Independent wins award in New York

INDEPENDENT Media was named the winner of the second Annual Global Innovation Awards – Africa region, at the International News Media Association’s (INMA) awards ceremony in New York City on Tuesday night.

At a glittering function at the Edison Ballroom in Times Square during INMA’s 2015 World Congress, Independent Media was applauded for its advancement since its takeover by a consortium led by Sekunjalo Investment Holdings in August, 2013. The awards are dedicated to the energising of media brands, innovation in product development, stimulating audiences and growing revenue in the global media industry.

“This is a… proud moment for all of us and an acknowledgement of the innovation which has underpinned the company’s development since the change in ownership,” said Dr Iqbal Survé, the executive chairman of Independent Media.

“It is an accolade dedicated to every one of Independent’s employees, who have endured a great deal in recent years working in an industry under threat from shrinking revenues and retrenchments, and in an internal environment of severe costcutting and a complete lack of investment. We would like to thank the many readers and advertisers who continue to support this proud company.”

Sekunjalo inherited a stable of 18 daily and weekend print titles and 15 community newspapers.

Independent Media Group executive Sandy Naudé said the company had embarked on a dramatic transformation process and was evolving to a “digital first, print best” organisation with a strong focus on creativity and innovation.

Independent Media also introduced its user-friendly IOL mobi-site, and launched of the company’s Mobile Journalism (MOJO) Studio, which saw the company’s brightest young journalists team up with 17 promising journalism students from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to start providing multimedia content to enhance its IOL digital offering in future.