Diamond Fields Advertiser
Encyclopedia
The Diamond Fields Advertiser is a daily newspaper
published in Kimberley
, South Africa
, founded on 23 March 1878.
. It moved the following year first to Du Toit's Pan
and then New Rush (later renamed Kimberley). Another of the early papers was the Diamond News.
The Independent, owned by William Ling in 1876, was acquired by J.B. Robinson. By the late 1870s the success of the Independent had forced the Diamond Field to close, but with the Diamond Fields Advertiser then emerging as a third paper alongside the Diamond News and the Independent keeping local politicians on their toes in the turbulent years that followed.
During the Siege of Kimberley
, the newspaper was the subject of a feud between Cecil Rhodes and garrison commander, Colonel Robert Kekewich
. The local newspaper, which was under Rhodes' control, ignored the military censor and printed information that compromised the military. Kekewich obtained permission from his superior to place Rhodes under arrest if necessary.
Prominent journalists in Kimberley in the early years included R.W. Murray., and F.Y. St Leger later founder of the Cape Times
.
Readership stands at 68 000 mainly in Kimberley and the surrounding region, with a print-run of 11 500 copies.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
published in Kimberley
Kimberley, Northern Cape
Kimberley is a city in South Africa, and the capital of the Northern Cape. It is located near the confluence of the Vaal and Orange Rivers. The town has considerable historical significance due its diamond mining past and siege during the Second Boer War...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, founded on 23 March 1878.
The early days
The earliest paper on the Diamond Fields was a weekly called the Diamond Field , published from 15 October 1870 at PnielPniel, Northern Cape
Pniel was a mission station established by the Berlin Missionary Society on the Vaal River near modern Kimberley, South Africa, in 1845.-Establishment and early history:...
. It moved the following year first to Du Toit's Pan
Du Toit's Pan
Du Toit's Pan, now usually Dutoitspan, refers to one of the earliest diamond mining camps at what is now Kimberley, South Africa. It was renamed Beaconsfield, which existed as a separate borough from Kimberley itself until Kimberley and Beaconsfield were amalgamated as the City of Kimberley in...
and then New Rush (later renamed Kimberley). Another of the early papers was the Diamond News.
The Independent, owned by William Ling in 1876, was acquired by J.B. Robinson. By the late 1870s the success of the Independent had forced the Diamond Field to close, but with the Diamond Fields Advertiser then emerging as a third paper alongside the Diamond News and the Independent keeping local politicians on their toes in the turbulent years that followed.
During the Siege of Kimberley
Siege of Kimberley
The Siege of Kimberley took place during the Second Boer War at Kimberley, Cape Colony , when Boer forces from the Orange Free State and the Transvaal besieged the diamond mining town. The Boers moved quickly to try to capture the British enclave when war broke out between the British and the two...
, the newspaper was the subject of a feud between Cecil Rhodes and garrison commander, Colonel Robert Kekewich
Robert Kekewich
Major General Robert George Kekewich CB was a Victorian era British Army officer.Kekewich was the second son of Trehawke Kekewich, of Peamore House, near Exeter, Devon, and the grandson of Samuel Trehawke Kekewich...
. The local newspaper, which was under Rhodes' control, ignored the military censor and printed information that compromised the military. Kekewich obtained permission from his superior to place Rhodes under arrest if necessary.
Prominent journalists in Kimberley in the early years included R.W. Murray., and F.Y. St Leger later founder of the Cape Times
Cape Times
The Cape Times is an English language morning newspaper owned by Independent News & Media and published in Cape Town, South Africa. The first edition of the newspaper was published on 27 March 1876 by then editor Frederick York St Leger...
DFA today
The Diamond Fields Advertiser, affectionately known to its readers as the DFA, outlived its rivals and has continued as a daily paper (although the Saturday edition was dropped in the circa late 1960s). Today it is a member of Independent News & MediaIndependent News & Media
Independent News & Media plc , is a media organisation based in Dublin, Ireland, with interests in 22 countries on 4 continents worldwide. The company owns over 200 print titles, more than 130 radio stations, over 100 commercial websites and many billboard locations, and is a leading press player...
.
Readership stands at 68 000 mainly in Kimberley and the surrounding region, with a print-run of 11 500 copies.