And a very merry unbirthday to all the readers who have supported the paper over the past 100 years.
The Springs Advertiser has a proud history in our community and has borne witness not only to the goings on of Springs but also to the history and development of the country over the past century.
In 1916, when TC Davies had the notion to open a paper in this fledgling town, South Africa was still very much part of the British Commonwealth and under the rule of the English king.
It was only on May 31, 1961 that South Africa threw off the shackles of British rule and became a republic after a very narrow margin of the country’s citizens ruled in favour of this move.
By then Davies had already vacated the editor’s chair (in 1946), but not before ensuring the Springs public was well informed on the developments during two world wars and the 1922 strike.
It during this strike that Davies was jailed for attacking the government and that week’s papers were destroyed, marking the only time the Advertiser has been absent from the street.
Between 1946 and 2016, 12 other editors have sat in his seat, making me lucky number 13 – the editor who gets to celebrate this milestone with you, our valued readers.
The paper has come far since its beginnings as a monochrome chronicle of the town’s development into a major mining town and economic player on the Witwatersrand.
However, no matter the editor at the helm, the politics of the day or the number of colours printed in the paper, the Advertiser has stayed true to our mission to bring you all the news.
At every juncture the Addie has been in your postbox each week, bringing you the latest news and since 2010 you have also been able to access up-to-the-minute reports on our websites – first looklocal and then springsadvertiser.co.za.
As we enter a new century, with a new generation of techno-savvy readers, we present you with our new-look paper designed to bring further synergy between our online and offline offerings which, together, expands the reach of our news and offers you more news to keep you informed about your city and friends.
We have also, in the past five years, expanded the number of platforms on which you can communicate with us and share your views, so let us know what you think of our new suit of clothes, either in cyberspace on our Springs Advertiser Facebook page or Whatsapp on 079 408 9334 or by putting pen (or keyboard) to paper and sending your letters to samk@caxton.co.za or faxing them to 086 512 9571.
We would love to hear what you have to say about anything affecting the people of Springs and we don’t mind how you choose to communicate with us, as long as we are hearing from you.
