Lesley Cowling is Associate Professor and Masters’ Coordinator in the Wits Journalism programme, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Archive and Public Culture Research Initiative at the University of Cape Town. Her research focuses on the relationship of media to South African public life, with a particular focus on journalism forms such as long-form reporting, opinion, analysis and debate, and their role in creating publics. A related interest is in the ways the commercial features of the media intersect with its public interest role. She has worked as a journalist, a soap opera writer and a media consultant. She has more than 20 years experience in writing, editing, and design.