In The Chapter We Wrote, Len Kalane, former editor of the newspaper, tells not only the story of City Press, but also a tale of the stories and events that shaped contemporary South Africa.

Kalane traces the birth of City Press in the 1950s and the early days of the newspaper, along with its iconic sister publication, Drum magazine. He details the role that Naspers, who bought the paper in the 1980s, and the erstwhile apartheid communication machinery played behind the scenes in an attempt to reconcile two constituencies – Afrikaner and black nationalist – and to move South Africa out of its political conundrum and towards a negotiated, peaceful settlement.

The book is in memory of author and journalist Percy Qoboza, and also incorporates a selection of his columns. It brings vividly to life the newsrooms of an iconic South African brand, and will be useful to students, academics and the interested lay reader.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Len Kalane is a former City Press editor, and was executive director at RCP Media, incorporating Rapport-City Press. He joined City Press in 1983, from the Sowetan. Kalane started his journalism career at The World and Post newspapers, both banned by the South African apartheid government in 1977 and 1982 respectively.

Kalane also helped found Kaya FM, one of the first post-democracy privately-owned radio stations in South Africa, and was on the MNet board of directors until 2001. He has also served as an executive in Telkom and has launched various media companies. He is currently a media consultant.

The Chapter We Wrote: The City Press Story is published by Jonathan Ball Publishers