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Commenting on Media24 staff responsible for circulation irregularities
Mduduzi Dlamini
True Love Sales Actually Low-
Over the weekend I was saddened to learn about the lies that Media24 has been feeding ABC but in particular True Love for which I recently argued for vis-a-vis a colleague who is an editor of a rival publication.

I argued that despite True Love's undifferentiated content to its readers it was still selling, basing my argument, as I did, on the recent ABC's published figures. She had said the sales of True Love were fallling. I corrected her mentioning te stats.

I thought she was simply jaundiced because she's the editor of a rival publication. But it turns out that her gut feeling that True Love sales are not what they used to be were, after all, true. Posted on 17 Sep 2007 16:21
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Realist
Not too much lower-
TRUE LOVE
Original circulation 117819 113007 105277 106441
Requested restatement 116153 98674 97943 102774
Variance -1.4% -12.7% -7.0% -3.4%

6.1% lower to be exact. Nevertheless: 6.1% too much Posted on 20 Sep 2007 10:54
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Simon says-
Medi24's circulation figures are fake. Cliff Jennings is real Posted on 17 Sep 2007 16:41
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lola
Simon who?-
Who the hell is Cliff Jennings? Posted on 5 Oct 2007 09:11
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The blame game-
Let's hope that those staff members who had 'action taken against them' for fudging the figures aren't mere scapegoats whose heads are rolling to protect the reputations and jobs of middle and top management. Posted on 17 Sep 2007 22:37
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CEO responsible-
Tell me the name of one person in Media 24 who actually cares enough to fudge the figures, the staff are too busy waiting for 5pm to come - the person responsible here is the CEO - she is so intimately involved with the detail that she must have known that this was happening. Take responsibility and do the right thing. Posted on 17 Sep 2007 22:59
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Simon the 2nd
The CEO, the Publishers & Editors in The Blame Game-
You're right: the CEO is ultimately responsible and most surely aware of the extra counts.
However, these are all women's titles which probably fall under the management of the same Media24 Publisher who is equally culpable.
Senior management members at Media24 survive because they are experts in the Blame Game. (There are some Super Exec models who come especially coated with Teflon. NOTHING sticks).
The ABC should now scrutinise every one of Media24 magazine's ABC figures - most especially those with low circulations. Those have always smacked of fiction.
Just a thought: As "The Fish Always Rots From the Head", one wonders how credible are the circulation figures of the rest of Naspers's newspapers; the reported unique hits on-line at MWeb; DSTV channels' viewer ship, etc. Posted on 18 Sep 2007 09:42
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Media24 circulation lies-
The CEO is morally culpable. Not only is she hands-on and obsessed with control and detail, but she is the company leader and as such should do the honest and right thing and resign immediately, if she has a shred of integrity Posted on 18 Sep 2007 09:47
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Nancy Shaw
CEO must have known-
I totally agree that the CEO or at least her top management must have known about the fake figures. The figures have a direct impact on bottom line and if there is something 'harmless' like adjusting numbers to improve can be done then why not? Shame on Media 24!! Posted on 18 Sep 2007 09:44
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ex-Media24
CEO has to take accountability-
The CEO of the Magazines division must take full accountability for what has happened here. If anyone needs to be fired, it is she. I've worked at this company previously, and Patricia, in particular, is very quick to fire people. Well, Particia do the right thing and resign. Media24 would be a better place without you! Posted on 4 Oct 2007 10:42
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Full agreement-
Fully agree with your comment. The little people are being forced to take the can and are being branded criminals. Posted on 6 Oct 2007 12:01
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Worried
Media 24-
ABC? Audited Bereau of Circulation does this not mean that there is an audit somwhere along the line, yearly or at least since 1995????
What is happening to the magazine industry when a giant like Media 24 can get away with this for this period of time.
Time for senior managment to take responsibility for their company and the actions within, it is easy to say staff are responsible but who is ultimately accountable for the staff? Posted on 18 Sep 2007 07:52
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lola
ABC-
Exactly, as with all other publications they were audited. Makes you wonder about the Independents. I'm sorry but I dont believe their story...

