Caxton, MPASA and the Media24 circulation affair

Caxton reiterated that it has been members of MPASA and its predecessor body, the MPA, for many years and are committed to the broad aims and principles that MPASA embodies.

“Caxton therefore dissociates itself from the current actions and pronouncements of MPASA in relation to the Media24 affair. Caxton also reaffirms its commitment to the principles and actions of the ABC, and hopes that the ABC auditing process will be completed as soon as possible, so that the whole matter can be put to rest.”

While it is not clear exactly what Caxton is objecting to, the fact that Media24 magazines CEO Patricia Scholtemeyer was reaffirmed as chairperson of the MPASA may have something to do with it. Here was Bizcommunity.com's story on the MPASA statement a week ago: MPASA condemns Media24's magazine circulation irregularities [11 Oct 2007].

Today, Thursday 18 October, the MPASA PICA Awards committee meets on the annual PICA Awards for magazine publishing and journalism excellence and is also expected to issue a statement on the whole saga as it relates to the PICA Awards. The Media24 magazines that were suspended from the ABC and MPASA were excluded from the PICA Awards this year, but the journalism entries were allowed to remain.

For more:

• MPASA condemns Media24's magazine circulation irregularities [article]
  
• Caxton weighs in on the circulation saga [article]
  
• The ABC of crisis management… [blog]
  
• MPASA stands behind Scholtemeyer [breaking news]
  
• ABC objects to ‘spurious‘ criticism [article]
  
• Media24: now the PR really starts [article]
  
• [No Comment] ‘Mayhem at Media Park' [blog]
  
• Is Media24 the only culprit? [article]
  
• Media24: profit and performance pressure cooker [article]
  
• ABC routine audit checks on all publishers [article]
  
• Zoopy interviews Hein Brand, Steven Powell and Di Paice [blog]
  
• Thursday's Media24 press conf in CT [Zoopy videos] [blog]
  
• Potential criminal charges in Media24 scandal [article]
  
• How did it all go wrong at Media24? [article]
  
• Touchline MD faces disciplinary action [article]
  
• "My heart bleeds for the editors" [article]
  
• Touchline Media lied about circulation figures [article]
  
• Notes on a scandal [article]
  
• Wednesday is D-Day for Media24 [blog]
  
• Media24: media agencies take up the fight [article]
  
• Are the Picas at risk? [blog]
  
• Touchline under scrutiny [snippet]
  
• Media24 staff responsible for circulation irregularities [article]
  
• Media24 restates certain ABC figures [article]
  
• Patricia Scholtemeyer honoured for job creation [article]
  
• Scholtemeyer, Lowe Morna: Vodacom Women in The Media finalists [article]

• Video coverage on the Thursday, 4 October 2007, Media24 press conference in Cape Town:

  • Zoopy interviews Hein Brand, Steven Powell and Di Paice [blog]

  • Thursday's Media24 press conf in CT [Zoopy videos] [blog]

• Breaking news blog for coverage of the Wednesday, 3 October 2007, Media24 press conference in Johannesburg: http://blog.bizcommunity.com [blog]