Presentation to Parliamentary Portfolio

Committee

15 November 2011

www.mg.co.za

In 1985 a little newspaper launched by Anton Harber and Irwin Manoim. A paper to give South Africa the news it was otherwise denied.

This paper would go on to challenge the apartheid state’s draconian restrictions on the media, and somehow it would survive

26 years, and many awards later, the M&G is still going strong, exposing wrong doing in high places, providing readers with the sharpest political commentary in the land, great business coverage and the most acclaimed arts writing in South Africa

The nature of such a paper is closely tied to the country it inhabits and reflects

OUR

UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM

PAPER NEWS

Our emergence as a stand alone weekly title coincided with the first state of emergency and introduction of stringent press regulations

FOUR WAVES OF

1. Emergency: 1985 – 1990

DEVELOPMENT

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South Africa becomes a real democracy. We transform into the Mail & Guardian and The Guardian of London becomes a majority shareholder 

FOUR WAVES OF

2. Reconstruction : 1991 – 1996

DEVELOPMENT

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From Mail & Guardian London, to ownership by Trevor Ncube in 2002. He recognised that the M&G would need to evolve and develop to meet the challenges of the new era. Readers wanted quality-controlled, value-added content, so we focused on investigative, analytical, innovative and insightful content. And robust engagement 

FOUR WAVES OF

3. Transition : 1997 – 2004:

DEVELOPMENT

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We take our watchdog role very seriously and have developed an M&G constitution that upholds our values and daily governance.We are deeply invested in a changing South Africa and a changing world. We continue to lead robust debate. In the last decade, the internet and other electronic media has dramatically expanded our reach. 

FOUR WAVES OF

4. Growth: 2005 to present day: DEVELOPMENT

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We, the people of South AfricaRecognise the injustice of the past;Honour those who suffered for our freedom; Respect those who have worked to build our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. We therefore adopt this constitution to lay the foundations for a democratic society in which government is based on the will of the people.

The M&GConstitution

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The M&GConstitution

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We, the Mail & Guardian, recognise the need for a free and fair press, independent of editorial interference in anyway, and pledge our allegiance to delivering the news, every minute, every hour, every day, every week.

Directors &Shareholding

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Peter Vundla – Chairman

Trevor Ncube – Executive Deputy Chairman – 77.5% shareholder

Hoosain Karjieker – Chief Executive

Anastacia Martin – Publisher

Professor Nixon Kariithi – Independent Non Executive

Phibion Gwatidzo – Independent Non Executive

Jarek Gora – Representative of MDLF – 10% Shareholder

Sarah Davis – Representative of Guardian London – 10% shareholder

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Ownershipand Control

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Independent Board that adheres to good corporate governance, and whose role is designed by Company Law

Independent Board appoints the Management team that ensures the financial well being of the company

Board appoints the Editor whose responsibilities are governed by internal Editorial codes, policies and procedures.

The Editor is guaranteed independence in deciding content, and this is written into the Memorandum and Articles of the company.

The company subscribes to the self governing mechanisms in the industry and the office of the Press Ombudsman.

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ManagementTeam

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Hoosain Karjieker – Chief Executive

Anastacia Martin – Publisher

Nic Dawes – Editor

Charmeela Bagowatt – Managing Editor

Mike Ntsasa – Head of Advertising

Maliga Royappen – Head of Finance

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Skills Development

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• Guardian Internship Programme in existence for 16 years • Trains average of 4 journalists every year, 80% black • Graduates include:

Mondli Makhanya, - Avusa Editor in Chief

Ferial Haffajee, - Editor City Press

Phil Molefe, - Acting CE SABC

Linda Rulashe – Acting Editor Sunday Sun

Wally Mbhele – Editor Sunday World

Mzi Malunga – MD of Business Day Financial Mail

Thandeka Gqubule

Musa Zondi

Jubie Matlou

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Enterprise Development

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• Acquired, invested in and developed a regional distribution network infrastructure across the country

• Invested in the expansion of The Teacher newspaper, a monthly education journal that reaches every school

• Launched the Mail & Guardian Centre for Investigative Journalism in 2009 that focuses on advocacy work, and training in addition to the core investigative journalism performed by the team.

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Committed to following the PMSA’s lead on Transformation of sector

M&G subscribes to the PMSA who has adopted for the industry the B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice as the common transformation measurement and for goal setting. The DTI codes are a legislated document and print media’s communication on the benchmarking against them will be solid and consistent

PMSA embarked on a transformation initiative, measuring transformation within its member collective from 2010, includes the M&G.

M&G’s commitmentto Transformation

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BEE Scorecard

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In terms of a study undertaken by BEE Online, M&G Media presents as a Level 5 BEE Contributor to broad based BEE with a score of 62.77 points.

Ownership - 0 points

Management Control – 11 points

Employment Equity – 10.55 points

Skills Development – 8.16 points

Preferential Procurement – 13.06 points

Enterprise Development – 15 points

Socio-economic Development – 5 points

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THANK YOU