The Mercury (South Africa)

The Mercury is an upmarket English language newspaper owned by Independent News & Media and published in Durban, South Africa.

As the most popular English morning newspaper in the region, The Mercury has 269 000 readers (AMPS 09B) [1].

Content

The paper focuses on the important national and local news of the day, with background and analysis. Its leader and opinion pages offer a platform for a diversity of views and aims to foster informed debate. The daily Business Report within The Mercury gives readers an edge in business. They are kept up to date with latest international market trends, national company and business news and a variety of crucial economic intelligence. The title’s other daily offerings include colourful LIFE and SPORT sections with informed, insightful writers and entertaining columnists. Popular weekly supplements include the GoodLife, Motoring, and Network. Network (on Wednesday) is noted for its specific focus on KZN business, property and shipping news, all vital to the local economy. The Zululand and Pietermaritzburg areas are specifically covered within Network. The Mercury places special emphasis on sports coverage. It carries numerous specialised columns, for example, on rugby, soccer and cricket – and includes dedicated golf pages on Tuesday. The Mercury also provides a leading role in guiding readers into the local entertainment and arts scene. Daily and weekly sections offer fun and enjoyment to the whole family from movie and theatre reviews, to regular TV features, comics and daily crosswords. The Friday edition includes a guide to weekend events in KZN.

Based in Durban where World Cup festivities have been particularly spirited, The Mercury went to extraordinary lengths to accommodate Portuguese fans who flooded the city for the much-hyped Brazil vs Portugal clash. See what Charles Apple [2], Grub Street [3] and BizCommunity [4] [5] have to say about the edition.

External links

• The Mercury online edition