Mail & Guardian Online Slides
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Transcript of Mail & Guardian Online Slides
![Page 1: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Mail & Guardian Online
An interview with editor
Riaan Wolmarans
![Page 2: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
![Page 3: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
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)
![Page 4: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Structural Organogram:
• M&G have a dedicated online news team:
Editor
Developer Developer
News editorSub editor
Developer
JournoJournoJourno Assistant
Ad RepAd RepAd Rep
![Page 5: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
![Page 6: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
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
![Page 7: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
![Page 8: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Challenges:
• Small newsroom – dependant on agency copy
• Limited resources
• Lack of knowledge of online advertising
• Convincing print journos to work online
![Page 9: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
![Page 10: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
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
![Page 11: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
![Page 12: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
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)”
![Page 13: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
![Page 14: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
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
![Page 15: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
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
![Page 16: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
New-look website
![Page 17: Mail & Guardian Online Slides](https://reader035.fdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062510/548c3d4eb47959ec0c8b62ea/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
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.