Irecently had the pleasure of speaking with Samm Marshall, a distinguished figure in media known for his appearances on TV and radio. Our conversationoffered an insightful look into his journey and the evolution of his business, Social TV. Samm Marshall’s media career is rooted in a deep-seated passion for storytelling, which began in his childhood. Growing up on the Cape Flats, he was inspired by his brother Bobby Brown, a journalist and radio DJ.
Samm’s early fascination with media led him to follow in his brother’s footsteps, eventually becoming a significant presence in South African media.
Samm’s career in media began humbly, working for free for eight months in a newsroom. His dedication and perseverance paid off when he secured a job at ETV, presenting a show called “Let’s Fix It.” This experience profoundly impacted him, sparking a desire to focus on positive storytelling and community impact.
Social TV, founded by Samm, embodies this vision. It is a news platform dedicated to highlighting impact news, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social innovation, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues.
Social TV aims to elevate these topics to the same level of importance as sports, fashion, and entertainment news. The platform covers a wide range of stories, from community outreach projects to innovative social initiatives, aiming to provide comprehensive coverage and visibility to impactful endeavors.
However, the focus isn’t just on big businesses and massive organizations. Samm is committed to ensuring that smaller organizations and companies working hard every day also receive the recognition they deserve. Stories that matter but rarely make headlines are being featured, but more needs to be done to spotlight these crucial efforts. The transition from Cape Town to Johannesburg was a significant step in Samm’s career. He left Cape Town, where he had established himself as a breakfast DJ, TV personality, and nightclub DJ, seeking new challenges and opportunities in Johannesburg. Despite the initial feeling of being lost, Samm embraced the unfamiliarity, which fueled his passion for media and storytelling even further.
Samm also secured a presenting role with a production company that had a show on ETV for a couple
of seasons. He eventually moved to Johannesburg, co-hosting the breakfast show for years and then landing “Let’s Fix It.”
Samm’s commitment to inclusivity and providing opportunities is evident in his approach to Social TV. The platform has trained numerous NGOs, created projects to empower youth in storytelling, and consistently seeks to make a broader social impact. He even wrote a book for young men, which is being published by an NGO partner. The aim is to provide the workbook to young men who can use it as a daily guide. As a father of four, Samm created a book based on the interactions he has with his sons.
After a year of traveling through South Africa with a client and engaging with communities where young men seemed directionless and in need of guidance, he was inspired to provide a resource to help them. The book is being published by the literacy NGO DrLetMeTalkEdu. Social TV’s mission is to present impact news in a way that resonates with a broad audience. The platform uses various formats, including audio, written, and video content, to ensure the stories reach and engage the audience effectively.
By partnering with different platforms, including airports, Social TV ensures that these important stories are visible
to millions of people annually. For funders looking to partner with Social TV, the process is straightforward. Samm and his team sit down with potential partners to understand their stories and objectives for the year. They then allocate resources to cover these stories, ensuring they are reported accurately and compellingly. Social TV focuses on news stories that highlight the positive impact of various initiatives, providing a platform for these stories to be told.
Samm Marshall’s journey from the Cape Flats to becoming a prominent media personality and founder of Social TV is a testament to his dedication and passion for storytelling and community impact.
Social TV stands as a powerful platform that highlights the positive changes being made in communities, providing visibility and recognition to the efforts of individuals and organizations dedicated to making a difference.
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