JSE-listed Metropolis Transactive Holdings (Metropolis), has today (7 September 1999) concluded a five year sponsorship of the development course in Internet publishing for the Rhodes Journalism department. The course will be named the Metropolis New Media Publishing Programme and will be offered by the New Media Lab, a division of the Department of Journalism Studies at Rhodes. The course, is the first of its kind to be offered by a South African University and one of the first in the world.
Metropolis, which owns South Africa`s largest portal site, iafrica.com, views the sponsorship as part of its commitment to building the skills base which supports local e-commerce initiatives.
Metropolis is a transactive media company focused on combining content and interactive technology to create, manage and broker a network of niche-focused, vertical trade communities in which buyers and sellers transact. After the success of iafrica.com which, according to audited records, is the most popular portal in local cyberspace, the company has launched its first seven business to business communities:-
Each community provides daily information updates, editorial features, industry news, event calendars, product information, case studies, career opportunities and a host of other features. Most importantly, it offers users a targetted on-line marketing channel, and an opportunity to transact with customers and suppliers in the industry.
As befits its revolutionary and forward thinking approach, "Architects of the New World" Metropolis*, is blazing the education trail by investing in the future of South African e-commerce.
Jason Xenopoulos, CEO of Metropolis commented "Our five year support of this programme stems from the fact that new media forms an inextricable part of the marketing, business and commerce platform. Metropolis*, therefore, as a transactive media company, is pleased to assist in the education and inspiration of a new generation of students who are eager to utilise and revolutionise this medium."
Although the course is still under development, 16 students are currently enrolled and trained on packaged information for the World Wide Web. The lectures cover different forms of information packaging including text, images, audio, video, and overall website strategy and management. As part of the course, students are required to complete a research project which is published on the New Media Lab Website.
In addition to the standard course lectures, students are informed of the latest industry developments and issues, through guest lectures from leading industry players.
This year, in its pioneering phase, the course is optional, however, by 2000, Rhodes will offer the programme as a media specialised course covering far more content than in the current phase.
Metropolis New Media Publishing Programme, together with Rhodes University launched the programme during the Highway Africa Conference held at the University from the 5th to the 9th of September 1999.
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