Drum South Africa – Leading Weekly News Magazine For Black South Africans

by John Peter Digital Magazine Newsstand

Drum is a leading weekly news and celebrity magazine targeted at black South African families. It was first known as The African Drum and was started in 1951 by Robert Crisp, a journalist and broadcaster. First edited by Anthony Sampson, it was then succeeded by Jim Bailey who changed the name of the magazine to Drum. The current editor is Makhosazana Zwane-Siguqa and its editor-in-chief is Izelle Venter.

Every issue of a Drum magazine subscription reflects on the lives of black South Africans, with the backbone of the magazine being crime, investigative reporting, girls, jazz and sport. It is fully aware of the ramifications of the modern day South African lifestyle, with an aim to inform, alert, educate and entertain the black population of South Africa. It forms a part of the daily life for every black South African family, making it the sixth largest consumer magazine in Africa. The magazine reaches out to all its readers offering market news, entertainment and features. It has two sister magazines: Huisgenoot – for White and Colored Afrikaans-speaking readers, and YOU.

Back in the day, the magazine was a pioneer of black journalism, representing courageous investigative journalism with cutting-edge photo journalism. It has kept up with the pace of changes in South Africa, over the last 50 years. The magazine's recipe for success is to give readers what they want which is simple and very effective.

The articles are about real people, mixed with a healthy dose of escapism – entertainment, glamour and sport. Drum South Africa gives its readers stories they won’t read anywhere else. The magazine is filled with practical advice to solve everyday problems, from health and careers to financial and relationship issues.

Sales figures for the last quarter of 2012 by South Africa’s Audit Bureau of Circulations’ (ABC) showed that Huisgenoot, You and Drum are at the top of their list. According to a survey conducted, Huisgenoot sells 270,310 copies a week on average, YOU sells 155,125 and Drum sells 118,793. The magazine has 1,305,000 readers who are young, sharp and funky; they want news that will keep them in tune with the rest of the world and its trends, including useful articles that help get them far ahead in their own lives.

The magazine had been banned many times for its active participation in the dark apartheid years. Now it is a part of publishing giant Media 24’s family magazines division. Its current journey sees it progressing along with its readers, while catering to a democratic society filled with its own unique challenges. Drum magazine has become a platform for a new generation of writers and photographers changing the way in which black people are represented in society.

Digital magazine editions are currently available on many mobile and tablet devices via Apple Newsstand, Google Play, Magzter and others. You can carry your magazine in the cloud everywhere and access them at any given time; even read archives of your favorites. A Drum magazine digital subscription can be downloaded with just a click! If you are not sure about a subscription, you can always try a single issue of Drum digital magazine.

You will be pleasantly surprised to note that the readability of the magazine on a digital platform is superior to the print edition. In addition, you even get interactive content that cannot come with a print edition. Go digital and become a part of the go-green revolution!

Drum is a leading weekly news and celebrity magazine directed towards Black South African families. Grab a copy of the Drum magazine digital subscription at http://www.magzter.com, and enjoy a read of the Drum digital magazine today!