Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SA in the news
The South African newspaper industry is doing well and shows no signs of slowing down.
According to the latest ABC
report (Jan-March 2007), local
According to local publishers,
this target market growth is only
Francois Groepe, CEO, Media24
Newspapers.
journalism. “For newspapers to
attract a younger audience, we
Metrobus fleet. “We found a gap
in the market, as bus commuters
daily newspapers show a 10 per the beginning. “We’re only seeing Peter du Toit, publisher and need to be online. The digital weren’t reading. Citizen Metro
cent growth (1 997 893 in total, the tip of the iceberg when it editor of Soccer Laduma, believes generation are the readers of the fills this deadtime. We also have
including foreign papers). Local comes to the emerging market – that there are big changes on the future,” says Gisele Wertheim advantages over the taxi market
weekly newspapers have grown there is definitely room in way, driven by newspapers and Aymes, general manager, adver- in that 98 per cent of our readers
by seven per cent (726 135 the market for additional motivated by the FIFA 2010 tising strategy & trade marketing, are working and we know where
including foreign titles) and local products. Society is developing World Cup, amongst other Newspaper Division, Johncom they come and go,” he says.
weekend papers by 5.4 per cent extremely rapidly and we haven’t things. “Soccer is sexy and hip. Media Investments. The launch An interesting aspect of this
(2 644 184 including foreign even begun to discover the com- What the rest of the media hasn’t of the new daily, The Times – a news is that as little as a year ago
titles). In total the newspaper plexities of our market yet,” cottoned onto as yet is the fact fully integrated print and digital all publishers shied away from the
circulation for Jan-March 2007 is admits Sampson. that our footballers are megastars title – will demonstrate if the freesheet and announced that it
5 368 212, up from 5 112 879 Arthur Konigkramer, managing and that the World Cup will market is ready for such innova- was not in their plans. Newspaper
during the previous correspon- director of Ilanga, South Africa’s drive a greater demand for tion. Finding the right skillset for 10 has heard rumours of a free
ding period. “We have seen very oldest Zulu newspaper, has been niche newspapers such as full integration remains a major newspaper for the taxi commuter
good growth during the past few busy expanding the publication to Soccer Laduma.” challenge. “As more publications market, although no publisher
years and although three new include new supplements for the The rest of the industry are on launch, our resources remain the has laid claim to it yet.
titles didn’t make it, there are first Sunday Zulu newspaper and the look out for these niche gaps. same. We absolutely have to Nevertheless the attitude towards
others that have proved their for the youth market. While he Afrikaans daily, Beeld, for exam- develop new skills such as writing freebies has made an about-turn.
potential – Sunday Sun, Daily believes that there is still consid- ple, has found geographic niche for print, podcasts, online and “We will probably see more of
Sun, Daily Voice, Ilanga erable growth potential in the gaps. Beeld currently offers mobile – and the industry needs these newspapers being launched.
Langesonto, etc. It’s significant black African market, a similar substantial inserts for Mpumalanga, to work together in order to do I do however anticipate that
that these papers are all tabloids,” potential for growth exists for West Rand, East Rand and this,” says Greg Stewart, publisher, the business models will have
says Sarel du Plessis, general newspapers aimed at Afrikaans Tshwane. “We are launching in The Citizen. to be refined: they will need to
manager, RCP Media. Fergus speakers. The launch of Sondag, the North West and wherever The other big news of the day evolve in order to make these
Sampson, general manager, a new Sunday tabloid, now caters else we find hubs and community – over and above the launch of ventures sustainable locally,”
Northern Newspapers, Media24 to the Afrikaans, Sunday and pockets,” says Lucille van the two new titles, Sondag and says Groepe.
agrees. He believes that because tabloid markets. Niekerk, general manager, Beeld. The Times – is the emergence of Du Toit expects that there will
the industry has had to reinvent Local newspapers are no longer Niche gaps are not the only the first free commuter newspaper. be more free newspapers and that
itself, “over the last five or six able to cover the whole market thing on the cards for local pub- The Citizen has launched Citizen advertisers will drive them. Deon
years, there has been a lot of and therefore products such as lishers. The last year has also Metro (which is not affiliated to du Plessis, publisher of the Daily
excitement and life with regard to the Daily Sun, Son and Soccer brought about an attitude change the Swedish group but to the Sun, agrees that they’re on the
new newspaper projects.” Laduma reach very specific towards incorporating online. name of our bus transportation way, even though a free taxi
Perhaps the most significant niche target audiences. “These Publishers are scrambling to offer company). Publisher Greg paper would go head-to-head
aspect of the latest ABC results is newspapers have added a better designed websites that are Stewart won’t be changing the with his publication. Sarel du
the fact that tabloid Daily Sun is large audience of middle filled with multimedia content initial print run of 45 000 until Plessis on the other hand, is
now the biggest circulating news- income, younger readers,” says and a positive outlook on citizen more buses are introduced to the looking with interest at the free
paper in the country, with over model that The Times (existing
half a million copies. Other subscribers only) is employing.
tabloids that are aimed at the Overall, the South African newspaper is vibrant and growing Overall, the South African
‘emerging black market’ also post newspaper is vibrant and growing
regular and substantial circulation and the next few years should see some interesting innovations and the next few years should see
increases, pointing to the incredible some interesting innovations and
strength that this target demo- and shake-ups. This really could be a case of ‘Who Dares Wins’. shake-ups. This really could be a
graphic is demonstrating. case of ‘Who Dares Wins’.
Fast Facts
Readers
• Fifty-two per cent female, 55 per cent
black, 25 per cent white, 15 per cent
Indian, 5 per cent coloured
• 62 per cent are aged between 16-49 years old
• One in five have a household income of R20 000+ a month
It is this digital attitude that represents Shapiro and Justice Mahlala. A major aim
the most exciting aspect of the launch. It’s for The Times is to grow the subscriber
not the guaranteed circulation as much as base of the Sunday Times, getting younger
the fact that The Times is touted as South readers to migrate to the Sunday paper in
Africa’s first truly interactive newspaper. the future. The Times will not be made
“We have rebuilt our Internet strategy for available through a subscription of its
The Times and we have a converged news- own. Those who are interested in the
room and plenty of multimedia content in daily will instead have to subscribe to the
order to capture the younger market,” Sunday Times.
says Hartley. According to Hartley, advertising is inte-
Designed to compete against established grated – print, online and cellphone –
dailies such as The Star and The Citizen, which will be an interesting challenge for
the theme behind the paper is ‘smart, fast, many advertisers. “They will now have to
fun.’ After extensive research it was found think differently about how to integrate
that a large proportion of the Sunday Times their advertising. We can customise inserts
subscribers do not read a daily newspaper for regions; customise advertising online
and don’t want a heavy broadsheet on a and we’re also looking at barcodes for
daily basis. The aim is to deliver a 48-page special offers on cellphones, for example.”
