ELLEN MLAMBO
MIRROR REPORTER

HARARE – The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe last week conducted a two-day Media Business Modelling Seminar in Harare where publications shared models that could be used to sustain business in the face of new technology.
Two individuals from Zambian and South African publications presented business models employed at their respective organisations.
The workshop saw participants working on ways of possible collaboration locally, regionally and internationally.
Internews Regional Media Business Advisor, Tim Zunckel made presentations on various topics including the evolving media landscape, localism, diversifying business, importance of financial literacy and how money impacts media operations.
Zunckel said money is not the only determinant of sustainability in media operations as the concept is broad.
“When we look at our organisations, the business model environment which we operate in, we mustn’t solely be focused on money although it is an important aspect. We must have a bigger picture on sustainability. The focus on sustainability is broad, and other aspects on sustainability include organisational structure, management skills and expertise,” he added.
One of the biggest assets in the sustainability of media companies is building trust with audiences and consumers and respecting them.
Zunckel also spoke on the concept of redefining and said content creation is a great part of the redefinition conversation.
News Diggers Managing Editor, Mukosha Funga presented on the origins, growth, operations of her organisation. News Diggers is a Zambian media organisation.
She said media practitioners have to think of how they can collaborate and leverage social media and traditional media to grow businesses, a case of News Diggers.
The organisation was established towards the end of 2016. They started off by designing a website where they post their stories and have grown to publishing a daily paper, an electronic paper published three times a week and a separate weekend publication.
With time, the company monetised their website and put a pay wall for daily, weekly, monthly and annual subscriptions.
She added that the organisation also has partnerships with a number of African and International organisations. The second day had a presentation from Tinashe Munyuki of South Africa’s Daily Maverick on business strategies.