From reluctant reporter to editor-in-chief: how Luke Feltham found his way to journalism’s top job

Stephen Grootes, in conversation with Luke Feltham, Editor-in-Chief for Business Day about life and career, shares his wide experience in both print journalism and digital publishing.

Listen to the interview in the audio player below.

Luke Feltham’s career in journalism has been defined by range, depth and an enduring commitment to storytelling,  even though journalism was never part of his original plan.  

Now the editor-in-chief of Business Day, Feltham brings decades of experience across sport, politics, economics and historical investigations to one of South Africa’s most influential financial newsrooms.

His appointment follows his tenure as editor of the Mail & Guardian, where he helped steer the publication through the challenges of modern digital journalism while maintaining its investigative edge.

Born and raised in Johannesburg, Feltham is a graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand, holding a BA in political science and government, an honours degree in philosophy, and a master’s degree in political studies, an academic foundation that has informed his analytical approach to reporting and editorial leadership.

Speaking to Stephen Grootes on The Money Show, Feltham reflected on his unconventional route into journalism, revealing that he never intended to pursue the profession. 

Instead, it was a lifelong love of reading and storytelling, combined with the influence of his parents particularly his father, a journalist that eventually drew him into the newsroom.

What began as curiosity soon evolved into a vocation, with Feltham carving out a career that spans multiple beats and media formats, from traditional print to fast-paced digital publishing.

Despite ongoing pressures on the media industry, Feltham remains optimistic about the future of journalism.

He argues that while the business models and platforms may change, the demand for credible reporting, rigorous analysis and compelling storytelling continues to grow.  “There is a future in journalism,” Feltham says, one that depends on adaptability, trust and a renewed focus on quality.  

As he takes on his new role at Business Day, Feltham’s task will be to guide the publication through an evolving media landscape while preserving the principles that have shaped his own career: curiosity, clarity and a belief in the enduring value of well-told stories.

"I had no intentions of getting into journalism, but it was something I was constantly surrounded by. My father was a journalist, and worked at most of the national titles. My mom, some of my earliest memories are her sending me into the shop, corner shops to buy the Mail & Guardian or Sunday Times..."

- Luke Feltham, Editor in Chief - Business Day

"I'm certainly an optimist. I can certainly recognise the difficulties and some of the realities, but I'm a big believer in self fulfilling prophecies and I think we have to believe in this craft. As a country we will be doomed if it goes under."

- Luke Feltham, Editor-in-Chief - Business Day

"I was fortunate enough to get a part-time job working at The Star as a sub, when I started my honours degree. I really enjoyed it, I really got into it..."

- Luke Feltham, Editor-in-Chief - Business Day

"Business is a complicated thing, and the role of the business journalist is to explain it as easy as possible, and as simply as possible. And business, like any other subject, if you as the writer are unable to understand it, the reader is not going to either."

- Luke Feltham, Editor-in-Chief - Business Day

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