M&G Online launches debating platform for tech experts

According to Matthew Buckland, the GM of M&G Online, the new site is a niche opinion platform for technology industry leaders, innovators and opinion leaders. "We are proud to have some highly qualified technology experts and commentators on board for launch including the likes of Samantha Perry, Arthur Goldstuck, Ben Kelly, Greg Gordon and Vinny Lingham,” he says.

"We see Tech Leader as a new environment for people from different IT industry sectors to engage with themselves and the public. It is an invitation-only system with an editorial policy that encourages reflective and analytical debate about the industry in a way that is also honest and critical," comments Vincent Maher, the M&G Online strategist.

The site is the first in a series of vertical interest spin-offs from Thought Leader, the political blog that won the SA Blog of the Year Award this year and got a Webby Honoree award at the renowned international Webby Awards, alongside blogs by the New York Times and CNN. At launch the site has 45 contributors and features discussions about open source software, news, mobile and other IT-related topics.

"There is a need for a consolidated space where people can discuss topics in their area of interest, for instance media, business, sport, technology and politics and what the Mail & Guardian brings through its editorial policy is quality debate and critique," concludes Maher.