Insig

Insig ("Insight") was an Afrikaans opinion-forming weekly journal.

Launched in August 1987 by Naspers, with Piet Muller and Cas van Rensburg as editors, it was clearly inspired by revered international journals such as The Observer, The Times Literary Supplement, The New Yorker, Der Spiegel and so on, but in publishing style it appeared closer to Time and Newsweek perhaps - especially in later years, when - it followed a more news-focussed approach, and created a very popular online book review section.

The impulse to form such a journal had come from the closure of the highly regarded Afrikaans literary magazine Tydskrif vir Letterkunde on the one hand, and the rise of a number of independent journals such as the Suid-Afrikaan and the Vrye Weekblad on the other.

From the start it had a substantial and in-depth arts, culture and particulalry book division. Heavyweight writers such as André P. Brink, Hennie Aucamp and J.C. Kannemeyer counted among the early contributors.

It closed down in 2007, publishing its last issue on June 4th.

The online book review section was picked up by the online literary journal, LitNet.

Insig was launched in August 1987 by Naspers for the purpose of creating an opinion magazine following the closure of the literary magazine Tydskrif vir Letterkunde. From the start Insig had, for a magazine, a substantial and in-depth book division. Heavyweight writers of the likes of Andre P Brink, Etienne Leroux, Hennie Aucamp and JC Kannemeyer counted among the early contributors.

In later years Insig followed a more newsy approach. Its circulation and advertising revenue grew under the management of New Media Publishing by more than 50% and 700% respectively.

Sources

http://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/39/14450.html

Erika Terblanche. 2018. "Cas van Rensburg (1942–2018)" LitNet-Skrywersalbum, 2018-07-12[1]

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