mail & guardian online slides
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Mail & Guardian Online
An interview with editor
Riaan Wolmarans
Background:
• Mail & Guardian Online was the first South African paper to go online in 1994.
• They publish all content from the weekly printed paper online, but also produce unique content for their site.
• They have 500 000 unique visitors p.m., of which 260 000 are local
• The site is profitable (via advertising)
Structural Organogram:
• M&G have a dedicated online news team:
Editor
Developer Developer
News editorSub editor
Developer
JournoJournoJourno Assistant
Ad RepAd RepAd Rep
Why a dedicated team?
• Dedicated online content offering
• Integrated newsroom allows for sharing of resources
• Paper is weekly, so don’t compete with site on breaking news
• Ad Reps focus on online advertising - profit
• Use extra info from print on website
Challenges:
• Small newsroom – dependant on agency copy
• Limited resources
• Lack of knowledge of online advertising
• Convincing print journos to work online
Shortcomings:
• Few hyperlinks: Due to time it takes to do
• No videos: Due to hosting problems; CMS (content management system) doesn’t allow multimedia; no dedicated video producer/editor
• Long articles: Due to M&G style
• Limited interactivity: Due to old CMS
Xenophobia coverage:
• Why a special report? – “Massive issue at the time, dedicated page for interactive features and easy access.”
• Reason for separate photo gallery? – “Old CMS template didn’t allow many photo’s into text.”
• Why not interactive/multimedial?
“Due to old CMS template & broadband restraints (see shortcomings)”
Competitors:
• News24 and IOL because they have more unique visitors according to Nielsen Net Ratings (conglomerate power behind them)
• The Times Online because of their advanced multimedial website
Future:
• New website to launch on 20 June, 2008 will be major improvement:
– Hypertext, Interactive, Multimedia– Free registration: to monitor audience needs– More niche blogs: because profitable– More reader blogs
New-look website
This slideshow is based on an interview with Riaan Wolmarans at Wits University, Johannesburg, on 4 June 2008 and at the Mail & Guardian Online on 5 June 2008.
Pictures by Gloria Edwards.