I think this is a problem wider than the media industry. Look at festivals etc. Do they give the real figures when they report visitors or is it SA inflation phenomenon talking....

Isn't it a case of 1 company lying, generating more lies from the others...

I vote that an independent company audit ABC. Posted on 5 Oct 2007 09:18
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It's about time!
Maybe Independent Titles Have A Chance-
It's great to finally see that it's all coming to the surface. And there's so much more that still needs to come out.
Why can't the big boys simply claim the real figures? That way other publications that are honest might have a chance, after all how do you compete with lies Posted on 18 Sep 2007 08:01
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nm
Bring the rates down-
Due to incorrect, misleading figures,there should be a call to Media24- to bring down those rates. Quite evidently we've been paying for fake numbers and not getting value for money.

And about the staff messing up- The big boys need to take the responsibility - that's why u have such substantial salaries. Posted on 18 Sep 2007 09:01
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Marion Njeru
What about Media 24 in East Africa-
I am shocked about the report. I am just wondering if Media 24 is telling advertisers in East Africa the truth about its circulation. Media 24 publishes True Love East Africa and Drum. Media 24 over to you. East Africa advertisers are waiting...

Marion Njeru Posted on 18 Sep 2007 09:20
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Why employees take the blame?-
Surely someone senior was signing off on circulations? Interesting how the powerful protect themselves and the plebs take the blame! Posted on 18 Sep 2007 12:30
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Mandy
Not surprised - how do they afford to run some titles?-
I find it hard to believe that there are enough people to support some of the titles on the shelf. There are a few highly niched Media24 titles with reported circs of 22 000 - 30 000, which is highly suspect. Therefore it's definitely necessary to audit all 60-odd titles.

The most sickening aspect is how badly advertisers have been ripped off. Perhaps it's necessary to subsidise the bloated salaries of senior editorial staff and management? Something Media24 has a reputation for, along with poaching staff and ideas. Posted on 18 Sep 2007 13:56
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About time!-
They have been gettng away with this for a very long time. These fabricated circulation numbers were used as a tool to outwit and outsmart the advertizers and to intimidate the new publications. I am one of those very unfortunate people who worked hard at getting a magazine that we were publishing on the shelves, we were circulating 10 000 a month. The advertizers told us they would rather advertize with True Love Magazine since its circulation was much higher. In the end I felt defeated,but I always new that something was not right. Well now I know. Posted on 18 Sep 2007 15:17
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Ex-Media 24 exec
Fiddling Sholtemeyer-
Clearly Patricia is the no.1 suspect here and given her influence across the board I'm surprised anything was allowed to get out. But now it is. Payback for all those bully tactics of hers designed to mask her overriding failures. I mean, a 2% or 3% margin of error maybe but 40% and 50%!!!Get real. The whole Naspers empire is rotton. Thing is, now no advertiser is going to trust ANY magazine's figures; especially those affiliated to the abc. Shouldn't they be policing the industry (ie auditing properly), and not cosying up to Patricia over long lunches. Posted on 18 Sep 2007 17:17
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Copyright!-
It is common knowledge that Scholtemeyer has met with her editors to discuss the use of certain photographers only. It was said that only photographers who are willing to sign over the exclusive use of their images
to Media24 will be commisioned for work. It is also known among photographers and modelling agencies that Media24 sell local photographic work and content on the international market without paying usage fees to the parties involved. Media24 is taking away the right of freelancers to earn more money! They are twisting the copyright act to suit their needs. Posted on 26 Sep 2007 09:52
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smacks of hard feelings...-
You were obviously someone who could not cut it at Media24 and had to leave. Is this why you have such hard feelings???

Come on now - you know Patricia does not abuse her position and she is fair and ethical at all times.

