WeeklySA_AdminSHIFT: TV journalist John Bailey scoops ownership of Sunday World, Sunday Sun…
By Jo-Mangaliso Mdhlela
A new South African media landscape is evolving, with the takeover by yet another black owner of one of the country’s established weekly newspapers, Sunday World.
The tabloid has been sold by Fundudzi Media to veteran journalist John Bailey under the company Zucorizen with effect from October 1.
The takeover includes another weekly, Sunday Sun, owned by Media24, and first launched by former managing editor of Sowetan, the late Deon du Plessis, along with Daily Sun in the mid-2000s.
Sunday World was first launched in 1999 by then owners of Sowetan, New Africa Investment Limited (Nail) in partnership with Johncom, under whose stable fell Sunday Times, Business Day, Financial Mail and several other coastal titles. Nail later sold both Sowetan and Sunday World to Johncom in 2003.
In 2019, Fundudzi Media’s David Mabilu bought Sunday World from Tiso Blackstar, which had inherited the title following a buyout of then owners Times Media, previously Avusa and Johncom. Blackstar later sold its media assets to black-owned Arena Holdings.
This week, Bailey, a University of Stellenbosch MA graduate, with his business consortium, announced the control of the two established national weeklies.
Confirming the takeover in an interview with Weekly SA Mirror, Bailey said he was glad the newspapers would assume a clear role of being on the cutting-edge of breaking news, defining the soul of the nation.
Under new management, the two tabloids would play an increasingly pivotal and exciting role in helping to capture the country’s evolving political trajectory, Bailey said.
“We want to support each other in bringing about necessary change in the evolving country’s political sphere,” Bailey said, adding that the publications must be primed to tell “our stories as seen and interpreted by us as we understand the context”.
“I go into this venture with great enthusiasm and excitement, fully knowing that we have an important role to play in shaping the country’s political, economic, and social discourse.
“We are committed to broaden the scope of engagement through great journalism we plan to offer.”
He said placing the publications at a vantage position as leaders in the field “is our priority”.
“We have to be seen as trusted publications, and thereby helping to shape the debate through good journalism,” Bailey said.
He said his commitment was to “solidify the weekly titles position and align their content offerings into a prosperous future”.
He is an experienced editor and media practitioner, having cut his journalism teeth at the eNCA, SABC, and the international news organisations.
Bailey was all praise for the previous owners and editorial staff “for their excellent work in turning the newspapers into the powerhouse news publications that South Africans know and love.
“We plan to continue to break news and developing interesting content the readers of the publications are accustomed to,” he said
CEO of Fundudzi Media David Mabilo confirmed the takeover by Bailey, confirming “there were no serious controversial issues of concern”, and adding that – in his opinion – the publication needed a change, hence the transaction.
“We have been running this business for the past six years, so we thought that the new owner, John Bailey, will strengthen the publication as he sees fit, and when he thinks it appropriate and necessary to do so.
“However, overall, nothing much will change. The new owner will find a well-oiled machine,” Mabilo said.
Mabilo said there was no need for revamping, adding that the new establishment may have to consider the position of an editor.
“We have not had an editor for a long time. John Bailey and his organisation will have to identify and appoint an editor of their choice, but everything other than the editor’s position, I trust will remain the same.
“I do not foresee any radical changes, and if there are any, it will be for the sake of reinforcement,” Mabilo said.
The changing of Sunday World ownership from Tiso Blackstar to the hands of a black-run entity was hailed as a move in the right direction, in keeping with the Black Economic Empowerment.
At the time, Mabilo said: “We are excited about this great opportunity to play a role in shaping the future of the media landscape in South Africa, and to contribute towards the diversity of ownership.
Mabilo said there was a need to amplify the voice of black economic development, and that it was “in order” that the media should take a bold step towards economic empowerment.
Meanwhile, Bailey said the focus would be on the Sunday World at this stage, and that the next phase would entail giving a detailed account of how the changeover would be implemented at Sunday Sun.
