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Zimpapers editors met into the early hours of yesterday morning to share strategies as the integrated media house seeks to consolidate its status as a market leader going into 2014.
The indaba, that was held at Pandhari Lodge, came in the wake of the reshuffling of editors, and the launch of a business restructuring exercise that involved the purchasing of a new state-of-the-art printing press to be commissioned in Harare soon, with plans underway to get another printing press for the Bulawayo branch.
Zimpapers Group Chief Executive Mr Justin Mutasa, and Group Editor-in-Chief and Chief Operations Officer Pikirayi Deketeke led deliberations at the meeting that was also attended by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, his deputy Cde Supa Mandiwanzira, permanent secretary Mr George Charamba, Director Rural Communications Mr Regis Chikowore and Director for International Communication Services Dr Ivanhoe Gurira.
Editors drawn from all the group’s 11 titles presented their strategic plans on growing the market share of their titles.
Deketeke said engaging the ministry, that has been on a tour of all media houses in the country, would assist the editors to produce content that develops the country in all sectors.
“These engagements help us to look at our strategies and at our content direction and we get Government to participate so that we get to hear from them in terms of their thinking and plans,” he said.
“The interaction will make editors fully informed on Government processes and policies and be able to interrogate them to get a better understanding of those policies and inform their readers.”
Prof Moyo said with elections now gone, it was important for the Zimpapers editorial team to realign itself with the Government’s mission and vision.
“The credibility of any paper is on content,” he said.
“The election mode is over and we should now focus on what is good for your business and the country.
“Keep yourselves abreast with what Government wants to achieve through documents like Zim Asset and work towards the achievement of that goal. This is not to say that do not interrogate the economic blueprint. Zanu-PF has set targets and it is your duty as the media to now inform the nation how those targets are being met.”
Prof Moyo said it was important for the editors to package their content to the expectations of their readership and listenership.
“Restrategise and work for the growth of the national economy and ensure viability of the company by looking at different markets and audiences,” he said.
Cde Mandiwanzira said the future of the country lay in the hands of entire media industry.
“You are youthful editors and we are glad the future is in capable hands,” he said.
“By engaging you we feel that we have some input to make to your editorial thrust. Our responsibility is to ensure the growth of the media industry, success of all enterprises and that you operate within the realms of the ministry. Know who you are, who you represent and where you are coming from.”
Cde Mandiwanzira said Government would never dictate what the editors should do.
“In your stories, address the key issues, make the Zim Asset work and grow the economy,” he said.
“We had the opportunity to visit other media houses and we are all agreed that politics does not pay. Our focus is to attract investors and you have a role to play through your reportage of issues.”
Mr Mutasa said Zimpapers was making progress in moving with the technological changes taking place in the media industry despite facing some challenges.
“The major challenge we had was that of resources and keeping the company afloat,” he said.
“We are now able to sell content across all platforms and we have done well on all the platforms on the market.”
The Zimpapers group is the oldest, 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.
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