Breaking News And Features
INDEPENDENT Media is KZN’s most influential publishing group. From its Greyville premises in Durban, the company publishes and prints nine of its own titles reaching approximately 3,1 million readers in the region. In addition, regional copies of national publications and other commercial printing contracts are undertaken, keeping the company’s presses rolling virtually 24/7.
An extensive, time-pressured operation distributes newspapers all over the province âˆ' from Durban’s suburbs to rural northern KZN, into the Midlands down the South Coast and into the Eastern Cape. Over 300 000 newspapers are delivered to subscribers’ doorsteps every week, while thousands of outlets, ranging from large supermarkets to small tuckshops, are stocked at least once a day. Street sellers in commuter areas make it easy for readers to buy copies of their favourite newspaper ‘on the go’.
Different Titles for Different Reader Needs
Independent Media reflects and provides a platform for its diverse readership communities â€" ranging from the readers of English daily titles, the morning Mercury and afternoon, Daily News, to the country’s leading vernacular publication, Isolezwe and the niche Indian community newspaper, POST.
KZN’s stalwart publication, The Mercury, last year celebrated its 165th anniversary. Today this household publication is a mix of breaking news and features, delivered crisply for the morning reader. A substantial business supplement, Business Report, keeps readers abreast of national and international market news
and trends.
The Daily News first began publishing in 1878, as the Natal Mercantile Advertiser, based in West Street. With a more people-oriented approach than The Mercury, the title engages readers on a wide range of issues and includes numerous special interest supplements covering entertainment, motoring, Bollywood, racing, and employment opportunities. This year Daily News celebrates its 140th anniversary.
The isiZulu daily, Isolezwe, is a publishing success story. Launched in April 2002, the title quickly built up a daily loyal readership of over one million Zulu-speakers. In contrast to existing isiZulu titles, Isolezwe is indeed the ‘eye of the nation’, sharing new as well as familiar experiences with readers. Hard news and issues of interest to the modern Zulu market are covered âˆ' everything from personal finance, health, motoring, entertainment, sport, politics, opinion, a topical cartoon, book reviews and people profiles can be found in Isolezwe.
In 2008, Isolezwe launched a sister title, Isolezwe ngeSonto, which appears on a Sunday and is very popular. This was soon followed by Isolezwe Ngomgqibelo hich appears on Saturdays, and the weekly Isolezwe lesiXhosa, for Xhosa-speaking readers in the Eastern Cape. The stable of Isolezwe publications reach in excess of three million readers every week.
POST is a unique weekly publication. In the market since 1945, POST is the ‘voice and heart’ of the Indian community, keeping readers in touch with religious and cultural happenings but also including content for young readers. Most loved content includes recipes, humorous columns, sports updates and profiles, business news as well as hard news and issues of interest to the Indian community.
The Sunday Tribune is Independent Media’s KZN’s ‘flagship’ print title. A regional newspaper with national stature, the Sunday Tribune is the preferred Sunday read for Durbanites, and many in KZN. Breaking news and tackling topical issues, the Sunday Tribune carries a bundle of special interest sections including, careers and business in Business Report; SM âˆ' the local authority on entertainment and lifestyle trends; SMTravel; a Property Guide, HOME; and Tribune Herald.
The Independent on Saturday is a punchy, up-market weekend read with interesting features, a focus on sport and great ideas on how to best spend weekend leisure time. The title’s Personal Finance section keeps readers in the know about wise âˆ' and not so wise â€" investments and financial options.
Independent on Line (IOL) is South Africa’s premier digital content publisher. Boasting an unprecedented stable of more than 15 quality newspapers â€" including the KwaZulu-Natal titles, the IOL portal provides breaking news from South Africa and the rest of Africa, news features and specialised digital content using a multi-platform publishing strategy. IOL has over four million unique browsers and almost 20 million page views while thousands more follow the social media platforms of the print publications.
Part of the Community
Contributing to the community is an important part of independent Media’s ethos. Falling within the marketing portfolio, a small team drives a range of community projects.
The Mercury Hibberdene Children’s Holiday Home provides indigent children and orphans with holidays at the sea. Each school holiday sees at least one, and sometimes two, groups of 150 children at the home experiencing the opportunity of a life time.
For over 60 years the Daily News Milk Fund has been providing milk powder to thousands of needy children in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Donations from members of the public, Independent Media staff and various companies make it possible for The Fund to supply and distribute milk to nearly 5000 preschoolers every school day.
Supporting educational initiatives is a cornerstone of Independent Media’s Community Projects programme. This includes the annual support to pre-schools, homework centres and places of safety. The company provides bursaries to approximately 100 learners each year as well and its community college has been hugely successful where each year, approximately 200 adults enrol for various ABET and matric rewriting classes. Computer literacy and learner driver’s licence skills are popular courses run by the college which has received a mayoral award for excellence for its sustainability development focus.
The company’s community outreach also extends to various health care projects including the support for the HIV/Aids sufferers and several health organisations. POST runs a special appeal project through which people who have suffered extreme trauma or injury are helped with their medical expenses.