'Back to the future' for Paarl Post
2010-06-24
THE Paarl Post recently moved to a new site in New Street, on Patriot Square, in central Paarl. The “new” building, next to the Virgin Active Gym, was home to Paarl Post as well as its printing press until 1981, when the thriving business moved to Jan van Riebeeck Drive. There the business continued to expand under the leadership of the Retief family, ultimately leading to the formation of the Paarl Media group of printing businesses, now consisting of ten factories producing mainly magazines, commercial print and newspapers. On 1 April last year, Media 24 (part of Naspers) obtained 100% ownership of the newspaper, and the newspaper printing process was moved to Paarden Eiland. At the same time, the Paarl Media Group and the Retief family acquired 100% of Paarl Coldset (now consisting of five newspaper printing facilities nationally), from Media24. As a result, it was decided to move the newspaper staff back to the building in the centre of town which had previously housed the newspaper between 1957 and 1981. Here the dedicated team of staffers under management of Ilse Fourie have found a new home, after a considerable revamp of the building. Paarl Post sells an average of 16 000 copies per week in the communities of Paarl, Wellington, Franschhoek and environs. It is one of the larger sold weekly community newspapers in the country and is the biggest selling community paper in the Western Cape with an estimated readership of 100 000. Paarl Post is by far the dominant newspaper in its geographic area, with the greatest market penetration of any news publication available in the area, because it focuses exclusively on local news (irrespective of social class, age, gender, income or creed). As a result it is also the leading advertising medium for the area, producing excellent results for advertisers.It varies from 32 to 48 pages per week, with special pages focusing on the town of Wellington. The newspaper has won many awards for quality in journalism. The Paarl Post was first published on 14 January 1905 as direct successor to the famous rebel newspaper Die Afrikaanse Patriot, the first Afrikaans newspaper in South Africa. Die Afrikaanse Patriot first appeared on 15 January 1876 in a small format as a monthly magazine promoting Afrikaans as an alternative to Dutch. It eventually grew to a popular weekly paper that was nationally famous for its pro-Afrikaans and anti-British sentiments. There were many subscribers all over the country and its circulation rose to 3700 in the 1880s due to its support of Afrikaner politics and its opposition to the British colonial government. It was founded by the Genootskap van Regte Afrikaners and was published by DF du Toit & Co, which published many other Afrikaans periodicals and books. Under the editorship of Rev SJ du Toit, the newspaper changed its political support to favour the British government’s imperialism before and during the Anglo Boer War. Its heavy criticism of Paul Kruger caused it to lose most of its readers. When the newspaper fell bankrupt and closed at the end of 1904, DF du Toit & Co decided to launch a new, non-political newspaper, the Paarl Post, circulating locally and publishing in English and Dutch. The newspaper was originally housed in the Patriot building in Main Street (opposite the intersection with Pontac Street). The business changed hands in 1923 when the Paarl Printing Company was purchased by Dr AL de Jager (local MP). At this time, the company moved to Lady Grey Street to a building which currently is located directly next to the post office. In 1938 the Retief family purchased the business and continuing expansion necessitated the construction of the building in New Street. By the 1980’s, as the dynamic business grew, more space was required, and the business moved to a building in Jan van Riebeeck Drive. In 1988 the newspaper printing section split from the Paarl Printing Company into a separate entity, still owned by the Retief family. Media 24 obtained a 50% share of Paarl Post in 1995, which was increased to 75% in 2002, while the Retief family retained management control. At this time, Paarl Post became part of the Boland Newspaper Group, consisting of 14 community newspapers within the Media 24 stable. On 1 April last year, Media 24 obtained a 100% share of Paarl Post newspaper, and joint ownership ended. The newspaper office is now located on Patriot Square at 1A New Street (0 021-870-4600).
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