Inaugural Journalism Leadership Insight report on media challenges

The report, thought to be a first-of-its-kind, draws on original research by those leading and transforming the business.

© udra11 - Fotolia.com

Research

The report's editor, François Nel, director of the Journalism Leaders Programme at UCLan, said, "The report offers much-needed insights into the challenges facing the industry by the people driving innovation in our sector. The leadership lessons they share couldn't be timelier."

Aware that the intention to innovate is no guarantee of success, Times Media group's head of journalism training in South Africa, Paddi Clay paused to reflect critically on a specific case when newsroom innovation did not deliver. She has been in journalism for 37 years and has worked in print, television, radio and online as journalist, manager and consultant.

Steve Matthewson, managing editor of news at Business Day and BDlive in Johannesburg, explored the social media strategies and practices at two UK newspapers with significant global reach, The Guardian and The Financial Times. He has worked in the media in South Africa and London for 25 years. He spent time mid-career as the head of media relations for a large South African banking group.

Laurice Taitz-Buntman, director of In Your Pocket City Guides in South Africa, considered the challenges top executives face in fostering an innovation culture within their organisations. She has more than 15 years' experience in media, old and new, having worked for the Sunday Times (SA) as a newspaper journalist, political reporter and editor and she edited the award-winning Sunday Times Lifestyle supplement.

Daily Post Wales editor, Alison Gow examined the evolving role of the editor and the competencies required to face the challenges of operating in an increasing complex and competitive media.

Dilyan Damyanov, director of information services at Aii Data Processing in Bulgaria, investigated a slew of new ways that publishers could sell their content.

Driving change

All five editors who contributed to this report set out to further equip themselves for the challenge of driving change by enrolling in the programme.

These articles are drawn from their final dissertations for the MA in Journalism Leadership, which were supervised by François Nel and Mac McCarthy with additional support from Megan Knight and George Ogola.

Download a free copy of the report.