A RHODES UNIVERSITY-linked company will take ownership of Grocotts' Mail in September, opening the way for a partnership between the paper and the University's Department of Journalism and Media Studies. The purchase of Grahamstown's bi-weekly historic community newspaper also includes Grocott's Publishers and Printers and Rodgerson's Advertising agency. A joint statement by the current and new owners yesterday said that the purchase would ensure the paper, founded in 1870, will remain locally owned and oriented. The new owners said that Grocotts' Mail would "strictly remain a community paper, as opposed to becoming a university or student mouthpiece". Staff would be re-employed by the new company on the existing terms and conditions. "We are pleased that the paper and its name are secure for the future," said Jeff Grocott and David Rodgerson who are current co- owners of the publication. The pair will assure continuity of the business as consultants for three months after take-over. Rodgerson said: "After considering all the options available for a community paper of this nature, and in the context of the bigger media environment where changes are being experienced continually as the country evolves, this deal not only ensures the independence of the paper, but also its long-term survival." According to the statement, the paper will be run as a commercial enterprise, with added strength from a relationship to be developed with the Rhodes University department of Journalism and Media Studies. "This is a win-win scenario, and our students could gain invaluable practical experience," said Prof Guy Berger, Head of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies. He said the new company's articles of association would guarantee editorial independence and require the paper to serve readers and advertisers across town, township, campus and countryside. Funding for the purchase of Grocotts' Mail has come from an international philanthropic foundation. The company acquiring the paper through the donation is called the David Rabkin Unit for Experiential Journalism, named after a South African journalist and political prisoner who died in exile in Angola in 1985. "Over time, Grahamstown can look forward to an even better Grocotts Mail. The new ownership structure unlocks the prospects for a highly productive relationship between the department and the paper," said Berger. "Rhodes journalism students, working under supervision, will be able to offer top quality stories, photographs and designs to readers," he said. "In addition, we hope that media management students be able to take part in boosting Grocotts' circulation and advertising activities." In time, the department also wants to see media economics students engage in close-up study of the paper as a live media business laboratory. Cultural studies classes may be able to research real audiences. The department also foresees journalism students studying online publishing as being involved in building the publication's website. Berger said that similar arrangements had been pioneered for 90 years at the world's oldest journalism school in Missouri, Columbia, USA. "This is probably a first time in Africa for a community paper to link up with a journalism teaching facility to mutual benefit. It will enrich our training activities as well as add extra value to the Grahamstown community." He added that the partnership between the paper and the department would unfold slowly and carefully, and would tap ideas from key stakeholders in the community.