The Times *False dawn for New Age as five editors quit* *Charl Du Plessis, The Times, Johannesburg, 20 October 2010*Five senior journalists at New Age, including its editor, Vuyo Mvoko, resigned yesterday, only hours before the new daily paper's first edition was to hit the streets.
In a statement on the paper's website, managing editor Gary Naidoo confirmed the resignations of the five and said the paper's launch, which was to have been today, would be delayed.
The publication's night editor, Jeremy Shepherd Smith, has been appointed acting editor in the interim, Naidoo said. "Management is satisfied that all sections of the project are on track and will advise shortly of its future plans."
Mvoko, who was appointed editor of the newspaper in July, could not be reached for comment. The other senior staffers said to have resigned are deputy editor Karima Brown, opinion and analysis editor Vukani Mde, news editor Amy Musgrave and arts and culture editor Damon Boyd.
The Times understands that the resignations followed a meeting yesterday at which the newspaper's editorial direction was discussed. Mvoko reportedly told staff that he had had discussions with the owners and there were disagreements about the launch of the paper. Sources close to the newspaper said Mvoko told the staff that he was resigning because he believed his authority as editor was being undermined.
Late last night, the five editors said in a joint statement to Sapa that they had "taken the decision that it would be neither proper nor professionally acceptable for us to speak publicly about the reasons for our decision". All queries were referred to Naidoo.
New Age is owned by TNA Media. Atul Gupta, a close ally of President Jacob Zuma, is TNA's executive director. In July he told the Sunday Times the newspaper would be independent but "broadly supportive" of government.
Franz Kruger, a senior lecturer in journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand, said the resignations "would damage [New Age's] credibility among advertisers and potential readers, which makes it quite hard to get off the ground".
The paper was initially due to launch in mid-September.*From: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article716684.ece/False-dawn-for-New-Age-as-five-editors-quit*
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