It was revealed today that listed media conglomerate Primedia has acquired alternative media company Altmedia, in a deal reportedly valued at more than R70-million. Outdoor giant Clear Channel Independent has sold its 49 percent stake in Altmedia as part of the deal.
The Department of Arts and Culture has intervened in a long-running copyright dispute over articles and photographs produced by former <i>Drum</i> magazine journalists.
It was announced last week that Michael Markovitz, former special advisor to Icasa chairperson Mandla Langa, has been appointed director of convergence at listed private media company Primedia. Markovitz informs <i>eMedia,</i> that he began as an official Primedia employee on July 1, which is one day after his six-year contract with the regulator ended.
A <i>Citizen</i> lead story entitled “Documentary claims Zuma was plot victim”, written by executive editor Martin Williams and published on July 4, has elicited a range of animated responses from the media industry. The piece, which refers to “an explosive TV documentary alleging former deputy president Jacob Zuma is the victim of a trial by media orchestrated by people within the ANC."
Themba Khumalo, newly appointed editor of the <i>Daily Sun</i>, confirmed yesterday that journalist Isaac Mangena has laid a charge at the Orlando Police Station against a group that threatened his life.
Media24, the Naspers owned publisher and distributor of magazines, newspapers and online products across Africa, is set to unleash at least four new titles into the local women’s magazine space before the end of the year. The news has left publishers and editors at competitor groups reeling.
In the Mondi Magazine Awards supplement distributed with this issue (we produce and design the booklet on behalf of Mondi) the winning piece by Rian Malan, a riveting profile of JM Coetzee, contains the following: "Our ancestors bestrode Africa like giants, slaughtering game, digging holes for gold, subjugating everyone. "
In Kenya on Saturday morning, Multichoice SA CEO Nolo Letele announced the pending launch of technology that could eventually allow subscribers to skip commercials on the DStv bouquet. The feature is part of the new Personal Video Recorder decoder, and is the local conglomerate’s response to the growing popularity of TiVo in the Unites States and similar devices in Europe.
Dr Frederik van Zyl Slabbert’s position on Afrikaner culture, as influenced and reflected by the Afrikaans press, accords a unique perspective on a country in flux. Kevin Bloom questions the former politician on these matters, and gets his views on contemporary politics, media freedom and Caxton.
A website dedicated to questioning the motives and credentials of Moneyweb journalist Julius Cobbett has been uploaded by investment group Elan Suisse Capital. The site appears in the form of a letter in which the directors of the investment group focus on the journalist’s age, qualifications and experience.