Local reflections
By Winnie Graham and Lynne Smit
When Maggie M leaves home to The change in reading patterns money than the printed edition,” matters that affect them. is also a tremendous opportunity
catch a bus to work in the has had another effect as well. he says. “The one has not taken He views the growth of black for growth.”
mornings, she stops to buy a While black readership of news- advertising from the other. readership as a natural progression. While the urban youth in
newspaper. This is a new experi- papers has increased significantly Rather a new stream of revenue “It was inevitable that black Africa – who are adept at using
ence for her. Ten or 15 years ago in South Africa in the past 10 has been created. It only requires people would start reading papers their cellphones and computers –
she didn’t bother. She admits that years or more, in many instances a slight adjustment. The two as they moved out of poverty and are perhaps yet to appreciate the
although she would occasionally white readers have tossed their mediums exist comfortably side into the middle class,” Tsedu benefit of newspapers, the
listen to news reports on the papers aside, irritated because the by side.” says. “You become sensitised majority of the older readers are
radio, she wasn’t particularly news focuses too much on ‘black’ Trevor Ncube, president of the when you see issues that affect less likely to be lured away by
interested in them because the issues. Forging a common South Newspaper Association of South you being reflected in a public electronic media.
news did not affect her. African identity is proving difficult. Africa and chief executive and arena. In this way, the paper Coupled with the issue of the
”We lived in a different world While this is a local issue, the owner of the Mail and Guardian, speaks to you and you begin buy- survival of newspapers, is the
then,” she says. “At that time I question of readership is of agrees. “We need to leverage the ing it on a regular basis.” survival of a free press. This right
had problems of my own. Why concern to publishers and editors opportunities that are offered by The emerging black middle is guaranteed by the constitution
should I have worried about a around the world. The growth of new media. We shouldn’t see class is now recognised as a seri- and enshrined in the Universal
war in Bosnia or a rail accident in hourly radio news reports, online blogging or the Internet as a ous target market for newspaper Declaration of Human Rights. In
India when I didn’t have money news services and (more recently) threat. I have great faith in the publishers. Yet despite the grow- all democratic states it is taken
for lunch? I think that newspa- cellphone news flashes, could future of the newspaper industry,” ing black readership, newspaper for granted that citizens have a
pers have changed since then. I well be impinging on circulation. he says. “If we all focus on deliv- penetration in South Africa right to their opinions and to
also have a different job now and These media provide an immedi- ering credible, analytical content stands at only 13 per cent. An express themselves without inter-
I am expected to be informed. acy that newspapers cannot to our readers, I have no doubt enormous potential for growth ference. Yet there is increasing
The paper that I buy looks at match. The question is: are they that we will survive.” exists with regard to the newspa- concern that government, irritated
matters that concern me. It tells the threat to daily newspapers While newspapers cannot pro- per readers of the future. by the views of certain newspa-
me what’s happening in my worldwide that they are generally vide readers with immediacy, Ncube recognises this potential. pers, may introduce legislation to
township – not just what is hap- believed to be? their websites can – and while It is one of the reasons for his curb this freedom as a form of
pening in Joburg.” While some internationally websites are not geared to pro- great faith in the future of the ‘damage control.’ The proposed
Maggie, a mother and office known newspapers have indeed vide lengthy reports, newspapers newspaper industry in Africa. amendments to the Film and
receptionist, reflects the views of closed down, there is a flipside to are able to fulfil this need. This “On the whole, newspapers are Publications Act are causing
the changing newspaper reader- this coin. has prompted a change in the only reaching the urban popula- jitters in many circles.
ship in South Africa. Not that Mathatha Tsedu, editor of City way that news is published. tion,” he says. “We haven’t This raises the question: What
long ago, the readers of most Press, sees the online component According to Tsedu, although exhausted their sales capacity use is a newspaper that is not free
major newspapers in this country as a boon. In many instances the readers may turn to websites for because we have not reached the to state its views – and is the
were white and the content of online version is growing more instant information, they buy rural markets. The majority of struggle for freedom about to
these publications focused rapidly than the newspaper itself. papers for background material Africans have not had access to begin again?
peripherally on issues that were “The online version of the and analysis. They want in-depth newspapers. Although there are Ncube is concerned. “When
of interest to black readers. Guardian in the UK makes more information across a range of problems with distribution, there continued on page 8
Sunday Sondag
Finding the niche gaps in the local between the conservative and the
market is a hit and miss affair and sleazy. “It even uses colourful lan-
Media24’s latest addition to the guage that runs between Rapport
stable, Sunday Afrikaans tabloid and Son,” says Vink. Fast facts
Sondag, may just hit the mark. For advertisers Sondag is a wel- • Target: 800 000 readers: 300 000 new readers/500 000 duplicated
The first unclaimed niche for come breath of fresh air. Vink readers (also read Rapport/Son)
Sondag is the missing Afrikaans explains that it’s not constrained • 64 pages
weekend reader who doesn’t buy by the usual rules of newspapers: • Strong emphasis on colour
Volksblad and/or Rapport. The “We can run ads in the middle of • Bigger graphics, less type
second and more important mar- pages if we wish and we challenge • First 20 pages are news, full-colour photos, highlights and news
ket for the future of the Afrikaans advertisers to come up with some- snippets
newspaper is the younger reader. thing exceptional.” Sondag also • The middle of the paper is covered by sports events, mainly rugby
According to Mike Vink, editor of offers the only full page back • The next pages are entertainment
Sondag, the tabloid complements cover in the Sunday market, • The rest of the paper carries features.
Rapport and falls in-between this although as Vink explains, the ad
paper and true tabloid, Son. has to be full size and unique. The Its more modern approach also radio and TV campaign, which
“Sondag will cover the overall front cover of Sondag is region- means that interactivity will be should help to make its target of
Afrikaans market a little better,” alised and has a website to pro- increased through using SMS. 100 000 circulation within the
and it certainly seems to slot in mote interactivity with its readers. The paper is backed by a huge first couple of years.
N10: Isn’t there also the argument that people aren’t prepared to read advertising anymore? N10: In your experience, do newspapers seek to attract a better quality of advertising?
GW: Yes, I’ve heard that argument but I think its nonsense. People have and will always GW: Frankly, in my experience they don’t, which is strange because advertising is not ‘just
read what interests them. I don’t think that people are not prepared to read ads anymore. advertising.’ The quality of the advertising also raises or lowers the tone of the editorial.
It’s more that we no longer seem to be building a generation of copywriters who are Newspaper advertising sales people need to understand that they’re not simply selling
capable of writing ads that people want to read anymore. space. They should desire something that enhances the aesthetic content of the newspaper.
N10: Is this trend of ads without copy restricted to newspapers or is it true of N10: What other suggestions do you have to encourage agencies and clients to
magazines as well? produce newspaper advertising?
GW: The death of copy impacts most on the newspaper medium, which is also the one GW: I think it’s important that newspapers promote their own unique advantages. They
where copy works best. Glossy magazines on good quality stock better lend themselves to truly are the ideal medium to house persuasive arguments in favour of a client’s brand. It’s
images that rely on photography or illustration. Newspapers are more workman-like. important that newspapers do not simply align themselves with magazines under the ‘print
They are the ideal medium to use words and pictures to persuade readers into a particular medium’ banner. Newspapers need to distance themselves from magazines and promote
point of view. Magazine advertising doesn’t need to rely on words. My contention is that their own unique advantages.
the best newspaper advertising does.
N10: Is this what the advertising campaign you’ve developed for the World
Association of Newspapers is meant to do?
Gauteng Beeld and Huisgenoot. In Centurion, 21 per cent have e-mail, Internet. Mamelodi is
Soweto/Alexandra 100 per cent black with 52 per cent SePedi speaking. In Pretoria East, 32 per cent have
Soweto and Alex weren’t measured on the same criteria as other urban areas. Some vital e-mail/Internet and 38 per cent are LSM 10.
stats: 48 per cent is LSM 7-10 in Protea, Dobsonville, Diepkloof – R8 400 a month. Zulu
is the predominant language in Protea and Diepkloof. Setswana is the predominant Vaal (Meyerton, Sasolburg, Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark)
language in Dobsonville, Sepedi in Pretoria Central. The top shopping destinations are the Vaal Mall and Vaalgate. Average issue readership
The overwhelming majority of the communities are female, aged 35+. The majority of for local community papers is 71 per cent, followed by Daily Sun and Huisgenoot. Over
the community is black (95 per cent) with 38 per cent speaking Zulu and 19 per cent half the community is black with 53 per cent speaking Afrikaans and 35 per cent an
Sotho. The average monthly household income is around R5 200. The top shopping African language. Average monthly household income is around R13 300.
destinations are Southgate Mall, Johannesburg CBD and Protea Gardens Centre.
