Tribunal go-ahead for media merger

The Mail & Guardian editorial this week focuses on the Koni deal, which it describes as “anything but groovy”:

Koni Media, led by the Groovin Nchabaleng, might not sound like a very serious proposition. But the secretive attempt by Koni to buy Johncom is part of a Machiavellian strategy to deal with the Sunday Times, the group's largest and most powerful newspaper.

Meanwhile Prof Guy Berger, head of the School of Journalism & Media Studies at Rhodes University, writes in the Mail & Guardian that “[i]f self-regulation [of newspapers] fails, it will be replaced by external regulation, combined perhaps with the use of advertising as a political tool and moves on ownership.”

Finally, the Mail & Guardian reports that the SABC has “embarked on a charm offensive” following a confidential market research survey, leaked to the newspaper in September, that “found that viewers think the corporation treats government officials lightly and fails to ask hard questions about wrongdoing.” The spin strategy comprises a strategy document, Inside the SABC: Empowering Citizens with Knowledge about their SABC, with elements already implemented including “a Special Assignment programme on print media in South Africa and a debate on journalism at the SABC on the programme, Interface.” Reactions to the campaign have reportedly been mixed.

For more:

• Business Report: Tribunal puts new twist in Johncom
  
• Business Day: Thumbs up for Johncom's Naspers deal
  
• Fin24: Mega media merger OK'd
  
• Mail & Guardian Online: The Sunday Times (owned by Koni Media) [editorial]
  
• Mail & Guardian Online: Fifth estate, not the state
  
• Mail & Guardian Online: SABC spin strategy gets mixed reception