Readers’ views
Responses to Letter from the editor, 20 April
Just read your story a minute ago. I am really touched by what you said about newspapers. I have been reading newspapers since primary school and I ended up writing opinion pieces for most of them. (Check me on Google. LOL.)
Daily Maverick is such an important player in the newspaper landscape in these years of digital news.
I support you and your dedicated team. The content of your newspaper is educative, analytical and broad on coverage without losing depth. All stories have the required intellectual flavour. The quotes at the top of your stories or opinion pieces are always inspirational. You are what SA needs.
Stay focused. Patriotic South Africans who love reading a good newspaper are fully behind you. Count me in.
Dr Tutu Faleni
The following are just some thoughts.
First, like you I am concerned/dismayed/horrified at the impact of social media; how it is being used not only to convey information but also to influence public opinion.
It is a medium without meaningful rules or sanctions – and is also free of charge. That advertising revenue has migrated away from print to digital is predictable and makes commercial sense. My point is that under the prevailing conditions and circumstances DM cannot economically compete.
Second, I suspect the age demographic of your readership is mostly on the older side. The reason for this is that we, like you, love print media. We like current affairs with our morning coffee but, more importantly, we can afford (and have the time) to engage with it. The danger is that when “we go”, so too does DM. However, what you do have are some readers who are super-smart. Wayne Duvenage comments often – and the other day I saw Mark Lamberti (former CEO of Makro) comment on a post-retirement piece you put out there. The value of these individuals is not in their subscriptions; it is in their experience and knowledge.
Heather, you and the good folks at DM are not in this alone. Through your excellent work you have created a strong community of some very influential people. That is where (I feel) DM’S true value lies. My questions would be: “can DM tap into this” and if so, “what can they potentially offer”?
Love your work.