South Africa's grassroots, neighbourhood and community media sector is experiencing phenomenal growth.

There are a flood of new titles, and the conglomerate media houses are buying out many of the sector's better run independent publications. Ownership often changes so quickly that it is difficult to keep track. And, even when the publisher is known, it is difficult to identify the parent holding company.

The statutory Media Development & Development Agency (MDDA) has therefore launched a national in-depth survey of all publications operating in the 'community' media sector to try determine exact who owns what, and whether there are gaps in the market.

The MDDA research will compliment and update AIP's own Census 2007. 

AIP therefore endorses the new MDDA research, and calls on its members to proactively assist MDDA researchers in tracking all independent grassroots publications plus their conglomerate sector competitors.

AIP hopes to publish the results of this research on its website in early 2009.