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Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Inside Rev360 — how Daily Maverick is using AI to boost community engagement, impact and revenue
AI offers the power to revolutionise journalism by boosting efficiency, driving growth and helping media outlets adapt to shifting consumer habits and the relentless rise of digital platforms. The average news consumer isn't exactly spoilt for choice. Between pop-up paywalls and unvetted information flooding social media, reader trust is steadily eroding (understandably so). While subscription models dominate the media landscape, Daily Maverick's voluntary subscription approach, where readers pay what they can if they can, keeps our journalism freely accessible to all. Yet, with reader interest declining rapidly globally, we're turning to AI to take reader revenue to the next level, backed by the JournalismAI Innovation Challenge. The rise of digital media has transformed how we consume news, endlessly searching, streaming and scrolling across platforms, hungry for real-time updates and deeper insights. But this easy access also fuels misinformation and disinformation, threatening independent journalism's very survival. In times like these, innovation isn't optional; it's essential. AI offers the power to revolutionise journalism by boosting efficiency, driving growth and helping media outlets adapt to shifting consumer habits and the relentless rise of digital platforms. Daily Maverick is proud to be one of 35 global newsrooms, selected out of 700 applicants, for the 2024 JournalismAI Innovation Challenge, a nine-month programme led by the London School of Economics' JournalismAI team and supported by the Google News Initiative. This opportunity has enabled us to develop Revenue360 (Rev360), an ambitious suite of AI-powered tools designed to deepen reader engagement, grow our Maverick Insider community and demonstrate the real-world impact of our journalism. Why Rev360? Why now? 'As a whole, the project is crucial for supporting our journalism. Funding for independent media is getting harder and harder to come by,' explained Alet Law, head of audience development at Daily Maverick. 'There's always a need to innovate and find creative solutions to this challenge.' Unlike many media outlets that rely heavily on paywalls or advertising, Daily Maverick's financial model centres on voluntary contributions from our Maverick Insider community, which accounts for 40% of our revenue. This approach keeps our journalism free for everyone, relying on reader support to sustain our work. Rev360, developed with support from the JournalismAI Innovation Challenge, is designed to optimise this award-winning membership model through AI-driven improvements at every stage of the engagement funnel and is fundamentally rooted in three pillars of reader revenue: acquisition, engagement and retention. 'We call it '360' because none of these pillars can, or should, exist in isolation,' said Fran Beighton, head of growth at Daily Maverick. 'Acquisition in membership only happens as a result of the impact of our journalism. If there's no impact, there's no impetus to support.' Optimised landing page Our current Maverick Insider landing page has a lower-than-average conversion rate. 'We've wanted to redesign the Maverick Insider landing page for a number of years and Rev360 has allowed us to finally do this,' said Julia Harris, head of reader revenue. 'We're testing the new page against our existing landing page and are making use of new analytics such as heatmaps to guide our decision-making,' said Harris. The goal is to launch a streamlined, user-friendly page by the end of May where AI-driven A/B testing and user analytics will allow us to continuously refine and personalise the experience for different campaigns and audiences. Otimising the landing page is critical to 'make it quicker and easier for people who have the intention of supporting by becoming members to complete their sign-up', Beighton added. Small changes can make a huge difference to conversion rates, and we're excited to see what the data reveals, Harris said. Daily Maverick Connect: Building a community 'Retention doesn't happen without engagement. Readers need to feel that they belong, that they are part of something significant,' Beighton said. Until now, readers could connect with us but not with each other. Recognising the need to foster stronger community engagement, Daily Maverick is launching Daily Maverick Connect, an online platform built on Discourse. 'For years, we at Daily Maverick have had the privilege of the support of these members – and not just their financial support: we've hired from this group; we've leaned on their expertise; we've even had event spaces donated; they've chosen our book covers […] with 'Daily Maverick Connect' we want to open this network up so that members can connect with each other,' Beighton said. It's imperative to understand that the one thing our Maverick Insiders share in common is that they're paying for a free service to ensure that those who can't afford to pay still have access to quality journalism. 'That's special. This community platform breaks down a barrier that will allow our members to truly become part of Daily Maverick, it's their platform.' Progress in action '[Working on Daily Maverick Connect] has been a deep learning curve,' said Law. 'Creating something from scratch means thinking about every detail – from technical aspects and user experience to content and communication,' both internally and externally, she said. The platform will initially only be available to Maverick Insiders, offering a space for members to connect, network and collaborate around shared interests. AI-powered tools will assist with content moderation and conversation analysis, helping maintain a positive environment and providing insights to improve user experience. 'We haven't put anything into practice yet, but I think I'm excited to see what comes of it,' said Law. The team aims to have the platform live by early July, with editorial staff joining soon after. 