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.