Average issue readership for community papers is 70 per cent, with 40 per cent for Daily Limpopo (Polokwane, Tzaneen)
Sun and 14 per cent for Sowetan Sunday World. Average issue readership for local community newspapers is 69 per cent, followed by 39
In Alex, 63 per cent are female, 98 per cent black with 31 per cent speaking Zulu. per cent for a weekly newspaper and 46 per cent for a weekly magazine. The top shop-
Average issue readership is higher for the Daily Sun than the Alex News and 10 per cent ping destinations are Savannah Mall and Checkers Centre. The community is 63 per
for the Sunday Times. Five per cent have e-mail/Internet and they should at Balfour cent white, 61 per cent Afrikaans with an average monthly household income of around
Park and Sandton City. Forty-seven per cent are in LSM 6 and 43 per cent aged 16-34. R16 400. The majority of the community is 35-49 years old and a relatively high Internet
In Diepkloof, 12 per cent have e-mail/Internet and one-third speaks Zulu with 20 per and e-mail penetration at 25 per cent.
cent Setswana. Average issue readership for the Diepkloof Urban News is 83 per cent.
Almost half of the community is aged 50+. North West (Brits, Hartebeespoortdam, Klerksdorp, Mafikeng, Rustenburg)
In Dobsonville, the average monthly household income is around R6 600. Eldorado The community is 56 per cent female in the North West, mainly in LSM 8-9 and 16-49
Park is 89 per cent coloured and 74 per cent Afrikaans speaking. In Protea, 9 per cent years old. The top shopping destinations are Game Centre and Mega City. The average
have e-mail/Internet with an average monthly household income of R8 400. Average issue readership of local community newspapers is 71 per cent with 49 per cent weekly
issue readership for the Protea Urban News is 66 per cent and 88 per cent shop at the newspapers and 41 per cent for dailies. The racial profile is 52 per cent white and 46 per
Protea Gardens. cent black with 46 per cent speaking Afrikaans and 36 per cent SetSwana. The average
monthly household income is around R13 300.
East Rand (Brakpan, Benoni, Bedfordview & Edenvale, Boksburg, Germiston, In Brits 42 per cent are aged 16-34, 75 per cent are white and 77 per cent are
Heidelberg, Kempton Park, Nigel, Springs) Afrikaans. Average monthly household income is around R16 000. In
Fifty-five per cent of PDMs in the East Rand are female; 56 per cent of PDMs who read Hartebeespoortdam, 34 per cent have e-mail/Internet, 90 per cent white and 76 per cent
the local community newspapers are female. The top two shopping destintations are East Afrikaans. Average monthly household income is R19 500. In Rustenburg, average issue
Rand Mall and Eastgate Centre. Sixty-eight per cent of the community is white with readership of the Rustenburg Herald/Heraut is 80 per cent and there is no one in the
44 per cent English speaking. Average monthly household income is around R17 600. community in LSM 1-5. In Mafikeng, 50 per cent of the community is aged 35-49 years
The local community newspapers enjoy an average issue readership of 73 per cent with old and it is 93 per cent black with 83 per cent speaking Setswana.
23 per cent for the Sunday Times and 13 per cent for You magazine.
Northern Joburg
(Fourways, Killarney, Midrand, North Eastern Joburg, Northcliff/Melville, Randburg,
Sandton) Community glamour
Fifty-six per cent of PDMs in Northern Joburg are female with 58 per cent of PDMs who Free community magazines (MyWeek and Get It) broke
read the local community newspapers also female. The biggest age group is 35-49 years onto the scene approximately a year ago and have since
old with a high proportion of the community in LSM 9-10. Forty-one per cent have made their presence felt. (According to the latest figures
e-mail/Internet. The top shopping destinations are Cresta and Sandton City. The area is it’s a very strong presence, with a circulation of over half a
64 per cent white and 67 per cent English speaking with an average monthly household million, Jan-March 2007). They have a community
income of around R21 400. The average issue readership for local community newspapers lifestyle focus and cover community news and events,
is 68 per cent, with 36 per cent for Sunday Times and 27 per cent for The Star. decor, shopping and food, as well as local celebrity (com-
In Sandton, 41 per cent of the community is LSM 10 and 57 per cent female. In munity leader) interviews. They offer advertisers the
Randburg 50 per cent have e-mail/Internet. In Northcliff/Melville, most people shop at ability to target consumers in specific regions, who want
Cresta and 45 per cent have e-mail/Internet. In Midrand, 54 per cent are black and a slightly more glamorous edge than the community paper.
61 per cent speak English with 44 per cent aged 16-34. In North Eastern Johannesburg, “We’re seeing new advertisers coming in at a local level who
it’s 60 per cent female and 36 per cent LSM 9. In Rosebank and Killarney a huge 59 per can’t afford to go into the mainstream media (TV, radio,
cent have e-mail/Internet, a high proportion of 35-49 year olds and no LSM 1-5. In Cosmopolitan etc). Community magazines have filled a gap, giving these advertisers
Fourways, 64 per cent are in LSM 9-10. the magazine environment at an affordable price,” says John Bowles, joint MD,
Newspaper Advertising Bureau (NAB). As a result, the response from advertisers has
West Rand (Krugersdorp, Randfontein, Roodepoort and Ruimsig) been very good.
The community is majority white (80 per cent), 57 per cent Afrikaans speaking with an The magazines are growing fast, as publishers identify regions and areas that hold
average monthly household income of around R16 900. The top shopping destinations potential for advertisers (and the communities that are served by them). Initially
are Westgate Mall and Clearwater Mall. Fifty-four per cent of PDMs in the West Rand consumers were not too sure about free community magazines or their role. Bowles
are female as well as those who read the local community newspapers. The largest age says that it took a while before consumers realised that ‘free’ doesn’t mean ‘cheap’ and
group is 35-49 years old followed by those 50+. There are no members of the communi- that these magazines now have a huge appeal. “Although they don’t have the same
ty in LSM 1-5. Over a third of the community have access to e-mail and Internet. numbers as free community newspapers and they don’t offer total market cover in the
In Roodepoort, over 80 per cent is LSM 8-10 and 34 per cent have e-mail/Internet. same way that these papers do, they have a longer lifespan – they can be placed on
coffee tables (in reception areas etc),” says Bowles.
Southern Joburg (Alberton and Johannesburg South) Whereas free community newspapers must deal with challenges around distribution
The top shopping destinations are The Glen and Alberton City. The community is and access to gated suburbs, community magazines have less to worry about. They are
49 per cent white and 35 per cent black. Almost half speak English and the average generally distributed to shopping centres (and placed in front of stores and restaurants).
monthly household income is around R15 700. The largest LSM group is those in 6-7 and Furthermore, publishers can build relationships with the body corporates of gated sub-
the biggest age group is 35-49 year olds. Average issue readership of local community urbs or complexes and arrange for access and delivery of the free magazines, says Bowles.
newspapers is 67 per cent with 19 per cent reading Sunday Times, followed by the Daily Publishers are looking to take these magazines online and into the growing township
Sun. market in the near future. “At the moment, we are still growing our township newspa-
pers – we will look at taking the community magazines into the townships further
Pretoria (Centurion, Gezina, Hatfield, Montana, Mamelodi, Pretoria East, Pretoria down the line,” says Bowles.
West) Media24’s MyWeek is available across Gauteng, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and KZN
Pretoria is predominantly white (66 per cent) and Afrikaans speaking (59 per cent) with (with a total of 34 magazines).
an average monthly household income of around R16 100. Fifty-five per cent of PDMs Caxtons’s Get It has 20 magazines in its stable, most of which are Johannesburg
are female and the top shopping destinations are Menlyn Park and Kolonnade. There’s based. Joint ventures in Bloemfontein (with OFM) and Cape Town (with publishers,
an average split between all ages groups 16-50+ with the highest proportion in LSM 6- Ramsay Son & Parker) facilitate their distribution processes in these regions.
