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NATION AT 20
s Nation Publications Limited (NPL) clocks 20 years, the importance of the circulation department cannot be overemphasised in its contribution towards the success of the NPL brands. The circulation department works in close collaboration with the editorial department of NPL in ensuring that the right news product gets to the right consumer at the right time. According to circulation clerk Stonnex Thawe, who is based in Lilongwe, circulation involves the maintenance of circulation records for the city of publication; the recruitment, supervision and reimbursement of carrier boys. Thawes tasks also include supervision of district agents who oversee circulation by subdivisions of the city, taking responsibility for moving papers to the news-stands and maintaining good relations with news-stand operators, among others. Our major responsibility is moving the papers into the appropriate distribution channels so as to be on the streets and offices of our subscribers on time, said Thawe who has been with NPL for 13 years. The circulation department is also responsible for promoting the NPL brands which include The Nation, Weekend Nation, Nation on Sunday, Fuko and Nation Online. Since we work directly with vendors and other subscribers, we know what type of news
joined the company as an administrative assistant and thereafter, I was moved into the accounts section where I worked as an assistant accountant before being moved up the ladder to accountant and then senior accountant. While working in accounts, I handled NPLs finances from the payroll
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NATION AT 20
NPL s Garry Chirwa flanked by Gomezgani Zakazaka, right, Amos Gumulira after receiving sports coverage awards
hat fine US writer Ernest Hemmingway said a great story is shown, not told. So let it be with Nation Publications Limiteds (NPL) story of excellence. Established in 1993 with a tall dream to match The Times of UKaccording to deputy chief executive officer Alfred NtongaNPLs story of excellence in the 20 years of its grand service is well shown, not told, by achievement of numerous awards. Since its inception, to begin with, independent media surveys, popular and professional votes have endorsed NPL as a popular and credible media institution. There is a great reason: NPL did not begin this journey to stardom alone. There were almost 36 other newspapers. Most, if not all of them, today, have folded into oblivion dead, buried and forgotten. Unarguably, it shouldnt be a surprise that NPLs endorsements of its grandeur have always come in form of medals. NPL won the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Malawi Chapter Award three times in 2006, 2007 and 2009. It also produced Misa overall winners in 2003, 2006 and 2010. Not only that. With a ruthless streak, The Nation has also scooped Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Entertainer of the Years best print media house in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2008 with NPLs gifted sports journalist Garry Chirwa emerging winner on all those occasions. It is humblinga great sense of flatter, sometimes. But
News analyst Peter Kanjere has received several sports coverage awards
The late Aleke Banda received the Lifetime Media Achiever Award in 2007
it feels good to be part of NPLs great family, especially, to write for the people that appreciates what you do. It is the service I offer not just to NPL but also to the entire nation, says Garry, popularly known as Arega, the ever-smiling man who, if it wasnt for being a journalist, could have been an international stand-up comedian. Even to date, talk of TNM Super League, Standard Bank Cup and recent Presidential Cup, NPL journalists have emerged top for best coverage in print category in all these coveted competitions And NPLs youthful but vibrant and insightful marketing manager Timothy Nzima has sweet memories of 2009. In that year, nine out of 10 awards in the print category went to NPL, says Nzima, adding with a great sense of history that no other media house in the country has ever achieved that feat. In last years Misa awards,
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NATION AT 20
ation Publications Limiteds visionto be a market leader in the media industrynot only speaks about the future, but builds on the success story behind the companys 20 years of existence. With its brandsThe Nation, Weekend Nation, Nation on Sunday, Fuko and Nation Onlineflowing and reaching to all corners of the country, the ambitious management at NPL considered the need for citizens to actively participate in news gathering. Thus in 2009, the idea of citizen journalism was born in one of NPLs brandsWeekend Nation. The editors note in Weekend Nations edition of January 1011 2009, which launched the popular Citizen Voices page, speaks volumes about the rationale behind the idea of citizen journalism. The idea is empowerment. It stems from the belief we have at NPL that when you give power to what has been a passive audience, they start using it and in the process you put them on the right road towards being better citizens, reads part of the note. Welcome to this brand new Citizen Voices page in Weekend Nation. It is truly the readers page because everything that will appear here will be collected, written and sent to us by you, our readers, Malawian citizens , from all corners of the country-urban and rural, reads the first paragraph of the note. It is a fact that journalists cannot be in all corners of the country to witness every news occurence, but should this be a reason not to cover areas the journalists cannot reach? At NPL the answer is no. It is NPLs belief that such gaps should be filled by any citizen with an interest to report community news. Today, the Weekend Nation publishes news stories from citizen journalists situated in all districts and cities of the country. For some passionate citizens, the Citizen Voices pages have