The Mail & Guardian Online as the eM&G in 1997: a groundbreaking article on the Matabeleland massacres; preview of the Comrades marathon, below.
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The Mail & Guardian Online wishes former president Nelson Mandela a happy birthday. |
A brief history
The
Mail & Guardian Online was the first internet-based news publications in Africa. Launched in early 1994, it is one of South Africa's and Africa's major news publishers and is reputed internationally for its quality content. Today, it is a fast-growing site, taking its place as one of country's top three biggest news sites.
The
M&G Online has received numerous accolades and awards, including receiving
three Webby Honourable mentions in 2008 for its
Thought Leader platform and
News in Photos site. The
M&G Online had previously received a Webby Award honourable mention in 2005 for its interactive guide on the country's 2004 elections . The Webby awards are popularly known as the "Oscars of the internet". In 2001, the site was voted one of the world's top 175 websites by
Forbes.com.
The
M&G Online runs numerous sites including:
Today, the M&G Online is owned by M&G Media, which publishes the M&G newspaper and is 87,5% owned by Newtrust Company Botswana Limited, owned by Zimbabwean publisher and entrepreneur Trevor Ncube. The London-based Guardian Newspapers Limited holds 10% of the company and minority shareholders make up the rest.
The M&G Online works closely with the newspaper, but has its own dedicated editorial staff to produce breaking news on a daily basis to complement the analytical, in-depth feature articles from the newspaper.
Chris Roper is the editor
More about the Mail & Guardian
A 30-second guide
The Mail & Guardian
Previously known as The Weekly Mail. Some of its critics and fans still know it for short as The Wail. A South African newspaper, published nationwide each Friday, aimed at serious readers. |
The Mail & Guardian Online
Previously known as eM&G and the Daily Mail & Guardian. First cousin, once removed, to the Mail & Guardian. A pan-African daily online newspaper, published all day, all week, aimed at serious and not-so-serious readers. |
Mail & Guardian focus
Political analysis, investigative reporting, Southern African news, comprehensive coverage of local arts, music and popular culture, and more ... |
Mail & Guardian Online focus
Local, international and African hard news, sport and business; publishing analytical, in-depth reports from its print edition, and more ... |
History of the Mail & Guardian
Founded 1985 by a group of retrenched journalists from the deceased Rand Daily Mail. Built up a reputation for nose-thumbing attitude to the establishment and for uncovering Inkathagate scandal. Favourite prison reading of Nelson Mandela; banned for a while by PW Botha. In recent years, continues to be a thorn in the side of gravy-train politicians with reports on Oilgate, the police chief and more. In 2005, the M&G newspaper turned 20. Find out more |
History of the Mail & Guardian Online
First online newspaper in Africa, founded 1994 as a service to readers outside South Africa. Evolved into a separate product run by a separate company, but now enjoys a closer relationship as a division of the newspaper. Today, it continues to be one of the top news destinations on the African continent. |
Mail & Guardian readers
Niche market, interested in a critical approach to politics, arts and current affairs. Large numbers of readers among professionals, academics, diplomats, lobbyists, non-governmental groups. Regularly achieves the highest circulation percentage increases in the newspaper market. |
Mail & Guardian Online readers
Broad-based readership of South Africans and Africans who prefer their news delivered fast and daily. Plus homesick South Africans abroad, would-be tourists, foreigners with a special interest in Africa. An extremely argumentative bunch: see for yourself on Thought Leader. |
Mail & Guardian owners
Originally owned by hundreds of small shareholders who bought small blocks of shares at R1 000 each, as part of a surge of 'reader power' to respond to the death of the Rand Daily Mail. In the early 1990s, the Guardian newspaper group in London became the largest shareholder when it came to the rescue of the then-ailing company. In 2002, the Guardian reduced its shareholding to 10% and sold the majority share at 87,5% to Zimbabwean media owner and entrepreneur Trevor Ncube. Having relocated to South Africa, Ncube also took over as CEO of the company. |
Mail & Guardian Online owners
Originally a separate division of the Mail & Guardian. In 1997 a 65% share was sold to internet service provider MWeb, but then bought back in 2008 by Trevor Ncube's M&G Media, the company that publishes the M&G newspaper. |