7. Average issue readership for local community newspapers is 65 per cent followed by
Community growth
While the dailies and weeklies of the newspaper world developed areas are evolving into self sufficient commu- While this increase is to be applauded, it’s not without
fret over the pressures of online and free news, communi- nities and therefore there is a need for more clearly its challenges, some of which could seriously hamper
ty newspapers are enjoying growth and development. defined community newspapers,” says Gill Randall, joint future growth. The biggest challenge for community
Loyal readers, growing ad revenues and the subsequent managing director, NAB. During the last few months, papers is gaining access to complexes and cluster devel-
circulation growth are driving community papers forward. NAB’s community papers have expanded into areas such opments. “The massive challenge is distribution,
In the US, newspapers are narrowing their focus to as the Zululand region of KZN and the Lowveld in especially in boomed off areas,” says Bowles. While
local news, in an attempt to create the kind of content Mpumalanga. According to Hill, Independent industry sources will not reveal much at present about
that is not available online or through the mass media. Newspapers Cape has seen growth in areas such as the their plans to overcome these issues, solutions are being
Large publishers are looking to buy out small community Boland and Cape Town city centre. worked on. However, this doesn’t seem to be a problem
papers to cash in on it all. The major township developments (new shopping in all distribution areas. Hill maintains that in the Cape,
Locally, the community press industry is now at 459 malls, commercial nodes, housing, etc) are creating for example, demand for community newspapers is such
465, an increase of just over 60 000 copies (Jan-March excellent opportunities for community papers. “There is that residents of gated complexes make arrangements
2007) compared to the previous corresponding period. growth in the emerging sector and it is kicking in with Independent to receive them.
The free distribution community papers are at an all- amongst LSM 4-5 and above. They are more educated In spite of the challenges, community papers are see-
time high. The free newspaper figures from the latest ABC and their literacy levels are higher,” says John Bowles, ing exciting innovations. NAB is planning to go mobile
report (Jan-March 2007) are standing at 4 506 039, an joint managing director, NAB. Randall adds that at the within the next two years and is currently studying rev-
increase of 595 910 in the last year, including an addition- end of March 2007, NAB saw a notable incline in enue models. “We will also be online when it becomes
al 20 new newspapers. “Readers love our local newspapers national advertising sales throughout their 10 Soweto more affordable for everyone – we have the infrastruc-
and clearly advertisers get a good response from spending offerings. She anticipates that with six shopping centres ture in place already,” says Bowles. For Independent’s
their money with us,” says David Hill. Independent up and running in Soweto (and more developments to papers, the move online is expected to be seamless once
Newspapers Cape division publishes 14 titles, with a total follow), advertising interest is likely to continue its the group’s community papers have switched to the
distribution of 595 368. The National Advertising Bureau upward trend. Thus far, NAB is reaching 80 per cent of Prestige editorial system (something that is set to happen
(NAB) boasts 120 community papers. Soweto (and is therefore tapping 80 per cent of the in the near future). “We’re looking forward to a synergy
In order to keep up the astonishing growth, free com- household expenditure). Independent Cape’s township between our papers and the Internet,” says Hill.
munity paper publishers are finding gaps in their existing offering, Vukani (which is bi-lingual English-Xhosa) is Beyond this, community papers appear to be focusing
distribution areas, as well as new potential footholds in also in high demand. “Pagination has grown by 25 per on getting the relevant publications to their communi-
newly developing areas (eg townships and Midrand in cent in the past two years. We expect this growth to ties, so that they can deliver the right product to their
Gauteng). “Nationally we are seeing a trend where newly continue,” says Hill. advertisers.
Most major newspaper report circulation declines in the latest UK ABC results. The Guardian was
the biggest loser in the national daily market. The Sun also fell but retained its number one spot.
The Financial Times redesigned and was one of the few national dailies to post an increase for
the latest ABC figures.
The Guardian News & Media will cut jobs over the coming year whilst adding jobs in digital
media.
thelondonpaper leads London Lite in the latest ABC figures, but both papers are being watched
carefully after video footage of dumping was reported.
Free newspapers across the UK have posted increases in circulation.
The Sun website claims 56 million new readers from around the globe in 2006.
The Wall Street Journal announces its capability to publish scented ads.
USA Today, the country’s biggest newspaper states that ad revenue is
down 14 per cent in February compared with February 06.
The New York Observer redesigns from a broadsheet into a tabloid.
The Washington Post reduces cost in the newsroom by shrinking and
focuses on its website.
Two journalists have been killed in China in the last The latest ABC figures show a decline in paying customers and circulation
year, both at the hands of the police, albeit in com- figures.
pletely separate and unrelated incidents. (WAN) The New York Times employs a ‘futurist in residence’, Michael
Rogers, to help it with new technology developments. The paper
opens permanent access to TimesSelect in a bid to attract students.
Publisher of the New York Times, Arthur Sulzberger Jr, doesn’t know,
Eight journalists have been shot and killed in the or care, apparently whether the paper will be in a printed format in One journalist has
last year in the Philippines. (WAN) the future. been killed in
The New York Post runs its first front page ad. Guatemala. (WAN)
According to a recent Gallup poll, 44 per cent of Americans use a
daily newspaper, a figure that has remained steady since 2004. Four journalists
Thirteen per cent say they use a newspaper several times a week while have died in
seven per cent of Americans read a national newspaper every day. Columbia. (WAN)
In an interview with group marketing director Joe Talcott of News Limited, Sydney Australia, we get an insight into the mind of one of the world’s biggest news
corporations and we learn about the new kind of thinking that is spreading through the media world, as newspapers face some of the greatest circulation threats
of the last century.
History has shown that the media can therefore excuse newspaper While this still seems to be the the Australian newspaper’s content directly, something that
are a vital barometer of progress in executives if they adopt a measure case today, Talcott is adamant that ‘Confidential’ gossip, entertain- was once the sole domain of the
the modern world. This is still the of pessimism regarding the future the marriage between newspapers ment and movie section shouldn’t editor, the publisher and the
case today, as newspapers face their of their business. After all, this and the Internet has not yet deliver the same message on TV producer.
greatest challenge in the last cen- traditional medium has its physi- arrived where he thinks it should and the Internet. Similarly, the This dynamic is changing
tury. It is one of such epic propor- cal limitations. It shares none of be. The challenge, as he sees it, is New York Post has its own ‘Page communications. Companies like
tions that unless they revolutionise the freedoms that the Internet, to determine the right place and Six,’ which possesses huge credi- Lego, for example, now outsource a
the way in which they think and radio, cellphone or TV offer. the right manner in which to bility as a turn-to section that big portion of their research and
operate, they too will go the way of During the Gulf War for example, deliver certain messages, in ways offers a guide to what’s happening development to their customers,
the dinosaurs, in a no less spectac- history was being created so that are relevant to readers. in New York. They also publish an rather than relying on six Danish
ular fashion. quickly that the ink had barely This can be seen in the explo- annual issue – a big seller – that scientists who are locked in a room
While this may seem to be an dried on the newspapers at the sion of freesheets both here and shows that the right content can building models. They now have
unnecessarily alarmist statement, presses before the published infor- abroad, as the newspaper business live in many different places. thousands of people all around the
newspapers currently face a great mation had changed and become seeks to meet the public’s seem- The challenge is to provide con- world experimenting with their
many more challenges in retaining old news. ingly insatiable hunger for news. stant value and connectivity for products and building new
their circulation than ever before. In spite of this Talcott believes News Limited gained first mover news customers. In this way the creations. McDonald’s has put
Gone are the days when newspa- that the newspaper business will advantage when they launched a readers of the morning paper can together a community of young
pers were consumers’ sole source not only survive, it will prosper, as free newspaper called MX in check the website for comments mothers in the UK who speak
of information. They now have a the various channels continue to Melbourne and then again in on articles that they have read and openly and assist the company in
multitude of opportunities and converge and the drivers of the Sydney as a commuter paper. they can provide their own feed- navigating its way through impor-
sources from which to get the news business evolve. History sup- They capitalised on a distribution back. They are also able to turn to tant health and nutritional issues
news that they once relied on ports his confidence. When televi- opportunity to reach large vol- the paper the next morning to (this may be the key to the compa-
obtaining from the morning paper. sion was born, there was a fervent umes of people as they left the read the online comments that ny’s recent radical product develop-
The proliferation of competition belief that it would replace radio. city in the afternoons, through a have been published. This means ment). P&G is another company to
that the opportunity exists to have come up with its own co-creation
a brand that intersects with peo- model by utilising two online con-
ple’s lives in different places, sumer panels, ‘Tremor’ and
“I think (certainly in Australia) that there is a misconception that newspapers which is of enormous appeal to ‘Vocalpoint’ to canvass the opinions
are dying and that all the people who have been reading newspapers advertisers and marketers alike. of over 750 000 customers.
