public.
  Led stakeholder engagement efforts to strengthen relationships with key partners, including government entities, media houses, rural communities, and traditional leadership structures.
  Conceptualised and led public outreach campaigns to raise awareness of critical legislation, policy changes and service delivery milestones.
• Media & Communication Strategy Execution
  Design and execute national media campaigns and communication interventions, including the relaunch of the land claims process and public consultations on legislative changes.
  Develop media and social media strategies, ensuring a strong, consistent brand voice across digital and traditional channels.
  Write, edit and approve key communications content including ministerial media statements, advertorials, internal and external newsletters, and public information materials.
• Knowledge & Content Management
  Direct the production of statutory and flagship publications, including the Annual Report, Strategic Plan, and Annual Performance Plan — ensuring compliance with government reporting standards and quality assurance protocols.
  Oversaw the development of high-quality content across platforms, enhancing public engagement and access to information through targeted digital and multimedia strategies.
• Supervised work teams and motivated individuals to meet goals and objectives.

Director: Media Liaison

Department of Water and Sanitation | 2007 – 2013

Served as the strategic lead for media liaison services, overseeing the development and execution of comprehensive media relations strategies that supported the Department’s key programmes, policies, and national mandates. Provided strategic counsel to the Ministry and senior leadership on media positioning, reputational risk, and public engagement, ensuring accurate, timely, and effective communication across multiple platforms.

Key achievements and responsibilities:

• Developed and implemented high-impact media strategies and plans that enhanced public visibility and understanding of critical departmental initiatives, including service delivery milestones, infrastructure projects, and legislative reforms.
• Led national media campaigns, including the successful introduction of South Africa’s first Water Quality Assessment Programme to local and international media, through strategic media engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and effective dissemination of technical information.
• Directed communication efforts in support of South Africa’s contribution to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on clean water and sanitation, shaping public narratives and creating a coherent, positive message around the country’s progress.
• Positioned the Department and the broader South African water sector as global leaders through proactive brand building, thought leadership, and media visibility on international platforms.
• Drafted high-level media content, including ministerial statements, opinion editorials, newsletters, and technical articles for sector publications, ensuring alignment with policy and communication objectives.
• Acted as official spokesperson for both the Department and the Minister, representing government positions on sensitive and high-profile issues with accuracy and authority.
• Led and managed the Media Liaison Unit, overseeing staff performance, content development, media response protocols, and coordination across internal and external communication platforms.
• Developed and maintained strategic media partnerships, including a comprehensive media database and targeted engagement to ensure ongoing coverage of legislative and programme developments.
• Designed and implemented media monitoring systems, enabling data-driven insights and continuous improvement in communication effectiveness, including integration across all nine provincial regional offices.
• Spearheaded national awareness and education campaigns, including water conservation and sector knowledge-sharing initiatives, in alignment with public service delivery objectives and citizen engagement priorities.

Assignment Editor

South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC)

Provided strategic editorial leadership by managing a team of field journalists responsible for the generation of high-quality news and current affairs content across radio and television platforms. Oversaw the planning, coordination, and execution of daily news coverage, ensuring alignment with national priorities and public interest mandates.

Key responsibilities:

• Led multidisciplinary teams under tight deadlines, demonstrating strong leadership, planning, and resource management skills.
• Ensured operational efficiency and editorial integrity in content delivery across multiple platforms.
• Fostered collaboration across editorial, technical, and production units — enhancing workflow coordination and output quality.
• Contributed to staff development and performance management by mentoring journalists and ensuring adherence to editorial standards.
• Applied strategic judgment in content decisions, aligning news priorities with organizational goals and public sector values

News Editor

Jacaranda FM

Held strategic leadership responsibility for shaping the station’s news direction and content production strategy, aligning editorial priorities with the organisation’s vision and the broader public interest. Oversaw news planning, editorial quality control, and content dissemination across traditional and emerging media platforms.

Key contributions:

• Developed and implemented strategic news coverage and content production frameworks, including editorial guidelines and a comprehensive style guide, ensuring consistent quality and professionalism.
• Directed editorial planning for major national events, including government and political milestones such as national elections, aligning coverage with corporate objectives and compliance mandates.
• Championed organisational transformation and inclusion by designing and executing internal campaigns aimed at diversifying recruitment processes and strengthening representativity in alignment with the station’s broadcast footprint.
• Led a culturally and racially diverse newsroom, managing successful change management processes that enabled a smooth organisational transition and improved team cohesion.
• Designed and rolled out internal training and mentoring programmes, enhancing junior journalist development, and embedding a performance-driven culture within the news team.
• Drove innovation in content dissemination, developing integrated strategies for multi-platform broadcast delivery, including digital media channels.

Appointed as a founding member of the senior leadership team, responsible for designing and implementing the station’s first comprehensive news product and newsroom structure. Provided strategic leadership in content development, editorial direction, stakeholder engagement, and team management to support the successful launch of a new commercial radio station aligned with organisational growth and revenue targets.

Key responsibilities :

• Led the strategic conceptualisation, development, and launch of the station’s news format and editorial direction, laying the foundation for a commercially viable, audience-focused news product.
• Reported to editor-In-chief about news articles for print, daily staff happenings, and creation of company newsletter.
• Oversaw team of reporters and support staff when creating current affairs shows.
• Trained ten junior staff members on compelling breaking news stories, style guidelines and organization procedures.
• Interviewed sources and developed relationships with informants to obtain vital information for stories.
• Monitored breaking news for information on incidents, events, and topics of interest to quickly assign coverage to staff.
• Planned for coverage of large events by assigning reporters and photographers.
• Established and implemented workflows to streamline editing processes.
• Drove accuracy of content through careful proofreading and fact-checking.
• Established and managed the station’s inaugural newsroom, overseeing the recruitment, development, and performance management of the news production team.
• Formulated and implemented editorial policy and guidelines promoting ethical journalism, credibility, and quality assurance—policies which remained in place and guided the newsroom beyond tenure.
• Directed coverage of local, national, and international events, ensuring news content supported the station’s market positioning and broader organisational objectives.
• Fostered strategic partnerships with business leaders and government stakeholders to support revenue generation and extend the station’s influence in key sectors.
• Produced and edited broadcast content tailored for a diverse audience, ensuring relevance, inclusivity, and alignment with audience demographics.