This smacks of jealousy and insecurity - do you work for Johnnic or Caxton now???? Posted on 26 Sep 2007 23:46
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Fire Scholtemeyer-
I guess the lowly paid and "disposable" employees will get the chop. Cum on Hein, show some back bone - fire Patricia! Of course, Patricia knew of the fiddling! Posted on 4 Oct 2007 11:03
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Comm student
Reputation management - none?-
I'm quite bemused about how Media24 has handled this entire issue. This surely constitutes A Major Crisis yet very little has been done in terms of being open and honest about what exactly they are doing to solve this. And who the guilty parties are. It took them days to respond - did they think this could simply be ignored because they own so many newspapers etcetera? - and even now the response they have given does not say much. What about all the harsh criticism against the CEO - surely it warrants some response? It's an "interesting way" of dealing with a reputation management issue like this - especially for a company that makes it billions from communication in various forms. Posted on 19 Sep 2007 08:02
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agree-
it seems that crisis management is an oxymoron. The arrogance of these people is astounding. Posted on 25 Sep 2007 16:18
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and you...-
are simply a moron... Posted on 26 Sep 2007 23:54
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you know what they say ...-
takes one - a moron - to know one Posted on 27 Sep 2007 10:06
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Minister of Magazines
Disaster strikes-
This is a complete disaster for Media24 in particular and the magazine industry in general. All advertisers need is yet another excuse to either go somewhere else or lower the rates. Time was when being affiliated to the ABC meant something. I'm afraid that the whole industry is now looked upon as a joke. I feel for those brave independents who have stuck their necks and wallets out to pursue a magazine dream only to have their publications crushed by the media24 steam-roller; based largely on false circulations. It is a sad day for publishing. I hope there are some resignations on the table at Media24. Posted on 19 Sep 2007 12:55
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sean
sorry, disagree-
At least the abcs have flushed this particular fraud out. Who knows what goes on in reporting newspapers or with TV? I think it shows magazines in a good light. Its heinous that it was happening - and the people involved should certainly be fired and held accountable (exiled to China perhaps?) but how many industries in SA are this accountable and transparent? This is evidence that the abc board are doing their job and that the changes that were made to the reporting system are working. Posted on 19 Sep 2007 13:28
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ABC understaffed - Bring in Tutu-
ABC should have found this years ago, all publishers should have annual check audits, I hope that the ABC are not too busy patting themselves on the back rather than finding the next one, this is the start of the deceipt and not the end. Truth and reconcilliation process needed here! Posted on 19 Sep 2007 16:43
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Loud and proud-
I am appalled, but not that surprised, by the levels of vicious, personal attack in some of these postings. Quite frankly, it disgusts me how low people can sink, behind their screens of anonymity.
I am an editor with Media24 and I am proud to work for this company. I am also proud of the way that our CEO and senior management are dealing with this horrendous situation.
If you choose to publicly tar all Media24 senior staff members with the same brush, I can obviously do nothing to stop you; but at least have the guts to put your name to it. Posted on 20 Sep 2007 09:51
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Dries Badenhorst
Get Real-
From what I've seen Media 24 is doing all they can to get to the bottom of this. Being the giant that Media24 is, everybody will try and get their petty 5c worth, now. And in the name of anonymity. But tomorrow they will all flok back to Media24 looking for work, investment, business or joint ventures.

I have respect for the people working at Media24 and think some of these personal attacks are pathetic. But then, jealousy makes you nasty.

This is a isolated incident and not the norm. Keep on producing great media, Media24!!!!!!! Posted on 21 Sep 2007 09:31
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What about the rest of the magazine industry...-
I am utterly disgusted by some of the comments made about the Media24 circulation issues.

Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones... I would love to see all of the other magazine titles go through the forensic audits Media24 has had to go through - I have no doubt that 90% of them would fall very hard (I know this because I am in the industry and know what is going on out there). They can afford to be big-mouthed idiots at the moment - they should be careful what they say though - their turn might be just around the corner...

Media24 managment have handeled this very well. They have been open and honest about the whole issue and are taking corrective steps.