This also provides the necessary Similarly, the millions of MySpace
have migrated to the Internet to get their information. The evidence platform for newspapers to con- members and YouTube uploaders
clearly doesn’t support this theory.” nect directly with their readers – are evidence that the masses are
– Joe Talcott, group marketing director, News Limited, Sydney, Australia something that has hitherto not the media now – and that you can
been possible because the tradi- have a vibrant media on the
tional distribution model requires Internet without having a media
newsagents. It is this new level of company involved.
and the plethora of media chan- This was not the case. It did, how- relatively small number of distri- connectivity and collaboration In a similar vein, Tom Friedman
nels have increased their volume ever, act as a catalyst for change in bution points. The launch was a that will shape the future of the has said that the next break-
of choice. When consumers go both mediums. Both radio and TV good example of marrying context news media landscape, just as through in biochemistry is likely
about their daily business, they have continued to evolve with the and content, as the paper was iTunes has done in the music busi- to originate with a Romanian high
can watch the TV over breakfast, times, to the point where they designed to be a 20-30 minute ness and amazon.com has done in school student rather than com-
turn on the radio in the car or lis- now provide exciting formats – read to match the average com- the publishing world. In the same ing from a university. With so
ten to their iPods on the way to such as talk shows and reality muter time. Its content was heavi- way, we can expect the traditional many millions of publishers on the
work. They can also log onto the shows – that make the most of ly entertainment driven and distribution models for news to net, hundreds of thousands of
Internet at work or at home or their mediums. They have joined included information on news change along with the times. producers and millions of
when they go out for a cup of forces with the other mediums that had broken after the other While speech developed in the researchers and contributors to
coffee. The news business today is rather than opposing them. They papers had gone to bed. The time of the caveman, the second Wikipedia, the media of tomorrow
truly 24/7. It’s on-demand in employ the Internet to offer their paper served the additional pur- advance in human communica- will have the challenge of harness-
every room in the house and it’s information hungry viewers and pose of reaching a younger audi- tion – writing – took place only a ing the power of connectivity and
even available on household listeners access to more data via ence for whom free news was the few thousand years ago. Writing delivering news in such a way that
appliances such as the fridge! SMS, enabling the passionate to accepted norm, thanks to the allowed people to preserve knowl- it creates a continued demand for
Given the growing familiarity and interact with their programmes by Internet. This made its free status edge and thoughts from genera- their products. The traditional
popularity of innovative cellular casting their votes, asking their all the more important and tion to generation and acted as a model will change forever. Whilst
technology amongst today’s questions and entering their com- appealing. This is not a new phe- time machine of sorts, as it per- content will remain important
modern consumers, it will be a petitions. If this is anything to go nomenon. Many of the factors mitted communication with the (with millions of channels to
small wonder if newspapers sur- by, we are dealing with a case of that motivate newspaper purchas- future. The next significant choose from), the key differentia-
vive the cold winter that is ahead. media convergence rather than es are lifestage driven, which is advance (which only came into tors will be talent, context and
So what has changed in the media divergence. why few young people read news- being a few hundred years ago) brand strength.
news business? For a start, it is Central to the survival of each papers (as was the case in the was publishing, which allowed one For years the media have grown
now more closely related to the media channel is the value that it 1940s). They have other things to person to communicate with along their path, sometimes quietly
entertainment business than its delivers to the consumer. In do, even if they do seem to find many people. In this way educa- and sometimes not. However it
purist founders might have hoped Talcott’s own words: “We used to the time to scan the Internet. tion was democratised and science seems to that the last few years
or envisaged. Consumers today talk about Content is King and Change within the newspaper was made available to the masses. have revealed a new kind of energy
also have a voracious appetite for while I still think that this is so, I business has come about in many Cinema, television, radio and out- and drive for change deep within
the news and consume far greater believe that context is even more ways. While previously executives door are all part of the third the industry. Clearly they don’t
amounts of information than their important.” Just as radio and TV knew that their newspapers advance, as they are a small group want to be left behind. They are
forefathers did. In addition, rapid channels have evolved their weren’t just products, they didn’t communicating with many. driven by hard nosed owners with
change and speedy technology thinking and formats to maximise think of them as brands either. Talcott believes that we are only keen entrepreneurial minds and
also mean that we don’t have to their strengths and value to the They saw them as newspapers and just entering the fourth advance, an instinct for survival that is
wait for the news, as we can get consumer, the same holds true for mastheads at best. They now which has been enabled by the fueled by new entrants into the
the latest up-to-date reports 24/7. newspapers and their upstart chal- realise that they own some power- Internet. This allows people to executive ranks, who hail from
Rather than wait for the morning lenger, the Internet. When news- ful brands, which if managed cor- connect individually and en the fields of retail, FMCG and
or evening paper, today’s news papers adopted the Internet they rectly, can live in other places as masse. It has revolutionised the consumer marketing. One has the
consumers can sign up for bul- fell into the same trap as the fore- well. This represents a significant publishing model since all these sense that the giant has been
letins that will discreetly update fathers of the radio and TV busi- shift in the cultural attitude with- individuals are publishers and woken and that this time he is
them via SMS, e-mail or RSS ness: they regarded the Internet as in the newspaper business. For content generators. Now people determined not to let Jack get
Feeds throughout the day. One just a newspaper on the web. example, there is no reason why truly have the power to influence away with the golden egg.
By Ted Anthony
In the months since the launch of in mind. We do stories that are tures on the latest must-have
asap, the new Associated Press entirely video, stories that are a technology.
(AP) multimedia service for readers combination of photographs and And we do entertainment and
in their 20s and 30s, the operative audio packaged in a Flash interac- popular culture like no one else –
word has been ‘evolution’. tive presentation, pieces that are everything from full and exclusive
In its pilot phase until the end audio-driven, and stories driven coverage of the Oscars to explo-
of 2006, asap aims at taking the by the design of custom-built rations of the oddest corners of
best of the AP resources and web pages American culture.
directing them toward a multi- We are doing podcasts and The form that the journalism
media service for the 18-to34- video mini-documentaries regu- takes is limited only by the make them come alive. More Instead, it will keep changing
year-old demographic. larly now. Song downloads are just creativity of asap’s staff. The creativity conceived Flash presen- with the times, making sure that
To do that, we currently employ around the corner. material that appears on asap is tations that turn the news in to a it brings AP values and strong AP
26 staffers, including the editors We have done hard news to exclusive – it appears nowhere visual experience. journalism to whatever it takes to
and designers at New York head- first-person diaries of reporters on else in the AP’s report. But above all, we are doing grab this valuable audience.
quarters and journalists in New the scene, which gets the insights Since our launch on September more video – something we have Ted Anthony is editor of the
York, Los Angeles and Denver. of the world’s AP correspondents 19, 2005, asap has changed, as it heard over and over that pilot Associated Press’ asap found at
We also draw heavily on AP jour- to our readers quickly. should. We have listened to feed- participants want. http://asap.ap.org. He is based in
nalists from around the world. We have done sports, from the back from pilot participants and AP recognises that for asap to New York City, USA and reached
They use video, audio, interac- X Games to the Olympics to focus groups, and we have honed achieve and maintain its maxi- by e-mail at tanthony@ap.org.
tives, graphics and photographs to gonzo poker. Our business and what we do. mum relevance, it must never This article first appeared
make stories come alive and actu- technology coverage includes a We are doing more ‘chunky’ stop evolving. The best hope we in ideas magazine June/July
ally conceive their stories from personal-finance column for text and ore items off the news. have for asap is that it will never 2006 (p.39). For more information,
the idea phase with those media young adults and frequent fea- More audio used with stories to get to where it wants to be. visit www.inma.org.
