BR determined to make a difference inch by inch

I DON’T know what to say really. Three minutes to the biggest battle of our professional lives all comes down to today. Either we heal as a team, or we are going to crumble. Inch by inch, play by play till we’re finished… One half second too slow or too fast and you don’t quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us.

“They are in every break of the game, every minute, every second. On this team, we fight for that inch on this team, we tear ourselves, and everyone around us to pieces for that inch. We CLAW with our fingernails for that inch. ‘Cause we know when we add up all those inches that’s going to make the f ***** g difference between WINNING and LOSING between LIVING and DYING… You gotta look at the guy next to you.

“Look into his eyes. Now I think you are going to see a guy who will go that inch with you. You are going to see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows when it comes down to it, you are gonna do the same thing for him. That’s a team, gentlemen and either we heal now, as a team, or we will die as individuals.”

That’s football guys. That’s all it is. Now, whattaya gonna do? –Al Pacino’s Inch By Inch speech from Any Given Sunday.

LOYAL Readers of Business Report. It is my privilege to introduce myself to you as the Executive Editor of Independent Business Content and as the Editor of South Africa’s leading national daily business newspaper, Business Report.

Allow me to start by thanking you, the readers of Business Report and Personal Finance, for enabling us, the content providers, to make a difference in the world we are living in. Inch by Inch, any given day.

You are our audience and we – as a team of editors, sub-editors, graphic artists and photographers – offer our skills, commitment and independent opinions to enable you to score goals by providing you with quality and unique content through our various media platforms, to grow your businesses, to profile your people and announce your achievements.

Business Report is South Africa’s leading daily national business newspaper, with more than 1 million readers per day, ranging from private investors, entrepreneurs, managers from the shop floors of the smallest companies to executives of leading multinational conglomerates, top government bureaucrats and cabinet ministers.

My team and I have been entrusted by our executive chairman, Dr Iqbal Survé, with this important media title and are committed to fight for every inch of truth and insight that will contribute towards the growth and success of our readers and advertisers; we strive to bridge the gap between our government, business, employees and the jobless by offering our leaders in-depth, well researched and informative content through Independent Media’s integrated multi-platform media solutions.

Transformation

I am determined to focus my actions as editor on the transformation of the South African society, still dominated by a few.

I am determined to focus my actions as editor on the transformation of the South African society, still dominated by a few, by implementing strategies and sustainable projects to radically empower those previously deprived from the right to compete, produce, manufacture or own a business, a house or even a bank account.

I would like to thank my predecessor, Yunus Kemp, who was acting editor following the departure of Ellis Mnyandu early this year, for his valuable contribution towards the growth and success of Business Report.

I am extremely excited about our team of award winning editors, photographers and journalists.

I am confident that, with their commitment and support, that Business Report will be recognised as a leading business platform that provides companies, investors, captains of industry and small and medium enterprises with newsworthy, indepth and unique quality content.

Business ownership and control remains in the hands of a select few.

Many articles have been published, ironically enough by various other media houses, pleading for radical social and economic transformation, while the media industry itself is still dominated by a few. Communications Minister Faith Muthambi recently pleaded for greater diversity in the industry “so that the voices and viewpoints of the poor, rural and disadvantaged are also reflected within the media space”.

We support the minister’s initiative and will be integral in facilitating dialogue on pressing issues of national importance such as transformation and ownership of the media, sustainability of small commercial and community print and the promotion of content diversity.

This newspaper will focus on the success stories of many entrepreneurs, the achievements and valuable contributions of award-winning black professionals, entrepreneurs and individuals that are still not recognised by other media houses.

I invite our black economists, asset managers, captains of industry and entrepreneurs to share their experiences with me.

I want to assure you that Independent Media is committed to support you in your struggle, since “in any fight it is the guy who is willing to die who is going to win that inch.”

And I know if I am going to have any life anymore it is because I am still willing to fight, and die, for that inch, because that is what LIVING is.