Media24 consolidates business reporting

Media24 has consolidated its business pages in Beeld, Volksblad and Die Burger and re-branded it as Sake24, promising readers and advertisers national coverage on the most up-to-date and pressing economic and business issues, including news on Africa, media and advertising, IT and telecommunications, property and ‘the story behind the story’. Sake24 launched on Tuesday, 6 March 2007.

“The world is getting smaller and discerning readers demand in-depth business news at an easily digestible rate,” says Charles Naudé, national editor for Sake24.

“Sake24 will offer readers added value through an informed product, in-depth information and penetrating scrutiny of financial issues. Universal branding across Beeld, Volksblad and Die Burger means Sake24 offers a highly recognisable product leading readers to rely on the brand.”

“Globalisation means decisions and actions in world economies reflect on every decision taken here at home – this requires trusted and immediate financial and economic news. Economics is the world’s driving force - more than a decade ago, the President’s State of the Nation address would cover mainly politics whereas President Mbeki’s most recent address concentrated on the economy.”

“As a result of Government policy, the economy is expanding faster than many people realise as seen by ubiquitous traffic congestion, power shortages etc, highlighting the need for a unified product such as Sake24.”

37 staff members

The 37-strong staff includes award-winning journalists such as Elma Kloppers, named the Best Property Journalist in SA in 2006, and Jan de Lange and Francois Williams, both repeatedly short-listed for the Sanlam awards – the most prestigious for financial journalists. Naudé himself has over 30 years of newspaper experience.

Complementing the printed version, readers may access up-to-the minute information online at www.sake24.com. “Many of our readers supplement their printed news with online content that can be verified and expanded upon throughout the day,” says Naudé.

A national product, Sake24 intends to provide advertisers with an efficient and effective advertising platform with focused national reach of upper LSM groups. “Advertisers could place ads with national reach or closely target one or more regions,” he says.

“The existing Volksblad Sake has approximately 100 000 readers – close to Business Day’s – powerfully positioning Sake24 to shake up the business reporting environment,” claims Naudé.

“Through its dedicated and committed editorial team, Sake24 will deliver more business news pages nationally than ever before. Sake24 will be read by 650 000 people, the majority (550 000) residing in the Cape and northern regions – and the remainder split between Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth.”