Superbrand FINWEEK hits the shelves this month

Finance Week publisher Tim Spira says: "In response to the proliferation of financial media in recent years, particularly the rise of the Internet as a highly effective platform for dissemination of certain kinds of financial information, we recognised the need for a single financial 'super brand' to represent best-of-breed financial content across a broad range of channels.

"We also felt that a single brand would provide a far more powerful presence in what has become an increasingly fragmented magazine environment."

These two publications, offering the best in finance and business news and information for more than two decades, will merge into one highly recognisable brand that will continue to build a reputation as the most widely read financial weekly in the country.

From 28 September 2005, FINWEEK will be published in both English and Afrikaans editions, retaining its position as the only business weekly that talks to the Afrikaans market.

The new publication will be the biggest circulating weekly financial in the country by over 15% with a combined readership of over 171 000 and a circulation of just under 30 000: "Given these figures, we will be offering a significantly lower cost per thousand than the competition."

FINWEEK will focus on delivering accessible and concise news, insight and analysis to time-pressed readers who are serious about managing their money and succeeding in business.

In addition to the print consolidation, FINWEEK will merge with online business portal Finance24 to form FIN24.co.za, delivering on-line business information and investment news to over 150 000 unique online users per month.

The website will allow visitors to access up-to-the minute business news, a host of valuable market and investment data, fully searchable archives from Finance Week, Finansies & Tegniek and FINWEEK archives, and regular features such as online columns, expert news summaries and analysis and numerous channels for reader feedback and interaction.

In tune with these changes, the new branding breaks the mould of the traditional financial magazine with a bolder, more vibrant product, says editor Rikus Delport: "The decision to go this route was directly in response to calls that have come from our readers, as are the changes we are making to our layout and architecture. We're making the magazine even easier to read and navigate, particularly for time-pressed readers."

Delport says readers can look forward to the same high levels of integrity, honesty and hard-hitting investigative journalism they've come to expect: "We will continue to deliver focused and concise financial news and analysis, tackling the big stories without fear or favour and championing the cause of the South African consumer."