Far-reaching changes
TODAY we are thrilled to announce – and to be part of – a range of far-reaching changes across all our major titles at Independent Media, our parent body.
Ever since August 2013, when the Sekunjalo Independent Media Consortium purchased Independent News and Media from its Irish owners, change has occurred in all facets of the group. But not as profoundly as this. Never in the history of this country has any media group appointed 14 editors in one go as a demonstration of its desire to take the industry into a brave new direction.
We’re aware consumers want their news offered to them in different ways. They want to know – and see – what’s happening in their neighbourhood, city, country and world as it happens. We are gearing to give them what they want.
Under its previous owners Independent was a moribund, limping under-performer.
Under its new owners, innovation and a strong commitment to change have become the watchwords.
But more importantly, every title in the group has embraced South Africa’s journey to true democracy. This is why the Cape Times and all its sister titles have committed themselves to telling – and showing – the stories of all South Africans from all communities. Now. We’re proud of what we’re doing. This is why we were so pleased over the weekend when one of our journalists, Siyavuya Mzantsi, won the Western Cape Vodacom Journalist of the Year print category award for a story that tracked reaction to the brutal murders of two teenagers – one from an upmarket area of Cape Town, the other from a black township on the Cape Flats.
One death sparked an outpouring of grief throughout the city; few people said a word about the second death.
Our determination to be a voice for all was slated by some in the wake of our reports on these two deaths – and in subsequent stories. This criticism reached a level of crassness at the awards ceremony itself, when one of the guests unleashed a tirade of bile-filled abuse at the Cape Times table.
We have news for that person, and all who think like him: we won’t stop what we’re doing.
In fact, with the changes introduced, Independent Media will be giving a voice to the voiceless even quicker.