By Daniel Zimba:
The Times Group has officially launched an e-edition, dubbed ‘E-Times’, with an assurance of continued commitment to promoting professional and well researched content.
E-Times is a digital platform that combines e-editions of The Daily Times, Malawi News and The Sunday Times with cutting-edge technology to provide breaking news, current affairs, investigative journalism in-depth analysis and compelling human-interest stories.
The Times Group Chief Commercial Manager Raphael Chirwa said E-Times is more than just a digital replica of the print editions, as it offers a reimagined experience that allows readers to switch between a traditional newspaper layout and a modern, streamlined digital view.
Chirwa said the group continues to take suggestions from targeted audiences on areas of possible improvement, hence the introduction of online publications.
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“We are in the digital era and what we want to do is to bring trusted and verified content into the digital space so that consumers are able to access content in their favourite channels anywhere they are. We are just responding to the demands and needs of consumers today and we will continue doing that,” Chirwa said.
The upgraded platform features an improved user interface, offering smart navigation, enhanced readability, offline access and real-time article translation that is friendly to all subscribers.
The product also offers high-resolution images, multimedia integration, text-to-speech functionality, customisable font sizes and distraction-free reading modes.
The Time Group Editor-in-Chief (EIC) Pilirani Kachinziri said, during a panel discussion that was organised as part of the launch Thursday, that the newly launched online publication would simplify access to Times content.
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“We deliver [the goods] professionally and do not compromise on standards. As such, with this product we have launched, let people be assured that The Times Group will continue delivering the best output,” Kachinziri said.
He added that the coming in of the digital space has created an opportunity for media organisations to widen their reach, with less struggles, adding that the group has managed to minimise challenges in making its products accessible to audiences across Malawi and beyond.
The panel discussion also featured Media Council of Malawi (MCM) Chairperson Jolly Ntaba, University of Malawi Vice Chancellor Sunduzwayo Madise and Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) Deputy Director of Legal Services Kelious Mlenga.
In his arguments, Ntaba described misinformation in modern days as a crisis, calling for integrated interventions to manage it.
He said the country should consider introducing digital literacy among people right from their childhood, highlighting the need for the education system to incorporate aspects that would encourage students to embrace opportunities that are available in the digital space and learn how best to utilise them.
“It [being trained in digital literacy] should start from when people are young so that when they grow up, they are responsible enough and knowledgeable about how best to harvest the opportunities of the digital space,” Ntaba said.
Ntaba, who is also the head of the Journalism Department at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas), noted that the education system in Malawi does not put enough emphasis on training people into realising what they can get from available opportunities.
He then encouraged people to take advantage of digital platforms and artificial Intelligence to create opportunities for themselves and the nation at large while exercising responsibility, professionalism and ethical standards.
On his part, Mlenga said Macra was making efforts to control misinformation in Malawi, adding that, at the moment, the authority has started engaging stakeholders to consider incorporating digital aspects and computer literacy into the country’s education curricula.
On his part, Madise, a subscriber of The Times Group’s online publications, commended the launch.
Madise further suggested that The Times Group should consider including interaction features that would enable subscribers to access content as they unfold, through mini publications such as afternoon and evening publications.
He then reminded people that spreading misinformation of any content that would likely cause public alarm remains a crime punishable by law, as doing so culminates in the violation of Penal Code and Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act provisions.
“Yes, you can publish, you can speak, freely but there are limitations attached.
“Therefore, people should understand and be responsible enough when playing around with information online,” Madise said.
He then expressed hope that, with time, people would start understanding their responsibilities.