Ask Agonia:
Dear Agonia, The fact that you’ve published it on the company website blog means
I fear that I have missed my calling in life. I have recurring that company employees, partners, shareholders and potential clients
dreams about working as a veterinarian and I wake up have access to it. To top it all you now look like a terrible employee.
feeling very nostalgic. Although I enjoy my current job as a So yes, you have good reason to be sweating. Remove the post imme-
newspaper reporter, I feel that it lacks the emotion and diately. If you are confronted about it admit that you are a hair-
personal reward that make veterinary practice so engaging. brained, childish twit who cannot control his temper tantrums. In
Should I leave my job and become a vet instead? the meanwhile, invest in some lip balm (… you’re going to be doing a
Dilemma lot of arse-kissing).
A shift in attitude
What a difference a year makes. would be certain columnists, South Africans are blogging away
SEO challenge
Newspaper 10 interviewed many of crosswords, dating services etc. and over 3 500 ‘reporters’ are
While there are still challenges ahead, some of them can be made
South Africa’s newspaper editors “The answer here is unique con- registered on Johncom’s
easier. The Online Publishing Association figures demonstrate that
and publishers last year and the tent. You can sell content that www.reporter.co.za. The next step
there is an international audience for local newspapers, which can
response to online, while generally nobody else has,” says Ingo for newspapers will be to create
only grow as South Africa heads towards the FIFA 2010 World Cup.
positive and enthusiastic, was that Capraro, national editor, Son. social networking sections on their
Search engines can create a major flow of traffic, from which
it wasn’t a major priority. Come Buckland agrees: “Paid content websites, allowing users to upload
browsers will head for South African websites. Simple training for
2007 – and the attitude of the vast works for publications that are their own video clips and sound
journalists and editors on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), as
majority has changed. “I see it as highly niched, although I am of bites. Now that’s interactivity and
well as learning new techniques for entering headlines online in
an opportunity to provide content the opinion that paid content promoting loyalty.
order to jump up the search engine list, can drive more traffic to
in a variety of platforms. Should doesn’t work as far as generalist Still, not everyone is convinced.
websites. Many of the international newspapers employ SEO tech-
paper products decline, online and news sites are concerned.” Local tabloids such as Son and
niques in order to achieve traffic. Other helpful hints on improving
new media will take up those read- Of course, giving away free con- Daily Sun are reluctant to go with
SEO results include: linking stories that are related; checking out
ers,” says Sarel du Plessis, general tent is one of many ways to drive online (although Son does have a
the most popular keywords on search engines at any given time;
manager, RCP Media. traffic to a website. Giving editorial paid for website for its girls) and
adding keywords to the headline and opening paragraphs and pro-
The online agenda has definitely power to readers is another. could potentially be caught off
viding keyword titles for images.
moved up a few notches, although guard, should the online adoption
selling as many copies as possible RSS Feeds curve suddenly spike upwards in
and improving the print product is online is not a burning issue in we have found a new medium the future, as many expect it to.
naturally at the top of the list. their target market right now. through which we can do what we Beeld, Cape Argus, Cape “Online demographics are growing
This is evidenced by the amount Nevertheless, it is something that do well.” Erken also straddles one Times, The Citizen, Daily in the lower LSMs and younger
of mobizines, RSS feeds, blogs, they will be attending to in the of the main challenges of paid for News, The Herald, age groups,” says Francois Groepe,
podcasts and video clips that are months ahead. and free content, by offering most Isolezwe, The Mercury, CEO, Media24 Newspapers, “and
starting to appear on newspaper While the shift in attitude content on a paid for basis and Pretoria News, The these readers are already using or
websites. Online news sites also towards online is positive, the giving some away for free. “We Mercury, The Star, Mail & beginning to use online. If you
rank as some of the country’s most industry must still battle with a keep experimenting with the Guardian, The Post, don’t provide it, a competitor will.
visited websites. number of challenges, not least of balance until we get it right.” Independent on Saturday, Access from the workplace also
While online innovation would which is the battle for ad revenue. Sunday Independent, plays a big role in these market
go even faster if South Africa was- However, as Matthew Buckland, Video Sowetan, Sunday Times, segments. Regrettably, due to the
n’t hampered by slow and expen- publisher, Mail & Guardian Online Sunday Tribune monopoly, one has to accept that
Sowetan
sive broadband offerings as well as points out, ad revenue is growing Sunday Times the Internet’s growth (in this
relatively low access to the at a pleasing rate as advertising Die Burger Weekly football newspaper, country) will be slower than in the
Internet, newspaper publishers are agencies increasingly buy into the Beeld Soccer-Laduma is intending to do rest of the world.”
finally trying to put themselves concept. Newspapers are also offer- this with the launch of its Still, despite the gripes regarding
ahead of the curve in preparation ing print and online package deals, Paid for or free content has revamped website. The new web- the slow penetration of the
for the inevitable. For a start, we providing the opportunity to intro- become one of the great online site will have all the bells and Internet and broadband, publish-
have the launch of The Times – duce new advertisers (who would debates. The majority of local whistles and according to owner ers are pushing forward with mul-
‘SA’s first truly interactive newspa- normally shun newspaper advertis- publishers provide free content, and publisher, Peter du Toit, “there timedia platforms. Recent months
per’ – a sure indication of the shift ing) into the mix. Wertheim while Independent Newspaper’s will be a lot of content – stories have seen many websites offering
in mindset. Even the new Aymes points out: “Right now, iol.co.za website is one of the few and opinions voiced by our readers podcasts, blogs, video and audio
Afrikaans Sunday tabloid, Sondag, print is strong and online offerings that has paid for content. “Access – on the website.” Du Toit also clips. All of these functions can
has a website: its aim according to make it even stronger.” to the full news articles and pages points out that while Soccer- help to provide the all-important
editor Mike Vink, is to promote that appear in our paid titles, are Laduma’s readers are mainly from exclusive content that news sites
interactivity with its readers. Blogs available to our subscribers via the the black market, it is clear that require, although the marketing of
Interactivity is the buzzword for Die Burger IOL website,” says Michael Vale, they are moving up on the LSM these assets seems to have fallen
newspaper publishers and most are Mail & Guardian marketing manager, Independent scale. “While we are still getting slightly behind the actual intro-
striving to achieve this, not only Newspapers Cape. letters and faxes, we receive more duction of the digital innovations.
with their readers but within their Innovative ideas that incorpo- The overwhelming majority of e-mail. Added to the blogs, SMSs “We are innovating and launching
own newspapers as well. rate readers, advertisers, newspa- newspaper publishers are of the etc (and the proposed new web- new products but we’re not being
The Western Cape’s daily pers and online, such as opinion that while news itself site), these provide us with even given the credit for it,” says
Afrikaans newspaper, Die Burger, Independent’s online event auc- should be provided free (after all, more loyalty from our readers, Wertheim Aymes, although as Van
has developed the first multimedia tions, represent one of the ways to you can find the same stories by keeping them with us for a longer Niekerk points out, “newspapers
newsroom, putting both their attract interest from all parties. using search engines), it is possible period of time,” he says. were (previously) in a comfortable
online and print editorial teams While this is not a new concept to block off certain content that Locally, citizen journalism is a position – now we really have to
together in one space. Beeld has from an international point of has to be paid for. Examples of this growing market. Thousands of market ourselves.”
now followed suit with a cultural view, the event last October, pair-
mindset that says that every depart- ing the Sunday Tribune and The
ment on the newspaper has to work Mercury, was a first on the African The State of Online in the US
together. “We all have to follow the continent. The next one is to be According to The State of the New Media 2007 report from the Project for Excellence in Journalism, while
same strategy and the online divi- held in July between The Star and news websites are gaining in popularity, overall news consumption leveled off in 2006. Some exceptions were
sion is now under the publishing the Pretoria News and retailers noted, such as the number of Americans who go online for election news and the readership of blogs. It is
division,” says Lucille van Niekerk, will pledge their goods or services estimated that in 2006 approximately US$40 million was spent online for political advertising. According to
general manager, Beeld. for the auction. These will be dis- research conducted by PQ Media, this figure represents a 38 per cent increase over the 2004 elections.
