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Kate Wilson on why Women’s Health sells

Women’s Health has by far been South Africa’s biggest and most successful magazine launch over the past 12 months. At the helm stands editor Kate Wilson, whose previous editorships includes Student Life (later SL magazine), House and Leisure and, most recently, Marie Claire.

Wilson moved from Associated Magazines to Touchline earlier this year to help launch what has been described as a “multi-platform brand”, rather than just a magazine title. So far, she’s helped beat Touchline’s internal circulation projections by 35% in a tough economy.

“Zuma klaps Malema” #makesmyday

Zuma klaps Malema

9/11 Remembered

“This happens to all nations, be comforted together.”
Listener talking on air following September 11 attacks, Umhlobo Wenene Fm, September 2001. As reported in media.toolbox, the predecessor of MarkLives.

HR Future shows the way for B2B publishers

A small independent business-to-business (B2B) publisher is leading the way in the B2B publishing segment with its innovative multimedia approach to publishing. HR Future publisher Alan Hosking has embraced the potential for significant cost savings and an increased footprint (and ABC circulation) that digital editions hold for B2B publishers.
HR Future has achieved an ABC-certified circulation of 15 468 for the period April 2010 to June 2010, up from 9733 in the corresponding previous period, of which 13 428 come in the form of digital editions.

PICAs aim to regain credibility

Where there are award shows, there is grumbling. About the judges, the rules, the loopholes. The “something-for-everyone” mentality draws in entry fees and fills up gala functions – just ask the local ad industry. The statues are there, if only all of them came out attached with a healthy dose of credibility.

The PICAs are the only ranking magazine award in South Africa but the narrow content categories, particularly in the business-to-business section of the awards, coupled with an ineffective system of judging, meant plenty of trophies doing the rounds with less and less prestige attached to them.

Reasons for ANC media clampdown becoming clearer

To see why the ANC wants to clamp down on media freedom and effectively squash investigative journalism through its Protection of Information Bill, the proposed state-funded media appeals tribunal and a number of other legislative efforts, you simply had to open up a newspaper over the past week.

What WikiLeaks means for the SA govt’s assault on media freedom

The South African government has announced a triple play to clamp down on media freedom in South Africa, a move which might force journalists to adopt the WikiLeaks model when it comes to publishing sensitive information.

#zamediafreedom ANC vilifies journos in attempt to quash free speech

The ANC has made public its plans for the future of South African media in a discussion paper prepared for the ANC National General Council 2010, to be held 20 – 24 September in Durban. The discussion paper makes it quite clear how the ANC views the media – it unashamedly vilifies journalists as dishonest scoundrels – and rather disconcertingly notes the success of the apartheid regime in staying in power through censorship and media control.

EXCLUSIVE: SA business school looks beyond eBook hype with new research project

The University of Stellenbosch Business School has teamed up with online retailer Kalahari.net to investigate the impact and value of making content available in eBook format to academic institutions. The project aims to ensure that South African academic institutions base future decisions around the adoption of eBooks as a viable alternative to printed text on fact rather than hype.

Paywalls an act of desperation

A move by Rupert Murdoch to stash the content of his global media empire behind a paywall*, and the rather unseemly rush with which any number of publishers desperate for new revenue sources followed him, serves as but another indication that all is not well in the world of media.