The Mail & Guardian has an unusually rich history and tradition for a 10-year old.
Spawned in the mid-1980s it met the challenge of that tumultuous period by becoming a fierce campaigner for democracy and political freedom, an anti-apartheid and anti-censorship voice that was far out of proportion to its size.
The paper was started under the harshest of political, financial and journalistic conditions, and it survived detentions of its staff, prosecution, confiscation of the paper and for a period in 1988, closure.
It even thrived under these circumstances, giving voice to the voiceless and challenging government repression at every turn. But that proud tradition is also a burden.
An anti-apartheid newspaper would have little relevance in the 1990s, except as some quaint historical remnant which may give nostalgic activists a warm feeling, but would be of little use to them or anyone else.
So while we remain proud of that history, we made a firm decision some time ago to recast the newspaper as a publication designed for the reader of the late 1990s.
First, we developed ties with The Guardian of London and became The Weekly Mail & Guardian, “South Africa’s international newspaper’.
This brought us high-quality international coverage, a partner who understood our vision of independent and high-quality journalism and resources and expertise to recast our publication.
Recently, we have cemented that relationship, and taken further the development of the paper.
We became the Mail & Guardian, a simpler title which signals that we are a fresh publication, not hankering after the past.
What does it mean to be a newspaper for the late 1990s? One has to provide a comprehensive range of news.
We have always been strong on politics and culture, but in the past few years we have expanded our business and sports coverage and included important areas such as technology and media.
We also attempt to take a global perspective on the news, breaking the parochial habits of the 1980s, as well as a regional outlook, based on our view that our country’sfuture is inextricably tied up with that of the sub-continent.
A 1990s newspaper also has to engage in the all-important policy debates shaping our new society, and our new Context pages have become the forum for ministers and experts to exchange views about these issues.
The Mail & Guardian has to be much more competitive — not just against other papers which are shaking themselves out of the torpor of international isolation, but against the full range of new media in an electronic information age.
Newspapers cannot break news as fast as television, radio and the Internet, but they can convey depth, complexity and debate much more effectively. They are also more pleasurable to read and more manageable for those suffering from information overload.
We plan to build on these strengths — with entertaining writing, nosy journalists, thought -provoking opinion and a careful selection of information of use to those who want to stay on their toes.
Our fundamental vision remains clear: to stimulate debate, to probe beneath the surface, to encourage scepticism and critical thought, to expose cant and dogma, to upset complacency, to be fiercely independent, to provide entertaining writing, to keep our readers abreast of important trends, to ensure close scrutiny of public life and to speak out in support of an open, democratic, prosperous and caring society. But to be a journalist in the information age is to be engaged not in one media, but in all of them.
To this end, we are also involved in television production, the planning of a radio station, book publishing and electrode publishing.
We were the first South African newspaper to enter most of these areas. We were pioneers of desktop publishing, the first South African newspaper available on the Internet and the first to explore the links between print and electronic media.
We are fortunate in that we live in a country going through exciting change, and work within a stimulating, ever-changing media environment. We intend to stay at the forefront of these developments.
Our win-win deal with The Guardian
In April 1992 The Weekly Mail entered into a publishing partnership with The Guardian in London. The arrangement brought The Guardian‘s international edition, The Guardian Weekly, into South Africa as part of The Weekly Mail.
Our two-papers-in-one deal gave South Africans, for the first time, access to an unprecedented wealth of international coverage from one of the world’s great newspapers. And it laid the foundation for our current integrated package of quality, in-depth local and international news.
The deal struck with The Guardian was a timeous meeting of minds. On our side, we recognised the need to develop strategic international partnerships to strengthen our business and broaden the quality and depth of our coverage.
South Africa was re-entering the world after decades of isolation and we wanted to signpost the way back.
From The Guardian’s side, they had their eye on expanding their international image and penetration. The Guardian Weekly was already being published in North America and Australia, and Southern Africa was the logical next step. It was a win-win deal.
We have always enjoyed a special relationship with The Guardian, having held syndication rights to their material from the earliest days of the Mail.
The publishing deal and subsequent integration of products have been part of an evolutionary process that has given the Mail & Guardian strength and depth, and helped us carve a solid niche in the South African newspaper market.
Today The Guardian is our major shareholder, contributing the expertise and knowledge of one of the world’s most respected and innovative newspapers.
Owned entirely by The Scott Trust, the editorial and financial independence of The Guardian — and with it the Mail & Guardian — is guaranteed.