Jonathan Ancer

Jonathan Ancer was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1970. He matriculated from Highlands North Boys High in 1988 and graduated with a BA degree (majoring in Law and Political Studies) from Wits University in 1992. He then completed a Post-Graduate Journalism Diploma from Rhodes University in 1995.

Jonathan has four children. He is married to Jean Luyt,{{Cite web|title=Jean Luyt|url=https://therapistsonline.co.za/listing/jean-luyt/|access-date=18 October 2020|website=Therapists Online|language=en-US|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020222216/https://therapistsonline.co.za/listing/jean-luyt/|url-status=dead}} a clinical psychologist, they live in Cape Town with their three children. In 2015 their middle daughter Rachel{{Cite web|date=17 January 2019|title=Rachel Ancer (2017)|url=https://www.sunflowerfund.org/2019/01/17/rachel-ancer-2017/|access-date=18 October 2020|website=The Sunflower Fund|language=en-ZA|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023020144/https://www.sunflowerfund.org/2019/01/17/rachel-ancer-2017/|url-status=dead}} was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow failure disease called Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA). After four bone marrow biopsies and more than 50 blood transfusions a donor was found; the chances of finding a genetic match were 1 in 100,000. In 2017 Rachel received a bone marrow transplant; the procedure was a success and today Rachel is a healthy, active young girl thanks to the SA Bone Marrow Registry,{{Cite web|title=South African Bone Marrow Registry|url=https://sabmr.co.za/|access-date=19 October 2020|language=en-CA}} The Sunflower Fund{{Cite web|title=The Sunflower Fund {{!}} non-profit organisation {{!}} stem cell donors {{!}} blood disease|url=https://www.sunflowerfund.org/|access-date=19 October 2020|website=The Sunflower Fund|language=en-ZA}} and Worldwide Bone Marrow Donors.{{Cite web|last=BeTheMatch.org|date=6 May 2020|title=Join the bone marrow registry|url=https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/join-the-marrow-registry/|access-date=18 October 2020|website=bethematch.org|language=en}} Rachel wrote a book on her experiences, Rachel's Second Chance(e-book).{{Cite web|title=Rachel's Second Chance (ebook)|url=https://sabmr.co.za/product/rachels-second-chance-ebook/|access-date=19 October 2020|language=en-CA}}

Ancer's most recent book  Betrayal: The Secret Lives of Apartheid Spies (NB Publishing){{Cite web|title=NB Publishers {{!}} Authors|url=https://www.nb.co.za/en/authors?authorId=1819|access-date=13 October 2020|website=www.nb.co.za}} was published in August 2019. It followed his 2017 book Spy: Uncovering Craig Williamson (Jacana Media),{{Cite web|title=Spy: Uncovering Craig Williamson {{!}} Jacana|url=https://jacana.co.za/our-books/spy-uncovering-craig-williamson/|access-date=19 October 2020|website=Jacana Media|language=en-ZA}} which was on the longlist for the Alan Paton literary prize.{{Cite web|title=Sunday Times Literary Awards Longlist 2018 announced|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/books/news/2019-01-10-sunday-times-literary-awards-longlist-2018-announced/|access-date=12 October 2020|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}

Ancer worked as the features editor for Directions magazine from 1996 to 1999 where he wrote profiles and features. He was also the editor of Active, the magazine's adventure supplement. From 1999 to 2006 Ancer worked as a sub-editor, reporter and news editor at The Star Newspaper in Johannesburg. He worked as a sub-editor on the night shift, and as a general news reporter, specialising in narrative journalism on deadline and news features. .

Ancer worked as Grocott's Mail editor from 2006 to 2008, growing the newspaper's circulation. Under his editorship, he saw the paper awarded the country's best small-town newspaper of the year at the Sanlam Awards for Community Journalism.

As deputy of Best Life magazine South Africa from 2008 to 2009, Ancer wrote, commissioned and edited long-form journalism pieces He worked as a deputy editor of Bicycling magazine from 2014 to 2016. He currently works as a freelance journalist contributing articles to the Sunday Times amongst other publications.

He also co-founded the.news.letter{{Cite web |title=The.news.letter |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/fairlady/20181001/283674005590642 |access-date=19 October 2020 |via=PressReader}} – a daily digest of what you need to know.

During his tenure as Editor at Grocotts Mail, Ancer was charged with training and mentoring fourth-year and post-graduate students from Rhodes University's Journalism and Media Studies Department{{Cite web|date=20 July 2011|title=JMS|url=https://www.ru.ac.za/JMS|access-date=12 October 2020|website=Rhodes University|language=en-US|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101134715/https://www.ru.ac.za/jms/|url-status=dead}}

From 2009 to 2014 Ancer worked for Independent Newspapers as Group Training Editor where he trained editorial staff including junior reporters, senior reporters, news editors and sub-editors.{{Cite web|title=The state of journalism training today |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/EJC159511}} He also set up and ran the group's Cadet School.{{Cite web |title=Cadet School for budding journalists aims to develop top reporters |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/cape-argus/20100203/282479999936401 |access-date=9 November 2020 |via=PressReader}}

