FTW to be part of Now Media

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES have led FTW's parent company Travel & Trade Publishing to change its name to Now Media (Pty) Ltd. The new name reflects the company's philosophy which is to explore all media opportunities, not only print, and to apply its media experience to other specialised fields.
The company was founded in 1953 by John and Leona Marsh to promote travel and trade through printed publications.
Today these include FTW, Travel News Weekly and SA Tourism Update, all Audit Bureau of Circulation certified newspapers which lead their respective niche fields in terms of readership and advertising market share.
The move into electronic media started with the company's development of Travelinfo which is accessed by SA travel agents some 10 000 times each hour and provides a unique reference service enjoyed only in South Africa.
Its electronic counterpart on the freight side, Cargo Info Africa, was started two years ago and next month it will launch a world-first automated e-mail alerting system notifying shippers of any changes to sailing schedules.
Last year saw the launch of Travel Now, an electronic daily for the inbound travel sector which proactively generates e-mail alerts for readers based on their own customised reader interest profile.
People talk about the opportunities of the future but they are already happening now, says m.d. Dave Marsh. "We truly embrace change and love the fun of pioneering new concepts. In the seventies, people were dubious when we converted TNW from a monthly into a quick-read weekly which involved massive investment in a full colour printing plant so that we could print it the same day we finished writing it. It's a standard unmatched by any other publisher except the dailies, but appreciated by time-pressed readers who want the most up-to date information.
"We are now gearing ourselves to reap the benefits of the huge media opportunities which are opening up in both electronic and print."
The name Now Media is part of this, so too is a R12 million investment that the company has made in a communication - friendly facility to be called the Now Media Centre which will be ready for occupation later this month on the new Illovo Boulevard in Johannesburg.