As for the ABC comments (they have done well and their processes are working) - what a joke!!! Many of the titles have received clear-check audits by the ABC - if the auditors there were really doing their jobs they would have picked this up a long time ago.

This is a pure witch-hunt - orchestrated and conducted by the likes of Caxton and Johnnic. You should be ashamed of yourselves - your titles are the biggest culprits of fake circulation - you have just not been caught yet - but your time will come. Posted on 21 Sep 2007 14:42
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oh please...-
Oops! You forget to add your name so that the bosses can pat on you the back. Seems the Media24 PR machine has kicked in. Attack is supposedly one of the best ways of defence. Posted on 22 Sep 2007 07:39
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LOL-
yes the previous posting did smell a bit of brown nosing Posted on 25 Sep 2007 16:21
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and your name is...-
If this is your idea of a PR machine - then you obviously work for one of the small independent titles out there...

I dont need any pats on the back - working for them is gratitude enough. You sound very unhappy - maybe you should consider a move to M24 - might give you a little job satisfaction - it is obvious that where you are at the moment has made you an unhappy, cynical individual - or could it be that you are worried that you will have to go through the same forensic audits M24 has gone through and wont stand up to the challenge... :) Posted on 26 Sep 2007 16:36
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media24-
i'd love to know if Mari Lategan will actually be fired for this. My guess is that an outsider will take the fall for this...its a Blach-out Posted on 26 Sep 2007 11:37
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Earl Joseph - MO.JO Publishing
Independent Publishing-
I find it interesting that employees of Media24 see fit to dismiss the efforts of independent publishers in such a frivolous manner (I refer to the "brown noser"). That is probably because they don't really understand the precarious business of magazine publishing and hide behind the security of a monolith in the false sense that they are actually publishers.

The reality is much more sinister. While advertisers cry foul about the money they have squandered under false pretenses, it is even harder for a small publisher to survive when advertisers, based on these erroneous numbers, shift their spend to Media24 titles. In many cases based less on empirical and more on reputational factors.

But what does it really mean? If a small title, funded through personal investment and other backing loses a campaign worth say R150k over a 6 month period to a media24 title that has inflated its figures, it could miss target by 10-15%. This means overdrafts, further investments, cashflow crises, salaries not being paid, equity dilution, etc. The same does not apply in the reverse considering the economies of scale that Media24 (and the other larger publishers) derive from their almost monopolistic position achieved over many years in a less than competitive environment. It is instead a huge blight on the industry when a company that is being monitored by the competition commission as a possible monopoly still sees fit to crush smaller players through unethical means.

This is not a simple issue. It brings to bare on several other issues. This is a company that only believes in transformation through complex share schemes that don't see any publishing skills pass on to black publishers.

It is also a company that, through its dominant position in the market place also carries massive influence within the ABC, MPASA and other industry bodies. It's CEO is also the head of the industry body.

Which of course brings into question the credibility of the ABC, which until now represented a neutral sanctuary where even smaller publishers could seek some sense of security.

This is quite simply an outrage which cannot go unchallenged. This has had a huge impact on smaller competitors who depend heavily on the validity of these figures to attract advertising. What of the opportunity costs to those titles who lost revenue to this error?

To an employee this is a small glitch, to a publisher it is the difference between staying open or closing down. Posted on 26 Sep 2007 17:23
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Applause-
Well said Posted on 26 Sep 2007 20:45
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Oh please...-
Your comments really pull at the heart strings.

Lets be honest - M24 is the power-house it is because people (very much like you) had the gumption to take chances and put their money where their mouthes were.

I am so sick and tired of hearing and reading the kind of things you have to say. If you and your publication were worth your salt you would not be worrying about salaries etc. not being paid - your publication would pay for itself and you would have the advertising support.

Media planners dont simply advertise with M24 because of their circ (it plays a role, but it is certainly not the be all and end all of an advertising decision) - they advertise with the company because the company produces the best damn editorial content in the country. If I were a media planner - I would be highly insulted at your remarks...