Deals are being negotiated with- played on the The Star/Pretoria 2006 was a record-breaking year for online advertising, with ad revenue reaching $12.1 billion during the
in the media houses themselves to News bidnsave website, as well in first nine months. Online video generated approximately $410 million. In 2005 US marketers spent about
bring online into the fold. A case the two newspapers’ catalogue $763 million on news and current events websites, compared to $1.1 billion spent on portals such as MSN,
in point is the Sunday World supplements on go-live day. When Yahoo and AOL. Four websites dominated online news: Yahoo News, MSNBC, CNN and AOL. According
newspaper and CareerJunction the goods are sold, the retailers to Nielsen//NetRatings, TV news websites experienced the largest gains last year: CBS News was up by
collaboration last year, which fol- will be given the full value of the 29 per cent, ABC News by 22 per cent and Fox News by 17 per cent.
lowed on the success of the goods in advertising credits, as The good news is that trust in the Internet is rising. Fifty-five per cent of Americans aged 12+ who go
Sowetan deal. This partnership well as a database of all the bid- online consider the Internet to be reliable and accurate. Research conducted by Pew Research Center for the
sees all of CareerJunction’s jobs ders that expressed an interest in People and the Press, found that 39 per cent of Americans say that convenience and accessibility are why
displayed on the Sunday World them. Readers are able to obtain they prefer the Internet to other news platforms. Younger Americans express more trust in traditional media
website. “Online is the way to go: the goods and services at auction sources than they do in blogs. A survey conducted by the Knight Foundation found that 45 per cent of stu-
interactivity must be achieved,” prices. dents say that TV provides accurate news, followed by newspapers (43 per cent) – blogs came in at only 10
says Gisele Wertheim Aymes, gen- According to Felix Erken, pub- per cent.
eral manager, advertising strategy lisher of JobMail and JunkMail, A survey conducted by the Online News Association found that online managers valued content-related
and trade marketing, Newspaper they became successful when he skills such as news judgement, grammar and copy-editing skills, over technology-related skills such as audio
Division, Johncom Media realised that they were no longer and video. The report stated that it had found that the news industry was ‘moving towards digital journal-
Investments. Even Ilanga, SA’s traditional publishers. “We ism with new seriousness… and that attitudes had begun to change.’ The report mentions that one reason
oldest Zulu newspaper, has a web- brought buyers and sellers togeth- for this shift is that online activities are finally beginning to pay off and that news companies are starting to
site, although managing director, er and print was one of the meth- see revenue growth. It found The Washington Post website to be one of the best that it had studied. The
Arthur Konigkramer, admits that ods we used to achieve this. Now report’s content analysis also found that some papers were still simply using websites to post their old copy.
they havn’t advanced very far, as there are other ways to do this and For the full report visit www.stateofthenewsmedia.org/2007
• Using the restrictions of All Media Split and Excluding SP • Report covers the time period from 01-Jan-06 to 31-Dec-06
Celebrityssip
go TV E xtr a !
Your favourite newspaper has a lot more on offer than just the news.
E xtr a !
TV Celebrityssip
go
Sun Wheels: motoring supplement. Jackson Northman Anderson (1922-2005)
Sun Shopper: a consumer guide that highlights the latest trends and Jack Anderson, as he was known, was an American newspaper columnist, who is today
developments in fashion, music, technology, music, etc. regarded as one of the fathers of modern investigative journalism. He was hired by the
Washington Post in 1947 to write for Drew Pearson’s Washington Merry-Go-Round
The Herald: column. He took over Pearson’s column after his death in 1969 and relinquished it in
La Femme: a supplement for women 2004, when Parkinson’s disease left him too ill to write. His aggressive and tenacious
reporting earned him a place on President Nixon’s ‘enemies list’ and many politicians
Tales From Abroad: (online) expats share their stories.
regarded him as a very dangerous man.
Anderson is best known for his reporting on the Watergate scandal; J. Edgar
Pretoria News: Hoover’s ties to the Mafia; the John F. Kennedy assassination and the CIA plot to
Motoring: motorsport news, car price guides. assassinate Fidel Castro. In 1972 he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for National
Tshwane News: community news and events. Reporting, after he had investigated the secret American policy decision-making
Tonight: TV guides, cinema schedules, movie reviews and gossip. between the US and Pakistan, during the Indo-Pakistan War.
Business Report: business news and info; financial reports.
27 Sept 2007 Business Models for Newspaper It combines workshops and seminars on
INMA Web 2.0 Seminar Publishers industry topics as well as a showcase of
28 September 207 Lisbon, Portugal the industry’s products and services.
Africa Europe www.inma.org 25-26 October 2007
World Congress on Global ethics for Media Events, Globalisation and www.ifra.com Classified Advertising Conference
the Media in the 21st Century Cultural Change INMA Europe Conference The focus is on future developments in Naples, Florida, USA
Lusaka, Zambia Bremen, Germany Vienna, Austria both technology and media markets. August 23-24 2007
30 August-1 September 2007 July 6-7 2007 1-4 October 2008 www.nna.org
www.kasomamediafoundation.com www.mediaevents.uni-bremen.de www.inma.org
Keynote speakers, panel debates and The keynote speakers are Daniel Dayan, India
National Newspaper Association’s
workshops will result in a formal state- Eric Rothenbuhler and Ingrid Volkmer. Restrictions and Possibilities. The Ifra India 2007
121st Annual Convention & Trade
ment on global media ethics for the Topics to be discussed include: sport games Media in Discourses of Migration, Chennai, India
Show
21st century. and media events, political communica- Citizenship and Belonging in Africa 4-6 September 2007
tion as media events, digital media events Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Uppsala, Sweden www.ifra.com
26-29 September 2007
Asia and media events and future research. 5-7 October If you’re interested in the Indian newspa-
www.nna.org
Asia Pacific Publishing Convention www.nai.uu.se per market, Ifra now has an exhibition
The Future of Newspapers The workshop invites research papers that focused entirely on the Indian newspaper
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Society of News Design Annual
Cardiff, UK critically discuss aspects of the media and market to coincide with the conference,
2-3 August 2007 Workshop & Exhibition
12-13 September media texts in discourses of migration, which includes a publishers and techni-
www.publishingconvention.com
www.tandf.co.uk citizenship and belonging in contemporary Boston, USA
The theme of this year’s conference is cal forum.
The conference will focus on the highly societies in Africa and its diasporas. 11-13 October 2007
Integrate Publishing with Digital
contested future of newspapers with www.snd.org
Technology Profitably. USA
contributions from the international 2nd World Digital Publishing This year’s speakers include Mark
community of academics, along with Conference & Expo/10th World NEXPO 08 Porter, Sara Quinn and Pegie Stark
Australia newspaper executives, trade unionists, Editor and Marketeer Conference & Expo Washington, DC, USA Adam from the Poynter Institute
PANPA 2007 Annual Conference journalists and regulators. Amsterdam, The Netherlands 12-15 April 2008 Eyetrack study, Archie Tse and
Melbourne, Australia 17-19 October 2007 www.nexpo.com Stig Ørskov.
6-8 August 2007 INMA Classified Advertising www.wan-press.org NEXPO is the world’s largest annual
www.panpa.org.au Warsaw, Poland newspaper exhibition and conference.
Book Corner
Analysing Newspapers: An Approach from Critical Discourse Analysis Blood and Sand by Frank Gardner (Bantam)
by John E. Richardson (Palgrave Macmillan) Imagine watching as your friend is killed instantly by gunmen – and then
In this book, which is aimed at journalism and communications students, John having those same gunmen shoot you repeatedly, while people stand around
you waiting for you to die. This happened to Frank Gardner while he was
E Richardson, a lecturer in the Department of Journalism Studies at the
filming a report on Al-Qaeda with his cameraman in Riyadh in 2004.
University of Sheffield, offers a practical guide to the way the language of jour- Incredibly, Gardener survived. This is his story of how a chance encounter
nalism works. Using case studies, Richardson provides an easy framework to with Wilfred Thesiger led to his immense interest in the Arab World and to
use for applying critical discourse and analysis to newspapers from around the becoming a BBC journalist. Gardener has a unique insight into this world
world, while studying the effect and power of language. after spending much time in North Africa and in the Middle East. He cre-
ates a perspective on the ‘war on terror’ and what it means, from a well-informed point of
Ripper Notes: How the Newspapers Covered the Jack the Ripper view. A must-read.
