End of era as Insig closes

“Insig has always been acknowledged for its quality book pages and in-depth features. However, that role was taken over gradually by daily and weekly newspapers and the Internet. The fast changing media landscape meant that Insig could simply no longer compete with more frequent publications and electronic media.”

Bowing out in its 20th year of publication, Insig has long been synonymous with high quality journalism. It was awarded the prestigious Sappi Pica Rossi Trophy for Magazine of the Year in 2005.

Insig's editor Izelle Venter promises that the final issue, a combined June/July publication, will be a collector's item. “It will become one of the most coveted issues ever, and a fitting tribute to the end of an era.”

“The Insig team is exceptionally talented and this has made the past year a highlight for us all. I know all of them have a bright future in the magazine industry.”

Insig was launched in August 1987 by Naspers for the purpose of creating an opinion magazine following the closure of the literary magazine Tydskrif vir Letterkunde. From the start Insig had, for a magazine, a substantial and in-depth book division. Heavyweight writers of the likes of Andre P Brink, Etienne Leroux, Hennie Aucamp and JC Kannemeyer counted among the early contributors.

In later years Insig followed a more newsy approach. Its circulation and advertising revenue grew under the management of New Media by more than 50% and 700% respectively.

The very popular online book review section of Insig will be kept alive and will be housed within Media24.

“All staff at Insig will be accommodated either within Media24 or in New Media,” Scholtemeyer said. “The Insig team performed excellently and we do not foresee any job losses.”