New Mail&Guardian editor-in-chief Chris Roper speaks to Grocott’s Mail about his plans for the paper’s print and digital platforms – and he promises he won’t mess it up.
New Mail&Guardian editor-in-chief Chris Roper speaks to Grocott’s Mail about his plans for the paper’s print and digital platforms – and he promises he won’t mess it up.
After being appointed Mail&Guardian editor-in-chief last week, Chris Roper says a few former editors emailed him with warnings about the national institution, responsibility and “you’d better not mess it up”.
This shows how important the M&G is to many people, he says, and he’ll be sure to take good care of it.
With over 20 years experience in editing and management, both online and print, Roper seems quite capable. After all, his contributions as their online editor led to a 60% growth in online readership from 2009 to 2013.
“There’s never been a time I haven’t realised that online is key,” Roper said.
Now with the newspaper’s reigns firmly in hand, his commitment to dynamic innovation promises some exciting prospects for M&G. “We’ll be pushing multimedia even more,” he told Grocott’s Mail. “We’re also starting a Mail & Guardian Africa website.”
The new editor-in-chief plans to push a 'digital first’ strategy and will pay particular attention to the potential growth of audiences using mobile phones and tablets.
Recognising the importance of convergence in news media, Roper says he’ll be working on processes to promote M&G’s online presence without sacrificing quality.
Roper was previously the online editor of M&G.
He also worked as editor-in-chief at 24.com and Tiscali World Online.
Among the awards Roper has received are the 2008 Pica Columnist of the Year and the Silver Mondi Award for his work with Cosmopolitan.
Roper has always been a self-motivated individual and began his editing career with his own online music magazine, covering the Cape Town local music scene when he saw the gap in the market.
Roper’s tongue-in-cheek satirical style makes for compelling reading and his M&G editorials are often as hilarious as they are informative.