'Our hope for [Daily Maverick Connect] is that [our supporters] will derive genuine value from it, whether that's new business opportunities or just finding a like-minded padel partner or a new book club. Impact Framework: Measuring what matters The Impact Framework is Daily Maverick's new strategy to make impact the guiding principle of our journalism. By combining proactive planning before publication with robust post-publication tracking, it helps inform newsroom decisions, optimise resource allocation and build reader trust. At the heart of this framework is the Impact Engine, an AI-powered tool that analyses our articles and tracks their influence on public discourse, including references in parliamentary records. Alongside this, we're adopting new workflows to plan for impact intentionally and systematically track outcomes – ensuring every story's potential influence is considered from start to finish. What's next? As we enter the next phase, our focus is on scaling Rev360, sharing our learnings and refining each component based on real-world feedback. 'The support of JournalismAI has turned what was once only pipe dreams into reality,' said Beighton. We believe Rev360 can become a model for independent publishers worldwide — proof that with the right tools and support, even small newsrooms can lead the way in innovation. DM
Daily Maverick
16-05-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Rebuilding an education system in crisis, one book donation at a time
For the fourth consecutive year, Daily Maverick and Maverick451 have partnered with non-profit Gift of the Givers to print and distribute more than 1,400 age-appropriate books to underprivileged schools across South Africa. This joint initiative attempts to combat the country's deepening illiteracy crisis by providing essential educational resources to learners and educators. It is no secret that South Africa faces a severe and deepening literacy divide. According to the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study and the 2030 Reading Panel, about 80% of the country's foundation phase pupils struggle to read for meaning in any language. This alarming statistic highlights a need for urgent intervention and access to impactful educational tools that support early childhood development. Four years ago, Daily Maverick 's head of growth, Fran Beighton, and Gift of the Givers, joined forces to launch MavericKids – a collaborative literacy project that seeks to make a real, measurable difference by delivering educational books directly to schools in need. What started as a small distribution to six schools in the Western Cape has expanded into a nationwide effort, reaching rural communities in the Eastern Cape (Tholeni, Butterworth) and Northern Cape (Keimoes, Upington, Calvinia), inspiring children who previously struggled to engage with literacy material. This year, 1,401 copies of MavericKids Activity Book Volume 4: Smart, Curious and Independent were donated as the result of books purchased by Daily Maverick readers, according to Gift of the Givers' administrator, Anele Ncetani. A partnership making a real difference 'The MavericKids partnership embodies the spirit of collaboration and social responsibility,' says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers. 'Together, we've made a tangible impact on South Africa's literacy landscape and improved the lives of thousands of students. We look forward to continued growth and innovation.' MavericKids compiles the best educational content from DM168's MavericKids section into a comprehensive 240-page activity book. The book covers a wide range of topics, from artificial intelligence and career exploration to biology, geography and practical life skills, presented in accessible English. It is designed to be both educational and engaging, often serving as a valuable teaching resource. The collaboration stipulates that for every book sold, Daily Maverick donates an additional copy to Gift of the Givers for distribution, along with stationery packs to equip teachers and learners with the tools needed for success. Measuring success This year's book drop received overwhelmingly positive feedback, says Dr Sooliman. Teachers reportedly praised the quality and relevance of the books, noting that topics such as Planet Earth, how things work and the human body captivated students. 'Children enjoy the colourful illustrations and interactive activities,' he says, adding that the team received reports of increased student engagement and improved literacy skills. One teacher in rural Eastern Cape shared that previously disinterested readers now eagerly await each book drop, showing notable vocabulary growth. Similarly, Northern Cape learners, many of whom are Afrikaans speakers, found the English content easy to read and enjoyable, helping to bridge language barriers, says Dr Sooliman. A network of change MavericKids is more than just a book distribution project. It is part of a growing ecosystem that empowers teachers, inspires learners and fosters a culture of reading and curiosity. Many of today's learners are gaining confidence and knowledge that will enable them to mentor peers and younger students in the future, creating a ripple effect of literacy and empowerment across communities. With the fifth edition of MavericKids scheduled for release later this year, Daily Maverick and Gift of the Givers remain committed to expanding this impactful initiative. By focusing on early childhood education and resource accessibility, they hope to shift attitudes and improve literacy outcomes across South Africa. About Gift of the Givers The Gift of the Givers Foundation is Africa's largest disaster response non-governmental organisation of African origin. It has a strong track record of supporting education in South Africa, including providing school shoes, uniforms and technology to underprivileged and rural schools. Its interventions have reached communities such as Khayelitsha, Wellington and Esikawini, earning positive feedback from principals and local leaders. DM
