Both of the newly acquired titles are highly respected trade and technical publications in the engineering sector and have been published by EE Publishers in print and electronic format since 1998.

The Now Media Group was established in 1953 by the author and publisher John H Marsh, and currently has a staff of about 100 people, with 18 titles and its own printing press. The Group MD is publisher Anton Marsh — the grandson of the founder — who has been running the business since 2014.

Energize magazine covers the generation, transmission, distribution, application and sustainable use of electric power and energy. EngineerIT magazine covers the following:
  • measurement and instrumentation
  • electronics design, manufacture testing and components
  • telecommunications, networking and broadcasting
  • automation and control
  • computer and software engineering
"We are delighted and proud to have acquired the well-known EngineerIT and Energize titles, which complement and expand our business-to-business print and electronic media activities into the engineering sector," says Marsh.

"We know that these are highly respected titles. Coupled with the reader feedback from the initial closure of the titles, we know that the titles fill an important space in their respective sector. We look forward to servicing both our new readers and advertising communities," adds Marsh.

EE Publishers managing director Chris Yelland will be assisting Now Media as a consulting editor to ensure a smooth transition and continued professionalism and expertise.

A number of EE Publishers editorial and other staff will be moving to Now Media, and EngineerIT and Energize will continue to be published in print and electronic format, with the first editions under the new owners commencing in February 2020.

"I am also delighted that the wonderful legacy of 25 years of service to the energy, electricity and ICT sectors of South Africa by EE Publishers and its staff will continue under Now Media," says Yelland.

The titles will be run by publisher Nico Maritz for Now Media, which will steer the revitalisation of the titles in the early part of the new year. "The acquisition of these two print and electronic media publications is aligned with our mission of serving specialist business-to-business communities, and we intend to continue the passion brought to these titles by EE Publishers and Chris Yelland," says Marsh.

Editorial contributions and advertising support

Yelland has urged the contributors of editorial content to continue submitting press releases for publishing in EngineerIT and Energize to [email protected] and [email protected]. Contribution content includes:
  • technical articles
  • company, product, project, people and event news
  • views, comments and opinion pieces
Additionally, Yelland urges advertisers to continue and increase their support for EngineerIT and Energize with print and electronic media advertising and inserts for the magazines.

Now Media has extended a special restart discount to advertisers who conclude advertising sales contracts for EngineerIT and Energize before Friday, 31 January 2020. Advertisers will be entitled to the 2019 rate card rate and they will get a 10% special discount.

For more information, visit www.nowmedia.co.za or www.ee.co.za.