''Isolezwe'' is a Zulu-language

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launched in 2002 by Independent News & Media. It is published daily in

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, in the tabloid format. Editor Kiki Ntuli describes their target market as "the modernising Zulu ... meone who may go back home to the rural areas to slaughter a cow to amadlozi he ancestors but is as equally comfortable taking his family out for dinner and a movie in a shopping mall".

History

In June 2004, ''Isolezwe'' launched their online edition; their fellow Independent News & Media publications described it as the first Zulu-language news website. In the five years after its founding, it performed much better than Independent's English-language South African dailies, growing from a circulation of under 30,000 to more than 95,000, according to

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figures. Much of their circulation consists of single-copy sales rather than subscriptions. It continued its strong performance in the first quarter of 2010, with a 34% increase in circulation to 104,481, as compared to industry-wide 2.3% drop in sales. Circulation for their Sunday edition, '' Isolezwe ngeSonto'', also reached 71,219. Paper insiders disagreed on the reasons for the growth; editor-in-chief Mbathi credited

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and local news, while joint managing director Brian Porter mentioned editorial content and sports as "vital ingredients".

Language

''Isozwele'' is known for using a more urban form of Zulu, in contrast to its competitor ''Ilanga'', which describes itself as using a "purer form" of the language.

Distribution areas

Distribution figures

Readership figures

References

External links

''Isolezwe'' online edition

SAARF Website
Mass media in Durban Daily newspapers published in South Africa Publications established in 2002 Zulu-language mass media 2002 establishments in South Africa {{SouthAfrica-newspaper-stub