Mkhuma is an award-winning journalist with almost 20 years' experience of executive roles in newspapers and magazine. Prior to her appointment as acting editor of the Pretoria News last December, she was executive editor at The Star in Johannesburg. Pretoria News is a daily newspaper providing coverage of local, South African and international news and sport, and is among the bigger and successful titles of Independent Newspapers.

‘'Zingisa's appointment to Pretoria News comes at a time when competition for readership is rife, and we are confident that with her track record she is capable of growing both readership profile and circulation, and driving the publication to greater heights,'' said Tony Howard, chief executive of Independent Newspapers.

“Great challenge”

Commenting on her appointment, Mkhuma said, “Taking on this position is a great challenge for me at this time in my career. Pretoria News is going through a circulation boom at the moment, and my challenge is not only to maintain but to propel the circulation and readership to new heights.

“…However, we need to bear in mind that the job of a newspaper editor is dramatically different to what it was 100 years ago. I take over at a time not only where the economic climate poses a challenge to both advertising and street sales , but a time when there are far more English medium newspapers on the streets than there were when the News was first launched in 1898.

"We live in a world where technology advances on an almost daily basis compelling newspapers to reflect and adapt to these challenges. I'm ready for this challenge and look forward to ensuring that the Pretoria News builds on its successes over the last century, to prepare it for the century of service to readers and advertisers that lie ahead,” said Mkhuma.

Best columnist

Mkhuma was adjudged the best columnist in the country in 2004, when she won this category at the Vodacom Journalist of the Year competition, and was runner-up four years before in the continental CNN Africa Journalist of the Year competition.

A graduate of the Argus School of Journalism, Mkhuma attended Wits Business School's Media Business Training Foundation.

[2 Oct 2007 11:33]

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