Zimpapers editors to engage Prof Moyo

via Zimpapers editors to engage Prof Moyo | The Herald November 5, 2013

EDITORS from Zimbabwe’s biggest media group, Zimpapers will be meeting in Harare today  with the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Professor Jonathan Moyo to discuss pertinent issues affecting the media industry. The Zimpapers group is the largest and fastest growing media company in Zimbabwe with interests in newspapers, magazines, digital media, broadcasting and mobile platforms and is the biggest employer of editors and journalists in the country.

The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange listed company has been evolving its newspaper business model to incorporate multiple print and digital publishing products to reach new consumers and better satisfy the needs of a demanding media audience.

Zimpapers Editor-in-Chief and Group Chief Operating Officer Pikirayi Deketeke said the group’s editors were coming from Harare, Mutare, Bulawayo and Namibia to look at their content strategies, tools for reporting across print, digital, video and audio platforms as well as interrogate issues affecting the media industry in general.

“Editors will use this opportunity to share their views with the Minister on how to improve the media environment in Zimbabwe, access to Government information and barriers their reporters encounter in doing their duties,” said Deketeke.

According to the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, in addition to the “general purpose” newspaper, the future of the newspaper industry will require newspaper companies to create a portfolio of targeted print and digital products for a variety of audiences based on age, gender, location, socio-economic status, ethnicity and interest group.

In this regard, Zimpapers has developed a portfolio of news products that include popular tabloids such as H-Metro and B-Metro, national language publications such as Kwayedza and uMthunywa, magazines that include ZimTravel and New Farmer, Star FM radio and digital media platforms that include Mobile News and BH24 that all complement the company’s traditional newspaper titles such as The Herald, The Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Sunday News, Manica Post and the regional Southern Times.

The group has also launched focus groups to engage its readers, advertisers and other stakeholders on issues to do with content, design and newspaper formats, among other issues.