NovaNews has launched their Schools Zone on Tuesday 16 June, creating a dedicated digital home for school news, achievements, community stories and sport from across South Africa. The initiative also includes a dedicated School Sports Zone.
A key part of the launch is the incorporation of the popular Schools That Rock platform into the NovaNews Schools Zone. For more than 11 years, Schools That Rock has showcased school achievements, cultural milestones, sporting success and learner accomplishments, helping schools share their stories with a national audience.
Schools That Rock was founded by Christo du Randt in 2009 through the community newspaper KRANT in Bloemfontein, followed by the launch of the Schools That Rock website in 2015.
Since then, it has grown into one of South Africa’s leading school news platforms.
“Over the past eleven years, Schools That Rock has published thousands of articles and photos, creating a digital archive of school pride and achievement,” said du Randt. “Every story has reinforced our belief that every child has a success story worth sharing. I am proud to continue that legacy on the NovaNews platform.”
By joining NovaNews, Schools That Rock will now reach a wider audience through Nova- News’s 389 000-plus active users, more than one million Facebook followers and a network of 21 community newspaper titles.
“The launch of the Schools Zone and School Sports Zone on Youth Day is deeply intentional,” said Bettie Giliomee-Rossouw, NovaNews Head of Digital and Editorial Commissioning.
“Every school has a story worth telling, every learner has an achievement worth celebrating, and every community deserves to see its young people recognised.”
At the heart of the School Sports Zone is The Rugby Factory, NovaNews’s weekly schools rugby vodcast hosted by Andy Daniel.
Sponsored by Bossa Restaurant Group, the programme has attracted more than 10 000 subscribers in two months, with some episodes exceeding 54 000 views across NovaNews’s digital platforms.
Schools can submit stories, achievements, photos and videos to Dustin Wetdewich, National Digital Sports Editor, at dustin.wetdewich@
novusmedia.co.za.
Readers are welcome to keep on sending school news for Weslander’s print edition to Noluvu Ludidi at noluvu.ludidi@novusmedia.co.za or WhatsApp to 082 576 0453.
