SPARK Media says that while this initiative takes place at a testing time for the newspaper industry, it is a testament to its belief in the relevance of print for both readers and advertisers on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal. 

"We are convinced that this new regionalised news offering will provide national advertisers with a solution to reach a larger audience that contains local emerging markets and a broader swathe of South Coast residents across the mid and lower South Coast market," says the team at SPARK Media.

"[It uses] a redesigned distribution model that covers all the viable hubs within the Ugu district area of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. All national advertising will be booked into this section from Monday, 24 August onward," adds the team.

"Our Ugu District News section will cover a wide variety of content relating to news with a broader reach such as news features, unpacking of regional issues that affect the lives of locals, as well as entertainment and events and community news," the team says.

"We will also be offering an Ugu District News / Eyethu Ugu combination rate for national advertisers that want even wider reach and markets in this region to include the important nodes of Bizana, Gamalakhe and Harding, among others," concludes the team.

SPARK Media says that as of Monday, 24 August the Eyethu Ugu print order will increase from 12 000 to 20 000.

For more information, visit www.sparkmedia.co.za. You can also follow SPARK Media on Facebook, Twitter or on Instagram.