In response to these challenges, the Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) partnered with Daily Maverick to launch its inaugural Executive Programme in Media Leadership: Strengthening Media Leaders in Africa.
“Media sustainability is not just an industry concern, it’s actually an imperative,” said Michael Markovitz, head of the Gordon Institute of Business Science Media Leadership Think Tank during the virtual launch of the Executive Programme in Media Leadership on 15 April 2025.
Markovitz, who was joined by Daily Maverick CEO Styli Charalambous, underscored the democratic urgency of an initiative such as this one to prevent the collapse of public interest journalism.
“We’re investing in leadership and professional development, addressing the sustainability of public interest journalism and building strategic influence,” Charalambous explained.
The four-month programme, designed to equip participants with crucial leadership skills necessary to transform and sustain their media organisations, stems from a mutual origin of the lack of accessible leadership development opportunities tailored to the unique realities and economic pressures faced by African media.
“We’ve recognised this challenge that at the heart of the crisis, journalism is a public good, but it’s wrapped inside a business motive,” said Charalambous. “That brings some complexity and challenges that are very specific to the industry.”
The course marks an intervention in the African media landscape to invest in training media leaders on the ground. While policy-focused efforts by the Gibs Think Tank have been instrumental in advocating for fairer media ecosystems, Markovitz emphasised the need for immediate action.
“We need to do something urgent, a practical immediate intervention that helps emerging media,” he said, stressing that the lived realities of operating in a low resource, high pressure and often very politically sensitive environment, such as those operating across the continent, were beyond the scope of theoretical frameworks or case studies from the Global North.
The launch drew 300 attendees, highlighting a strong interest in the discussion around media sustainability on the continent.
Those engaged within the discussion, from journalists, to media leaders and even those looking to head their own publications, indicated that the course would be instrumental in shaping their outlook towards strategically addressing the market failure of journalism in its current form.
“Well done! This strikes me as a critical contribution to strengthening media business leadership at a time it’s most needed in the sector. I wish you every success,” said attendee Michael Moss.
“A much-needed course,” said attendee Shirley Govender.
“Thank you for this,” said Magubevu Dawid Shoba.
“Congratulations, well done! May journalism continue to be the first draft of history, as well as the commitment of all the media industry professionals today,” said attendee Jean Robertson.
Read more: Inaugural launch of Executive Programme in Media Leadership to tackle SA media’s pressing challenges
“I have experienced first hand the potential for a programme like this and what it can do not just for the individual who participates, but for the organisation,” said Charalambous. “We hope that this will be the first of a long run for this course at Gibs.”
“Be prepared to put in some hours,” said Charalambous. “It will be intense, but that was the thinking behind keeping it condensed into a four-month period.”
Full cost: R140,000 which includes tuition, instruction material, lunches and refreshments, and accommodation for six nights.
Limited tuition assistance is available for the course through partial scholarship funding. Interested individuals can apply via their admission application to the programme on the Gibs website. Please indicate in your motivation letter if you have a need to be considered for this partial scholarship opportunity.
Read the full course breakdown here.
For enquiries call +27 (0)11 771 4000 or email execed@gibs.co.za. For more information and an online application form, please visit www.gibs.co.za/execmedia.
This article was first published on the DM Blog here.
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