/ 18 August 2000

Vusi Mona to be new City Press editor

Sechaba ka’Nkosi Former Mail & Guardian journalist Vusi Mona has been appointed editor of City Press with effect from January 2001. His appointment could signal a major editorial restructuring drive at the paper’s editorial section, aimed at increasing its stake in the highly contested Sunday market. Until his appointment Mona was serving as deputy to outgoing editor Khulu Sibiya, who will now assume a more active role in some of Nasionale Pers’s broadcasting subsidiaries. At the moment Sibiya is a director of Supersport. City Press staff heralded Mona’s appointment as a final break with the old order. “We are in for exciting times,” said one. Prior to joining City Press Mona, 34, was editor of the glossy magazine Tribute. Before this he edited The Teacher, an M&G Media monthly newspaper on education. While following in Sibiya’s shoes may not be easy for Mona, his experience equips him amply for the job. At Tribute, Mona took over from one of journalism’s flamboyant characters, Jon Qwelane, and went on to leave an indelible mark before joining City Press. A former colleague of Mona said: “He brings a certain measure of professionalism and class to everything he does.” Mona started out as a teacher and participated in a Press Fellowship Programme at Cambridge University. “I am conscious of the fact that I am still young and I do value experience. But in the South African business environment there tends to be too much emphasis on experience. I think a paper that has to win market share has to pay more attention to the notion of attitude. That is what I will do.”