In addition, he ran news editor conferences, media law training and narrative journalism workshops. He also wrote op-eds, leaders, news stories and features for newspapers in the Group as well as a weekly satire column that appeared in the Cape Times and Saturday Star called "Angry Utterances (10)".{{Cite web|date=4 October 2007|title=Angry utterance (9)*|url=https://thoughtleader.co.za/johnnyanger/2007/10/04/angry-utterance-9/|access-date=12 October 2020|website=Thought Leader|language=en-US}} The column was a finalist in the national newspaper awards{{Cite web|last=Reporter|first=T. M. O.|date=29 August 2012|title=The winners: newspaper journalism awards|url=https://themediaonline.co.za/2012/08/the-winners-newspaper-journalism-awards/|access-date=12 October 2020|website=The Media Online|language=en-US}} two years in a row.

During this time he sat on the executive committee of the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF){{Cite web|title=Sanef: Statement by the South African National Editors Forum, rejecting the proposals for a state-appointed media tribunal (25/07/2010)|url=https://www.polity.org.za/article/sanef-statement-by-the-south-african-national-editors-forum-rejecting-the-proposals-for-a-state-appointed-media-tribunal-25072010-2010-07-25|access-date=9 November 2020|website=www.polity.org.za|language=en}} and from 2010 to 2014 chaired SANEF's Training & Education subcommittee. He now provides writing and media training on a freelance basis.

Ancer has produced and produces numerous podcasts: These include Extraordinary Lives,{{Cite web|title=The Homebru Podcasts with Jonathan Ancer and Dan Dewes {{!}} Exclusive Books Blog|url=http://blog.exclusivebooks.co.za/the-homebru-podcasts-with-jonathan-ancer-and-dan-dewes/|access-date=13 October 2020|language=en-US}} a biographical series about people who have made South Africa a better (and more interesting) place. He also created Amabookabooka,{{Cite web|last=MultimediaLIVE|title=Amabookabooka: The Quarantine Chronicles|url=https://iono.fm/c/5098|access-date=13 October 2020|website=iono.fm|language=en}} a podcast series featuring South African authors which were hosted by the Daily Maverick; the podcasts were also published by Okay Africa, a digital media platform dedicated to African culture, music and politics.{{Cite web|date=5 August 2016|title=7 South African Podcasts You Should Be Listening To|url=https://www.okayafrica.com/south-african-podcasts/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=OkayAfrica|language=en}}

• 2013: Finalist in the Columns category, Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=26 March 2013|title=Finalist|url=https://themediaonline.co.za/2013/03/who-are-the-finalists-in-the-sikuvile-journalism-awards/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}
• 2012: Finalist in the Columns category and commended in the Features category at the Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards for a five-part narrative series titled, The Adventures of an Awol Chequebook.{{Cite web|title=Adventures of an AWOL Chequebook|url=https://jancerjancer.wordpress.com/category/adventures-of-an-awol-chequebook/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Jancerjancer's Blog|language=en}}
• 2011: Winner Media 24 Magazine Excellence award, Proudly South African category.{{Cite web|title=All the Media24 Magazine Excellence Awards winners|url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/39/66907.html|access-date=13 October 2020|website=www.bizcommunity.com|language=en}}
• 2007: Grocott's Mail{{Cite web|last=Bloom|first=Kevin|date=31 August 2010|title=Grocott's Mail: Small-town paper, big-time rep|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2010-08-31-grocotts-mail-small-town-paper-big-time-rep/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}} was voted the country's best small town newspaper of the year under his editorship. He also placed second in the Editorial Comment section and third in the Columns section.
• 2006: Finalist in the Columns section at the Sanlam Awards for Community Journalism.{{Cite news|title=Mondi Shanduka Journalist of the Year Awards – preview|language=en|work=Media Update|url=https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/49/mondi-shanduka-journalist-of-the-year-awards-preview|access-date=13 October 2020}}
• 2004: Winner in the Breaking News category and finalist in the Features category at the Mondi-Shanduka Newspaper Awards.{{Cite web|title=Mondi Shanduka Newspaper Awards main winners|url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/90/6390.html|access-date=13 October 2020|website=www.bizcommunity.com|language=en}}
• 2001: Finalist in the Leisure category at the Mondi Magazine Awards.{{Cite web|title=2001 Mondi Paper Magazine Awards Winners|url=https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/39/582.html|access-date=13 October 2020|website=www.bizcommunity.com|language=en}}

• "Mensches in the Trenches: Jewish Foot Soldiers In The Anti-Apartheid Struggle" (Batya Bricker Book Projects February 2022) ({{ISBN|9780620946940}})
• Joining The Dots: An Unofficial Biography of Pravin Gordhan (Jonathan Ball Publishers September 2021), (Co-authored with Chris Whitfield). {{ISBN|9781776191055}}{{Cite book|last=ANCER|first=JONATHAN. WHITFIELD, CHRIS|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1268111496|title=JOINING THE DOTS : a biography of pravin gordham.|date=2021|publisher=JONATHAN BALL PUBLISHERS|isbn=978-1-77619-105-5|location=[S.l.]|oclc=1268111496}}
• Betrayal: The Secret Lives of Apartheid Spies (NB Publishing August 2019). {{ISBN|9780624083900}}
• Spy: Uncovering Craig Williamson (Jacana Media). {{ISBN|9781431421497}}
• "The Victor within: an extraordinary story of optimism, tenacity and sheer determination" by Victor Vermeulen & Jonathan Ancer (Tenacity Publications, 2000), {{ISBN|9780620264853}}

