Welcome to the new Miningmx

Websites are like children: they grow so quickly you wonder where the time went. In that time, the publication has built for itself a solid reputation for unique, newsbreaking content. But as we all know, the ageing process is also one requiring renewal. So I just wanted to set down some words explaining how the team and I have tackled Miningmx’s renewal, or reinvention if you will.

The most obvious change to Miningmx is the redesign. The site, I think you’ll agree, is cleaner and fresher. First, though, it’s important to say that Miningmx will remain true to its original strategy of producing quality original content exclusively about shares and people involved in African mining. For this, we turn to our team of writers (see below). I don’t believe there’s an online publication with as much experience as our writing team.

However, the redesign also reflects how we have made a quantum shift in our content offering, particularly original content. Here’s some of the key improvements that puts us again beyond the reach of our competitors.

Opinion
Building on the writing experience of our team, we’ve decided to bring you much more opinion through an expanded columnist page, formerly known as the commentary section, and a new section called the X-Factor. In essence, the X-Factor will be our equivalent of the Financial Times’ Lex column. Presented weekly, the X-Factor will pithily give you the writing team’s view on topical stories. There’s such a wealth of experience and savvy in our writing team, that the X-Factor reflects a competitive advantage I believe few in our sector can rival.

Interactivity
And then there’s more interactivity in the redesign. For the first time, we’re allowing comments on stories and letters to the editor. We’re also providing an insight into what you’re reading through our Most Read/Commented/E-mailed box on the homepage. As part of the second phase of the Miningmx redesign, we’re also bringing you an online version of our Rainmakers & Potstirrers book with an open invitation to nominate your own rainmaker or potstirrer. But more of this in a later communication from me.

Multimedia
Multimedia is presented for the first time on Miningmx with the redesign. Our podcast Metal Heads will, I believe, become a popular listen. Presented every Monday, you’ll have the opportunity to hear myself, Brendan and Allan bandy about our views as well as interviews with mining CEOs and the like. Stand by for our video content which constitutes the third phase of the Miningmx reinvention, later in the year.

Data
One of the major drivers behind the redesign has been a closer alliance to Fin24, the parent company and now controlling shareholder of Miningmx. This means a lot of the services already built by the group are now available to us including a very impressive data pack. This allows us to provide company snapshots and profiles, trading activity figures and sophisticated graphing tools. It’s powerful.

Off The Wires
Original content is always the name of the game at Miningmx. However, we want our readers to have a richer experience when they log into the homepage. So our Off The Wires section republishes news from Sapa, I-Net Bridge, Reuters and AFP which allows Miningmx to add broader news in addition to our specialised approach.

I’ve alluded to subsequent phases in the redesign and I’ll duly be in contact about these as we progress. For now, I think the redesign registers the team’s commitment to continue growing Miningmx. We’re in no doubt that there’s no room for complacency. I’ll be in touch again soon. In the meantime, feel free to write to me if you have any queries about the redesign, and whether you’re encountering any problems. Enjoy.

Regards
David

THE TEAM

David McKay
Executive Editor

From 1990 to 1995, David McKay worked as a general news, arts, books and industrial journalist for various newspapers. In 1996, he joined Business Day where he started covering the mining sector. In 1999, he joined Moneyweb Holdings helping to found Mineweb. In 2003 he joined Finweek where he started the Mining Yearbook and, a year later, Miningmx. David has an MA (Wits). David also edits Fin24.com. In addition to journalism, three other things matter: family, Shakespeare, and Manchester United.

Hayley Goodwin
Business Manager

Hayley graduated from RAU with a BCom, after winning a scholarship to study at the Jonkoping International Business School in Sweden and started working at Mineweb shortly thereafter. An offer to launch Miningmx with David proved too tempting, however, and she’s been bossing around her colleagues ever since. Hayley has also been seen running half marathons in exotic parts of the world and chasing hockey and golf balls around Jo’burg’s northern suburbs with varying levels of embarrassment.

Allan Seccombe
Managing Editor

Allan, who recently became a father of a beautiful boy, has been a journalist since 1995. He started at Reuters after studying journalism at Natal Technikon. His latter years with the newswire were spent exclusively covering commodities. He worked as the resources editor at ThisDay newspaper before serving as acting business editor for the Sowetan and the Daily Dispatch. He joined Miningmx in October 2005.

Brendan Ryan
Journalist

Brendan holds a BA degree in Economics from UCT. He’s a former deputy financial editor of the Rand Daily Mail. He also spent four years doing public relations at Anglo American and can confirm there’s life after leaving the group. He’s been a freelance journalist for the past 20 years. Brendan claims he is able to stay sane through bird photography and birdwatching trips to destinations like Antarctica. There’s no evidence yet of this working.

Marc Hasenfuss
Journalist

Marc has worked as a financial journalist for two decades, including stints at Business Day, Business Report, the Cape Argus, the EP Herald and Financial Mail. Sadly his ambition to work for Rolling Stone was never realised, but some middle-age fulfilment has been achieved as the Kommetjie-based correspondent for Miningmx, Finweek and Fin24.com for the past six years. Marc specialises in small cap companies and enjoys digging out controversial corporate matters. He holds Frank Zappa and Remgro in high esteem, and is determined to regain a single figure golf handicap.

Rachelle Bloemstein
Business Development Assistant

Rachelle uses her Marketing Communications qualification from the AAA School of Advertising to beguile clients with our fabulous offerings both online and offline. After managing her own travel company for two years, Rachelle managed to squeeze in a few years of travelling herself before settling back into the working world. She’s worked as an executive assistant in various sectors, implemented social media for the NHS in the UK and is now enjoying the thrills and drills of mining.