Daily Maverick is a South African online news publication and weekly print newspaper, with offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. It claims to have a readership of approximately 10 million readers per month. It was founded in 2009 by Branislav Brkic, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of the publication, and Styli Charalambous, its Chief Executive Officer.
It is known for its investigation of the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award alongside Rappler.
That investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture. In 2018, Brkic received the Nat Nakasa Award for his role in the investigation. In 2021, Charalambous also received the award.
History
Daily Maverick was launched in 2009 by Brkic and Charalambous following the closure of Brkic’s former print magazines, Maverick and Empire. They started a “daily ipad newspaper” in 2011 to complement the existing website; it closed in 2013. The weekly print newspaper, DM168, was launched in 2020.
In 2018, the Daily Maverick launched Maverick Insider, a voluntary membership plan that doesn't have a paywall or standard donation request. Contributions from readers will keep the Daily Maverick free for those who can't afford to pay.
The Daily Maverick hosts articles by Declassified UK, a group of independent journalists who investigate British foreign policy, the UK military and intelligence agencies and Britain's most powerful corporations.
Daily Maverick’s membership model has been widely recognised as a successful example of the emerging membership trend that invites audiences of news publications to pay to become part of a readership community.
In addition to its membership programme, the privately-owned publication also hosts paid live events. It has received philanthropic funding from the Open Society Foundation, Donald Gordon Foundation, Elaine & David Potter Foundation and ABSA. It is a participant of the Media Investment Development Fund’s South African Media Innovation Programme.
It also produces podcasts and documentary films, including Influence, directed by Poplak and Diana Neille, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2020. Section 16, which details the online attacks on Daily Maverick’s women journalists, debuted at the Encounters Film Festival.
Criticism
Daily Maverick has been criticised regarding its funding and finances, notably by the Independent Media Group. In August 2022, a judge ruled in favour of the Daily Maverick when it sued a former columnist for posting on social media that he had been paid to write articles critical of Independent News.