Out of the 65 titles owned by M24 - a small percentage crossed the line - the rest of the titles are honest and work hard to build their circulation naturally. Those who decided to cross the line will pay the price (and rightly so). Dont lump everyone together - the majority of staff are honest and give everything to ensure the success of titltes - maybe you should consider poaching - I have no doubt this would help you along in ensuring expenses are met every month...

Or better still - come up with creative ideas for media planners and buyers - this will get you the advertising you need. Stop blaming companies like M24 for your lack of advertising support and be more pro-active. Posted on 26 Sep 2007 23:32
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GV
'best damn editorial content"-
there are a handful of journalists in the country - some of them work for media48..oops I mean Media24...and they all freelance for independants under pseudonyms. "Best damn editorial content" is highly subjective. Some independant titles are really impressive with what they come up with with limited resources. Posted on 28 Sep 2007 09:29
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Earl Joseph - MO.JO Publishin
Heart Strings and violins-
In an idyllic world where media buyers and planners actually consume the very media they purport to understand, I would agree with you. Sadly though, there is little sense of what is really out there (across all media types) simply because of the sheer volume of media and the audited numbers tend to be the only safe reference in niche markets. Unfortunately very little effort is put into researching media beyond the few tools that exist i.e. telmar, media manager and the like. The rest is down to relationships.

My reps face this on a daily basis where we were told specifically magazines like True Love Babe had better reach as their numbers were higher. The only way we manage to overcome this is through better service and delivering a quality product.

Relative to your comment on editorial I'm not sure I agree but that is subjective. What I do know is that Maverick Magazine (A title I partly own and financed) was subject to the wait and see model that few if any of the M24 titles seem to suffer. Yet it is, I believe the best editorial in the country. Similarly the Mail and Guardian (again possibly among the best editorial in the country) needed the assistance of international funding for many years to weather the SA advertising storm.

The reality is an unfortunate skew towards the bigger publishers who control the industry in more ways than one. As a good friend of mine once said "no one gets fired for buying IBM". Should you one day decide to begin a publishing endeavour you should call me and we can discuss the merits of start up publishers in this country. I fear your rather cynical position will change fairly quickly. Posted on 1 Oct 2007 22:14
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Touchline?-
Why hasn't bizcomm followed up on the article in Business Day that said Touchline Media had inflated their ABCs? MD is set to resign! Posted on 26 Sep 2007 17:54
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Whinge bonanza-
What's with all this whining and sly, snide comments? Come on - let every mag from every publishing house be forensically audited, everything be placed in the open, all those heads that should roll be lopped off and we can all get on with the job of producing quality mags for those who really matter - the readers. Too many egos plus too many slings and arrows is getting boring. We want the facts, action to be taken and everyone to move on. Posted on 27 Sep 2007 12:03
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Oh yes!!-
I agree 100%. Lets get everything out in the open and start afresh. Anyone who is against this obviously has something to hide. I for one would welcome a full audit - that way I know I can hold my head up high and have the proof to justify it. Posted on 27 Sep 2007 21:22
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NM
Hoodoo Mags-
who buys these mags anyway? It's all hoodoo tactics. Posted on 27 Sep 2007 16:55
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Someone who works with figures
Jelous much?-
Media24 have the guts and integrity to publically announce discrepancies/dishonesties. Media24 is committed to weeding out the rot. Jelous competitors have posted unfair personal attacks and have waited a long time to attack Media24. They are having a field day.

The truth is Media24 are committed to delivering honesty to their advertisers. I wonder if all those making the comments (obviously from jelous competitor media owners) would handle it the same way Media24 have - by firing seriously senior people, compensating advertisers and being totally honest about the discrepancies.