Murders by Dan Norder (Inklings Press)
The Insider: The Private Diaries of a Scandalous Decade by Piers
Any book related to Jack the Ripper is worth reading and this collection of Morgan (Ebury Press)
essays regarding the newspaper coverage of the case is especially interesting. It doesn’t matter who you are – everyone loves skinner and scandal.
Ripper Notes covers many aspects of the murders, including foreign cover- Piers Morgan is a master gossiper, who became editor of the UK’s News
age, the inaccurate reporting of the facts and their cultural impact on of the World at the age of 28. During the 90’s the extraordinarily
Victorian society. media-savvy Morgan kept his own diaries on celebrities, political secrets
and top-level meetings in the UK. This enthralling and entertaining
book is filled with juicy details about Rupert Murdoch, Princess Diana
Spy: The Funny Years by Kurt Anderson, Graydon Carter, George Kalogerakis and Tony Blair, as well as everyone who was anyone during his time at
(Miramax Books) the News of the World and The Mirror, which he later edited.
The original satirical magazine is back, this time in book form. It celebrates
everything there was to adore about the magazine, still regarded as one of the Another Bloody Love Letter by Anthony Loyd (Headline Review)
most influential in America in its time. The book includes Separated at Birth, Anthony Loyd is an award-winning foreign correspondent for The Times
Naked City and Fine Print, as well as some examples of the magazine’s best and has covered numerous conflicts that include Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra
Leone and Bosnia. His memoirs relate to the coverage of these wars. The
writing, investigative journalism, photography and illustrations. book is also about his very personal battle with heroin addiction and having
to cope with the deaths of close friends and family. An intense but extremely
Writing for Comics by Peter David (North Light Books) rewarding read.
Writing for, or developing a comic, is an absolute skill. Peter David, a
writer on Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Star Trek and Babylon 5 amongst Words and Deedes: Selected Journalism 1931-2006 by William
many others, is one of the top comic writers in the world. This book is the Deedes (Macmillan)
William Deedes is one of the greatest journalists ever to put pen to
ultimate guide to writing for this genre and in it David teaches one how to
paper. This is a collection of his very best columns, leaders and
create a comic from beginning to end. This is a valuable resource for both articles, spanning 70 years of British, European and world events – a
beginners and seasoned writers. It’s an easy how-to guide, featuring illus- remarkable achievement and an even more remarkable read.
trations and comics from major publishers.
Rolling Stone 1, 000 Covers: A History of the Most Influential
P. S.: On a Life in Newspapers by Peter Stephens (Melrose Books) Magazine in Pop Culture
Peter Stephens has seen and done it all on his way up from the city papers to by Jann Wenner (Harry N. Abrams, Inc)
This is the stunning second edition of the pictorial history of pop culture
Fleet Street. He is credited with helping to turn Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun from Rolling Stone, the leaders in this genre. This revised and updated
into the UK’s top tabloid, while working closely with the man himself. This is edition presents a collection of Rolling Stone covers in full Technicolor –
about Stephens’ journey. It covers his travels in journalism and coping with along with excerpts from the magazine – from 1967 onwards. Of course, the
Parkinson’s disease. It will inspire anyone who reads it. stunning photography is enhanced by the fact that the world’s best photographers,
including Herb Ritts and Annie Leibovitz, did so many of the covers.
News and the Net by Barrie Gunter (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Advertising in the News: Paid-for Content and the South African
Inc, US)
Print Media By Adrian Hadland, Lesley Cowling and Bate Felix Tabi Tabe (HSRC Press)
News and the Net, as the title suggests, is an in-depth examination of
Increased commercialism has led to increased competition for ad revenue; print media
newspapers, the newsroom and the implications of the Internet. Author have responded by incorporating increasing amounts of paid-for content
Barrie Gunter takes a holistic look at how newspapers have developed (supplements, advertorials, etc). Through interesting local case studies, the
online; how some news organisations have developed their strategies authors question the consequences that paid-for content has for the South
and how the Internet has developed as a source of information for both African print media (for media ethics, profitability and editorial integrity, for
journalists and consumers. Gunter takes a critical look at the lack of new models that effec- example). They question to what extent the commercial media regulate and
tively explain the impact of online communication. He also examines and discusses the manage paid-for content. This is a must read for anyone involved in the
opportunities that online presents for news organisations. media or advertising.
Crossword Clues
ACROSS DOWN
2 Easy as 1,2,3 national Spanish daily 1 Oldest Zulu newspaper
7 Joburg’s daily 3 Cape Town’s afternoon read
10 SA capital’s newspaper 4 Healthy Hong Kong newspaper
12 Pro-Islamist daily from Bangladesh 5 SA’s only football focused newspaper
13 Popular morning paper in the 6 Early morning Pakistani newspaper
Mother City 8 Australia’s biggest daily
14 An everyday newspaper 9 UK biggest redtop
15 New Afrikaans Sunday tabloid 11 Bulgarian daily and the favourite of
20 Largest newspaper in the world Sonic the Hedgehog
22 Daily broadsheet based in Kiev 13 Distinctly African newspaper
23 Biggest Afrikaans daily 16 SME news you can use for SA’s
25 Afrikaans Sunday paper richest province
26 Weekend Zulu paper 17 Biggest selling newspaper in Europe
28 Afrikaans sleaze 18 Popular leader of newspapers
34 Associated’s London freebie 19 US capital’s newspaper
36 Popular intellectual Slovakian daily 21 Trevor Ncube’s newspaper
39 Newspaper Advertising Bureau 24 Dow Jones’s own
41 New Polish daily 27 NI’s London freebie
42 English daily in Palestine 29 Wish upon it everyday
44 Indian newspaper found in KZN 30 SA’s business read for the weekend
45 Latest Zulu paper 31 Wanted, to buy section
46 Named after SA’s most famous 32 The world’s greatest newspaper
township 33 A neighbourhood read
47 New free daily in SA 35 SA’s paper for the everyman
36 Largest SA weekend paper
38 Biggest-selling paper in SA
40 Different newspaper versions
43 Japan’s leading national quality
daily; part of the Shimbun family
Weather Report
Daily forecast:
Fair weather for most of the country although somewhat cloudy by the coast, where
temperatures will drop.
Weekly forecast:
Sunny, clear skies, with a gentle breeze. Temperatures moderate and pleasant in most
parts of the country.
Weekend forecast:
Larger cities and towns will experience warm, sunny conditions.
DAILY NEWSPAPERS
– AND AWAY THEY GO
Business Day is hung with very little variation from race to race.
sin
ss
Another even run for The Mercury, a favourite with KZN’s elite, and it
ess
ine
Da
Bus
y
is racing in hand.
Cape Argus
Going: Frozen Pretoria News
The afternoon paper for the Western Cape is running evenly since its Going: Frozen
gain in 2006. The latter half of the year tends to falter although it Few falters and an even temperament make for good odds, but it is
remains steady. neither extended or driven giving it a run of 28 560 (Jan-March 2007),
an increase of only 58 copies over the corresponding race period.
Cape Times
Sowetan
Going: Frozen
Going: Fast
The Cape’s morning paper has the blinkers on to avoid any distractions,
With a lot of driving from its owner, Sowetan is easily running. It’s got
and it works. Like its sister, the first half of the year runs more evenly over its early hurdles and is now a great stretch runner. Its current
than the second half but overall, it’s a consistent steady runner. winnings sit at 143 167 (Jan-march 2007).
three month stretch shows 52 106 (Jan-March 2007). pace, it is a closer. In the last year, it’s gained almost 1 000 copies to pass
ily
s
ew
Ne
yN
ws
WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS
July-Sept 2006
Ilanga 97 072
Mail & Guardian 43 102
The Post 46 700
Soccer-Laduma 311 621
Son 192 757
UmAfrika 35 262
Newspaper 10 Smile