We're Big Media Publishers. A communications company that specialises in digital media. A web development company that specialises in communications. An editorial factory that compiles, researches and designs content for digital media. We produce large-scale, content-rich websites. We write, we photograph, we video. We are trainers and consultants. And, since paper is not (yet) dead, we also work in print. See What We Do for more.
Big Media Publishers (Pty) Ltd is a privately-owned company, ten years old, based in Johannesburg, but with staff in Cape Town, KZN and the Eastern Cape. The full-time staff complement is 37, and we also have a national network of freelancers. Staff range from youngsters who grew up with the internet, to veterans with thirty and more years experience. The core staff are former media executives who have held senior editorial, management and board positions at major media companies. Clients include high-profile public and private sector institutions, such as the President's Office, Telkom and the City of Johannesburg.
Big Media has empowerment credentials. Black shareholding adds up to 48%, led by the Kgolo Trust, which owns 36%. The ratings agency Empowerdex has given Big Media a BB rating. Sixty percent of the company's full-time staff are black, and 60% are female. An Employee Share Trust owns 10%.
The company also runs an extensive training programme, for both writers and webmasters from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. See: Big Media's Skills Development
WHO RUNS THE COMPANY?
Big Media's board consists of two full-time executive directors and two non-executive directors.
Noko Makgato: Managing Director
Former news editor of Business Day, and manager of Business Day's online division. More than a decade's experience in print, online and broadcasting has given him a broad view of the opportunities in different media projects.
Irwin Manoim: Creative Director
Joint founder and editor of the Weekly Mail. Joint founder and editor of the pioneering internet venture, the Electronic Mail & Guardian. Newspaper production and design expert. First journalist to work online in South Africa. Joint winner with Anton Harber (below) of Pringle Award for courageous journalism; also Loerie Award for web design (1997) and Business Day Award for best government website (2001). Over thirty years editorial experience.
The non-executive directors are:
Professor Anton Harber: Chairman
Widely respected media expert, with a regular column in Business Day. Head of Journalism & Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. Former Chief Executive of Kagiso Broadcasting and past chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters. Joint founder and editor of the Weekly Mail and the Mail & Guardian. Winner of the International Newspaper of the Year award (London, 1997).
Justice Malala
Founding editor of ThisDay newspaper and former New York and London correspondent for the Sunday Times. Foreign Correspondents' Association Award for Outstanding Journalism (1997). Author of an award-winning novel, Before the Rains Come. Currently heads the magazine publishing division at Avusa, and writes columns in The Times and the Financial Mail.
