From the news desk

Khadija Patel appointed M&G editor

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The Mail & Guardian is pleased to announce the appointment of Khadija Patel as its new editor of the weekly paper and its online platforms, along with a new partnership between the Daily Vox and the M&G.

Patel was recently recognised as one of 25 individuals who are reshaping influence and engagement in an era of dramatic marketing and communications disruption in the media and communications industry.

Since 2015, Khadija has been a research associate with WISER (Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Witwatersrand) and is currently completing her first book.

She takes up the position on November 1 2016.

“I’m excited about the challenges that lay ahead, but I’m also humbled by the opportunity to lead the stellar team assembled at the Mail & Guardian,” she said.

Khadija previously worked at The Daily Maverick, where she was a senior reporter, focusing on international relations. Her experience also extends to publishing a community magazine that was distributed nationally. She has also been published internationally by Al Jazeera, The Guardian and Quartz, among others. She is also a respected commentator on television and radio, both locally and internationally.

Mail & Guardian chief executive Hoosain Karjieker confirmed that the appointment fitted in well with the overall strategy of the paper over the past year, to appeal to a broader readership – a strategy that has resulted in strong circulation and readership growth for the paper and its digital platforms over the past year.

He congratulated outgoing editor Verashni Pillay on her accomplishments with the product and wished her well in her new role as editor-in-chief of Huffington Post SA

Pillay said she was excited about the appointment. “Khadija is a natural fit for where the M&G and South Africa is at the moment. She is a pro at keeping her finger on the pulse with a proven track record, along with her team at the Daily Vox, of owning a significant space within the national conversation even on scant resources. With the full team at the M&G supporting her, including experienced and talented section heads and journalists, this beloved publication is going to soar.”

About The Daily Vox
Khadija is the co-founder of the award-winning The Daily Vox news platform and has been an editor of the platform since inception. Along with Azad Essa, Khadija started the Daily Vox two years ago as a voice for young people to create an alternative narrative in South African news stories. The publication has established itself as an important independent voice on critical issues facing South Africa.

The Mail & Guardian, with its 31-year tradition of robust, award-winning independent journalism, is a natural fit for the Daily Vox as a partner. “The M&G has long been committed to independent journalism and media diversity,” said Karjieker. “We are looking forward to supporting the Daily Vox and in turn gaining from Khadija’s expertise in media start-ups, digital and independent media.”

The Daily Vox will move to the Mail & Guardian offices for greater support, while continuing to run as an independent editorial operation. The collaboration with the M&G will centre around the site’s commercialisation and continued growth as a brand.

Karjieker and Patel were confident that that this approach would serve the interests of both parties while preserving the sustainability of a new voice on the South African media landscape. The arrangement will allow for some convergence on content whilst allowing the Daily Vox to continue playing a role as a training ground for future media professionals. The M&G has already benefitted from the Daily Vox’s talent for mentoring young journalists when it previously hired two of its reporters: Ra’eesa Pather and Pontsho Pilane, who last night won the Vodacom young Journalist of the year award for the northern region.

The M&G is also proud to announce various other awards recently, proving its commitment and continued excellence at digital as well as meaningful enterprise journalism:

Vodacom Journalist of the Year 2016: Northern Region, 19 October 19 2016:

  • 2016 Financial/Economic winner: M&G business reporter Lisa Steyn for: “From boom to bust in five years”, “When good property turns bad”, “Lawyers in debt loophole”.
  • The judges also commended M&G associate editor Phillip de Wet in this category for “Oakbay and Optimum Coal”.
  • 2016 Print Feature winner: M&G health editor Mia Malan. “Diepsloot: Where men think it’s their right to rape”.
  • The judges also commended M&G news reporter Athandiwe Saba and former M&G multimedia producer Sebabatso Mosamo in this category for The Believers series.
  • 2016 Young Journalist winner: M&G health reporter Pontsho Pilane
  • CNN African journalism awards 2016, October 15 2016:
  • 2016 Print Feature winner: M&G health editor Mia Malan. “Diepsloot: Where men think it’s their right to rape”.

The inaugural Digital Media Africa Awards 2016, September 29 2016:

  • M&G won for best tablet publishing, tied with Independent Newspapers
[Source: Mail and Guardian]

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