If one trends INC newspapers and The Sunday Times - it is clear to anyone who works with circulation figures that those trends are so flat and artifical yet they are not calling for an internal forensic audit as Patrcia did. They just find more creative and "legal" ways to plump out their circ figures to avoid admitting how much they are unable to attract the public.
Jelous much?
Do yourselves a favour, go trend (on a line graph) Media24 vs other newspapers (I am not speaking about mags here, I am responding to the comments questioning the honesty of other Media24/Naspers products): see which looks real.
Get real people and get over your jelous dancing on Media24's grave. People have lost their jobs, people of value have been lost to the industry, and the whole thing stinks of sabotage - a jelous motive must have been what drove the entire incident in the first place, to harm Media24.
When you are strong, others try to make you weak. But as Madiba said, you don't get strong by weakening the strong. Personal attacks on Patricia are sexist jelousy, she is an icon and a role model to all women striving to make it to the top and her integrity will stick.
Strength and honesty will endure. Media24 are committed to honesty and weeding out jelous sabotagers and dishonest cowards. Jelousy gets you nowhere, the only reason Media24 are so successful at poaching staff is because everybody wants to work for them, they would not have had much success in their headhunting abilities if they weren't the number one company who know how to treat their people right.
Guess the people posting the comments are sour grapes, not excellent much at their jobs and good enough to have been head hunted by Media24. Posted on 2 Oct 2007 09:46
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good looking
in response to that delightful human spellchecker-
and i guess you were hired for your pleasant demeanor and charming way of speaking to others? Not to mention your sterling originality Posted on 4 Oct 2007 21:22
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Rob
Industry-wide audit is the only way to go-
If the largest publishing house has some rotten apples, then it must be true of ALL publishing houses. I believe this rabbit hole goes down pretty far.

I've noticed that the other publishing houses have remained quite mum on this subject, when surely, if their houses were in order, they would be loudly proclaiming how their businesses would never do anything of the sort?

