From the first pitch to the printed page, each issue follows a set routine. Reporters check facts, editors review copy, and community voices stay at the centre of every story we publish.
From the first story pitch to the day the magazine lands in shops, each monthly edition follows a set rhythm. Here is the timeline we work to, with the milestones that keep the reporting honest and the pages on schedule.
Week 1
The editorial team gathers to review reader letters, municipal notices, and tips from community correspondents. Each reporter leaves with a clear beat: a town profile, a commuter route check, or a follow-up on a previous issue's promise.
Week 2
Reporters are out in the provinces, sitting in taxi queues, visiting school halls, and sitting down with municipal clerks. The rule is simple: quote real people, describe what is actually in front of you, and verify every fact before it goes into a draft.
Week 3
First drafts come back to the office. A separate editor checks names, dates, and figures against public records and the reporter's notes. Stories that do not hold up are sent back, not patched over. This is where the magazine earns its trust.
Week 4
The pages are laid out with the issue's photographs and headlines. A final proofread catches stray errors, and the file is sent to the printer. By the end of the month, the edition is on its way to newsstands and subscribers across the country.
We hold to this schedule because readers rely on the magazine arriving on time. When a big story breaks after the layout is done, we hold it for the next edition rather than rush a half-checked piece. That is a trade-off we are comfortable making.
A few clarifications on how we work, what we mean by certain terms, and the boundaries of our reporting. These notes keep things straightforward for readers and for the people we write about.
When we say local, we mean reporting that originates in a specific town, suburb, or district and affects the people who live there. A piece about a taxi route in Makhanda is local. A national policy speech is not, unless we can show how it changes a particular street or school. We try to keep that distinction visible in every edition.
We quote residents by full name whenever they agree to be identified. In cases where speaking openly could put someone at risk, we use first names only or a description of their role, and we say so in the text. Anonymous sources are rare and always flagged as such, with a note on why we granted it.
Our municipal coverage reflects information available at the time of writing. Schedules for water supply, load shedding, roadworks, and community meetings change without notice. We date every update and encourage readers to confirm details with the relevant ward office or municipal hotline before planning around them.
If we get a name wrong, misstate a fare, or misreport an event date, we correct it in the next edition and note the change at the end of the original piece online. Readers can flag errors by writing to the editorial desk. We take factual accuracy seriously because people plan their days around what we publish.
Any paid placement is clearly marked as such and kept separate from editorial reporting. A business feature that results from an advertising arrangement is labelled accordingly. Our journalists do not accept payment for coverage, and we do not guarantee positive mentions in exchange for support.
We welcome tips, photographs, and written contributions from readers. Submitting material does not guarantee publication. We verify facts before anything goes to print, and we may edit submissions for length and clarity. Contributors retain ownership of their work and can ask us to remove it from the archive at any time.