NWT Newspapers/Kuruman Chronicle

Kuruman Chronicle was established in 2012, in Kuruman town, Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality within the district municipality of John Taolo Gaetsewe, from which it has been serving its targeted readership. The newspaper prints 9000 copies per month, targeting individuals from 16 to 65 years of age.

The publication’s written languages are 50% Setswana and 50% in English, which part of its endeavor to give voice and information to communities. 40% of news content is dedicated to promoting the local Setswana culture and heritage. This is achieved through featuring cultural events and local sports, especially at villages’ soccer tournaments.

Kuruman’s surrounding villages are fortunately still deeply rooted in their culture and heritage, where practices like initiation schools, indigenous poetry, and other culture related practices are promoted. This is where the paper comes in as an alternative news medium to promote local language, cultural diversity and heritage.

This approach has given the project a competitive advantage over other newspapers, which are primarily published in Afrikaans and English.

The publication’s distribution method is one other aspect that has afforded the project favour of the community. The paper is distributed for free in strategic points like taxi ranks, tribal halls, clinics libraries, schools, and local tuck-shops.