In order for the entire industry to regain trust and transparency, I think there should be an industry-wide audit. Posted on 2 Oct 2007 13:19
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planner
yes please-
I agree, if all houses were not fudging figures they would be jumping on the bandwagon...
I think a full audit across all houses is necessary and urgent, we need to protect our clients money...
TLM have amazing products and will continue to shine, they are too big to be hit hard but have been honourable in handling things.
Come on ABC...next!!!!! Posted on 3 Oct 2007 15:48
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Joe Soap
Wrong people implicated-
Following the press release by Hein Brand & Patricia yesterday, when saying that 6 people were implicated from Women's Magazines side... I surely hope the right 6 people will be disciplined.
I'm a firm believer that the advertising department are clearly the only ones that could benefit from these irregularities. Why not investigate the person that headed up this department - Charlene Beukes??? It's always her department releasing their infamous ABC Excel spreadsheet every 3 months. Surely she must have known what's going on? Who else could benefit from inflated circ figures?
I'm sure the industry would be quite disappointed if she's not one of the 6 persons implicated in this scandal? Posted on 4 Oct 2007 08:05
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indeed-
I can't believe that blackie was made to resign for a 2 - 7% variance and Charlene Beukes / Mari Lategan and the like are still employed even though their creative accounting is in the region of 49%. Posted on 4 Oct 2007 10:06
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yes please
hear hear-
2-7% is marginal - and some were even below the ABC 2% threshold!!! They have dealt with things really well and taken action...but Media 24 must take action and get rid of the people (all who are responsible) for their 48% amounts!!! Posted on 4 Oct 2007 11:50
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From some one in the know-
She is not one of the six!!!!! The plebs are being forced to carry the can!!!! Posted on 6 Oct 2007 12:05
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disappointed
Shocked & Appauled-
I am absolutely devastated to find out about Blackie's situation. I thought he was doing an amazing job and ran a passionate successful business. How could he be so silly! It does not make sense? What to gain from 2%? It makes me wonder if he is not taking the wrap for those higher up who ordered the inflation for greed purposes? I am sorry that if he was not guilty of the actual offence, but still had to go down for letting this slip, then he was not doinghhis job. Media24, however, not so shocked. I wish to see those 6 implicated at Media24 up for criminal charges too, why should it only be Blackie. Patricia should be falling as hard as Marc. Posted on 4 Oct 2007 15:56
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Chad Wronk
Applause-
Wonderful words for Blackie - I think he is taking the wrap for orders from PS at Media 24 - TLM such a stunning company with tremendous titles - had to have been pressure from above Im afraid - those 6 must get nailed...as well as their "big boss" Posted on 4 Oct 2007 16:12
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Touchline-
A quick squiz through the figures shows that some Touchline titles had variances of 7.4; 7.8 and in once case 12.4 and 22.6%!!!
Feel sorry for the poor editorial blokes behind the keyboards - they are in the front line on this, and guaranteed were unaware that there were shenanigans going on 'in their name'... Posted on 4 Oct 2007 16:17
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media man
Touchline comment-
The %'s you are mentioning are spikes per period. some are less than 2%, Kick off is 0.4% but they mentioned it out of honesty. Wisden is the main culprit and the rest the numbers are tiny. Posted on 4 Oct 2007 16:46
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Rock
Fairness-
All 9 accused where knowledgeable and condoned the act of inflating the circulation figures and therefore each has a element of guilt attached to what transpired. How much the figures were inflated is actually not important, the point is they were and this constitutes a offence. What all that may come into play is the degree of guilt or involvement in the act. As a lesson we need to understand the motivation behind what the 9 did, and Senior Management at Media 24 especially need to understand this motivation. Further Scholtemeyer of Media 24 should shoulder some of the blame given that the 2 divisions were under her control and watch. Posted on 4 Oct 2007 18:55
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mr x
Will the real culprit please stand up !-
It is amazing how certain individuals get on their high horse so quickly.(wonder why) We all know that you can't possibly believe that all the title's in the M24 stable are guilty of fiddling with the figures. As a previous employ at M24 I have the utmost respect for Patricia and has never doubt her integrity and still don't. Her biggest mistake however was that she placed her trust on certain business manager/s with her own agenda and she is now paying the price. Posted on 4 Oct 2007 16:29
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She knew!-
PS knew exactly what was going on. Posted on 6 Oct 2007 12:07
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Honesty??-
If PS was honest, she would realise that she is ultimately responsible for this mess, whether she is innocent of wrongdoing or not. The fact that she has not resigned in the face of this scandal is a joke.

Blackie did the right thing by resigning. Posted on 2 Nov 2007 22:22
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Mbulelo
Will saga affect BEE share performance?-
I would like to know what Media24 is planning on doing about the Black Empowerment shares that were sold to black people across the country because I’m one of those people who bought share with them. Do you think this saga will affect the share performance and did they mention anything along those lines? Posted on 5 Oct 2007 12:50
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Hmmmm-
I hope you're not a planner. Then you would surely ensure that at least your portfolio goes to M24 titles :). Just a bit of corporate humour... Posted on 15 Oct 2007 16:26
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get real-
two thoughts:

as someone working for Independent i'd like to challenge the ABC to come audit some of our newspapers ;) guys, this has been going on for a long time --- just look at the mass amount of newspapers being dumped at schools, toll gates, etc. etc.

second thought: yes, the Media24 scandal is disappointing. but at the end of the day their employees still have better working conditions. for God's sake, they even have their own computers to file stories! lol. Posted on 7 Oct 2007 18:55
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m24-
yes working conditions may be ok but we are all livid because great media people are gone and others who were far more guilty are proclaiming innocence and have kept their jobs. Posted on 24 Oct 2007 15:40
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Big E
can only get better-
As an outsider it strikes me that working conditions cannot be 'ok' if you are 'all livid'.

Sounds to me that your internal environment is in need of some serious repair.

Looking at the trail of vitriol being spouted by insiders on this comments page, M24 certainly does not look like a fun place to work at (or to invest in).

Good luck M24 – can only get better it (seemingly cannot get much worse) Posted on 26 Oct 2007 06:42
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