• Olivia Forsyth: The spy who never came in from the cold. Daily Maverick 2019{{Cite web|last=Ancer|first=Jonathan|date=14 August 2019|title=BOOK EXTRACT: Olivia Forsyth: The spy who never came in from the cold|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-08-15-olivia-forsyth-the-spy-who-never-came-in-from-the-cold/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}
• Adventures of an AWOL Chequebook{{Cite web|title=Adventures of an AWOL Chequebook|url=https://jancerjancer.wordpress.com/category/adventures-of-an-awol-chequebook/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Jancerjancer's Blog|language=en}}
• 'Let this be my grave.' Cape Argus 2005{{Cite web|title=Let this be my grave|url=https://www.iol.co.za/travel/south-africa/let-this-be-my-grave-231185|access-date=13 October 2020|website=www.iol.co.za|language=en}}
• 'Hell no, we won't go!' Mail & Guardian 2008{{Cite web |title='Hell no, we won't go!' |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/mail-guardian/20080821/281633891028713 |access-date=13 October 2020 |via=PressReader}}
• Anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin looks back on great escape. Sunday Times 2020 (Paywall).{{Cite web|title=Former anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin looks back on great escape|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/opinion-and-analysis/2020-05-17-former-anti-apartheid-activist-tim-jenkin-looks-back-on-great-escape/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}
• 'Life is wonderful': Denis Goldberg on the eve of his 85th birthday. Sunday Times 2018.{{Cite web|title='Life is wonderful': What Denis Goldberg told the 'Sunday Times' in 2018 on the eve of his 85th birthday|url=https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/2020-04-30-life-is-wonderful-what-denis-goldberg-told-the-sunday-times-in-2018-on-the-eve-of-his-85th-birthday/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=HeraldLIVE|language=en-ZA}}
• Ride The Fury Road – The Mark Cavendish Story. Men's Health 2018.{{Cite web|date=12 July 2018|title=Our Legendary Interview With Cycling Beast Mark Cavendish|url=https://www.mh.co.za/guy-skills/cycle-mark-cavendish/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=Men's Health|language=en-US|archive-date=12 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812002920/https://www.mh.co.za/guy-skills/cycle-mark-cavendish/|url-status=dead}}

• Amabookabooka: The Quarantine Chronicles{{Cite web|title=PODCAST {{!}} Amabookabooka: The Quarantine Chronicles|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/books/2020-04-01-podcast-amabookabooka-the-quarantine-chronicles/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=TimesLIVE|language=en-ZA}}
• The Homebru Podcasts (with Dan Dewes).{{Cite web|title=The Homebru Podcasts with Jonathan Ancer and Dan Dewes {{!}} Exclusive Books Blog|url=http://blog.exclusivebooks.co.za/the-homebru-podcasts-with-jonathan-ancer-and-dan-dewes/|access-date=16 October 2020|language=en-US}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.capetalk.co.za/podcasts/144/the-john-maytham-show/239823/betrayal-by-jonathan-ancer Cape Talk Interview with John Maytham.]
• [https://www.grocotts.co.za/2017/07/01/a-town-of-extraordinary-stories/ Sue Maclennan, editor of Grocott’s Mail, interviews Jonathan Ancer.]
• [https://iono.fm/c/2658 Amabookabooka Podcast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014045232/https://iono.fm/c/2658 |date=14 October 2020 }}
• [https://iono.fm/c/5098 Amabookabooka: The Quarantine Chronicles]
• [https://jancerjancer.wordpress.com/author/jancerjancer/ Jancerjancer's Blog]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl850zGGam8&t=2s Interview CNBCAfrica 2019.] Betrayal: The Secret Lives of Apartheid Spies
• I [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOPkwh8QAg&t=4s nterview PolitySA 2019.] Betrayal: The Secret Lives of Apartheid Spies
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gntS0sGrQ9Q&t=227s Interview Jenerali Online 2020:] Spy
• Jewish Literary Festival 2020. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAilUV14fh0&t=334s In conversation with John Matisonn.]
• Jewish Literary Festival 2020. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfBwvZasqJ0&t=295s In conversation with Jonny Steinberg.]
• [https://thoughtleader.co.za/johnnyanger/ Mail & Guardian Thought Leader Jonny Anger.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719203039/http://thoughtleader.co.za/johnnyanger |date=19 July 2018 }}
• https://jancerjancer.wordpress.com/author/jancerjancer/

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ancer, Jonathan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1970 births

Category:Living people

Category:Writers from Johannesburg

Category:University of the Witwatersrand alumni

Category:Rhodes University alumni

Category:South African male journalists

Category:White South African people