Manson says e-commerce is already playing a major role in the strategies of most online media properties. If you look at big media companies, they have had their fingers in as many pies as they could for some time now. They know they need to retain editorial credibility. It'll be the companies that can remain a trusted source of independent content that will be the trusted brands that people will go back to. Most traditional media companies are still grappling with their online strategies and models.
Few ventures are profitable.
Some companies have spun off elaborate new business units, others have chosen to be more conservative in their approach. Johnnic e-Ventures is using its Ananzi Web search portal as an entry point into the Johnnic stable. It wants to keep Internet users in the Johnnic environment. Niche zones within Ananzi will link to content from the Sunday Times and Websites operated by BDFM, publisher of the Financial Mail, FutureCompany and Business Day. Jacobsohn says the biggest change that the Internet has brought to the media industry is a dramatic increase in the speed at which it operates.