How a 21st century South African newspaper company messes up
The intention was not to write about my previous employer (the one I wrote about here) but I couldn’t help but smile when I received a Google alert about Caxtons’ most recent effort to catch up with the competition.
The alert was about a web designer who is sour because he was not approached to do the company’s website. Caxtons hired an Australian company with offices in South Africa to design and implement their web presence. The Caxtons/Aussie test effort is at http://lowveld.womf.com/
Now, what gives me great pleasure is that I was fired because I questioned the master (and his disciples) although the excuse was that they could do better without me. (We’ll have to look at the ABC stats for the facts). In any case, the website that was done under my direction is at www.nmgroup.co.za and it is still going although many of the applications we implemented are not used any longer or have been removed. Despite being neglected it is still a much, much better site than what the Aussies are doing for Caxtons.
I suppose that is what happens when ignorant people who manage by flavour of the month rather than by principle, take on news delivery in the 21st century.
They obviously haven’t heard of RSS, web2.0, blogs or any of the other social media that is available. They also obviously have no idea of the debate raging in their industry about news delivery, the future of news, the way journalism will be practised in future, the fact that the traditional press do not own the news any longer and what should happen with the 5w’s and H in the new circumstances.
They want to compete in the news arena with news24 and Independent and the best they can do is to create a forum on the web.
Bruce Sturgeon, chief honcho of Caxton’s local newspapers and the motivating force behind the Aussie involvement, would do better if he talked to knowledgeable South Africans like Walter Pike, Mark Bloomfield, and especially Kate Elphick. There are many others, but Sturgeon is not known for listening to good advice, so I won’t give a more comprehensive list.
But, I do have empathy for the editors who cannot speak their minds for fear of losing their jobs, although they know that the new initiative is not going to make them more competitive in future. The better informed editors are probably embarrassed by the initiative, but no-one dare say anything.
The lessons to be learned from this are:
* the boss only knows best when he knows best, not because he is the boss, as I wrote before;
* the only way employees can be proud of their managers, is when the managers stay informed about their industry;
* in the 21st century, thanks to the Web, mistakes receive much wider attention because it enjoys global exposure;
* this means that there is a greater responsibility on managers to stay on top of their trade;
* there are still managers who think they can survive in the 21st century by using the solutions of the 20th century and
* uninformed managers in big companies create opportunities for entrepreneurs in start-ups.
I am not annoyed because I was not approached. I am pissed because an inferior product was used and because people in South Africa are a lot more able than Caxton’s allows. Why use an inferior Australian product when there are people like the ones you mention.
↓ Quote | Posted October 20, 2008, 07:17[...] particular project. I would have made a totally different proposal to Caxtons. Nic the project that you mentioned that I will not link to because I am going to go head to head with it and beat them in the local [...]
↓ Quote | Posted October 20, 2008, 07:58Guy: We’re in agreement bru. Go for it!
↓ Quote | Posted October 20, 2008, 08:14Thanks for mentioning me
Thought that I need mention that the concept behind WOMF is not just a forum, Its a customer satisfaction and business performance tool, as well as potentially an excellent small business marketing platform. I have no idea how the base concept has been implemented by Caxton in your area,
WOMF has been running in Bloem for a few years – with Radio O FM as their media partner, and around the world mostly with local Radio partners.
Declarations: I have met Bruce Sturgeon once, I have not been retained by Caxton. I recently did a series of seminars on word of mouth for OFM. I have met Roy Hawker of WOMF international.
↓ Quote | Posted October 20, 2008, 22:29Walter,
↓ Quote | Posted October 21, 2008, 07:54Thanks for the contribution and perspective. As it is not my intention to help the company be successful, I will not debate this. The links in my post speak for themselves.
I accept that WOMF is a good product. Time will tell whether it will make Caxton a winner.
little out of date, but always time for an update.
WOMF is useless for a newspaper, and ideal for a lifestyle blog.
There is no option for adding pictures, no edit function, no update function. for instance, if the community diary is posted, each time the week rolls over, a new post has to be created, which is ridiculous. there is no brand identity, who wants their newspaper identified as a firstly as a blog before the newspaper?
but now.
there are websites coming for each of the papers, which will then have links to womf. but here’s whats going to happen. people will click on the links to comment on the story which will direct them to womf, where they will have to go through the whole registering process. rather look at the times website, where registration is minimal compared to other sites, or even the news24 site, where although a little more tedious, is still highly functional. the comments still have brand identity, which is lost if we redirect our clients from the webpage to another site. it’s lumpy and unattractive and inefficient. admit there’s been a mistake made, buy decent servers and control it all from inhouse. losing brand identity at any stage is incredibly self defeating.
look at whats out there and improve it, don’t make it worse. the sms line is a good product and readers enjoy it.
↓ Quote | Posted June 19, 2009, 05:08Interesting insight. Thanks Amanda!
↓ Quote | Posted June 19, 2009, 07:36Wow…You a gutsy guy! Hats off to you. As a previous employee I know exactly what you talking about. I got pretty close to being fired as my managing editor realised I didnt hero worship him any longer. Caxton doesnt like emplyees to have a mind of their own. The articles are all bias. Womf was a bad idea and a huge waste of money. They spent millions on Womf…yet most of the newspapers dont even have their own websites. Pathetic.
↓ Quote | Posted July 21, 2009, 15:40Thanks for the contribution, meme!
↓ Quote | Posted July 21, 2009, 15:51Have always wanted to see a Lion in the Wild. And thats possible in South-Africa. Hopefully leaving in about three months.
↓ Quote | Posted May 2, 2011, 12:59Welcome!
Enjoy your visit to South Africa!
↓ Quote | Posted May 2, 2011, 13:18