Five years of SAEON news

The first edition of SAEON eNews was distributed to just over 60 stakeholders in September 2005. “The newsletter provides an excellent forum for SAEON staff, in particular, to promote the work they're doing and the activities they're involved in to scientists and stakeholders. It is also a great vehicle for collaborating scientists to provide interesting information about their research. AS SAEON eNews is sent out to scientists within different disciplines, they are able to learn about things outside of their area of research, thus helping to promote a multi-disciplinary approach to science and observing.” – Dr Juliet Hermes, Manager of SAEON’s Egagasini Node "Writing for SAEON eNews serves as a good sounding board for determining the key issues of a project and what their wider implications are. From a reader's perspective SAEON eNews provides a quick and readable view of what's going on in the rest of SAEON." - Dr Nicky Allsopp, Manager: SAEON Fynbos Node

Five exciting and momentous years have elapsed since SAEON eNews first started reporting on the activities of the South African Environmental Observation Network and the three pillars of its mandate - observation science, information management and education outreach.

The electronic newsletter was one of the first initiatives resulting from the SAEON marketing and communication strategy. SAEON eNews has been well received by its readers and has proven its value as a communication vehicle to disseminate information, keeping local and international SAEON stakeholders abreast of developments within the organisation and the systems in which it operates.

The launch issue was distributed to a readership of just over 60 key stakeholders in September 2005, exactly a year after SAEON and its Ndlovu Node were launched in Phalaborwa.

In the five years since its inception the newsletter has experienced significant growth:

• from about seven articles per issue to a current average of about 14 articles per issue;
• from an initial readership of about 370 to the current 3 500 plus (and growing); and
• from an institutional newsletter with local content to an international communication vehicle that also appears on the website of the International Long-Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER).

SAEON has shown remarkable development in the years since its inception … and all these milestones and achievements were recorded in the electronic newsletter, including:

• the launch of its Egagasini, Elwandle and Fynbos nodes
• the first and second SAEON Summit
• accession agreements with some of South Africa's premier tertiary institutions
• milestones and achievements in its observation science, data management and education outreach programmes
• its networks with local, regional and international organisations
• the achievements of its staff and students
• the initiatives of its Graduate Student Network
• relevant activities of SAEON participants
• SAEON's capacity development initiatives
• its support of national government initiatives

The newsletter's success has been buoyed by the support of SAEON staff at the National Office as well as all the nodes. It has attracted a large number of voluntary subscriptions via the SAEON website. The newsletter has also attracted unsolicited articles from local and international scientists.

Articles from the newsletter has been re-printed in a range of relevant magazines and online publications, and has resulted in coverage in the South African media.

In the five years since its inception SAEON's newsletter has succeeded in becoming a vital and vibrant record of its milestones and achievements - for the organisation as well as for its partners and stakeholders.

Comments received from stakeholders include:

"Please convey my congratulations to all at SAEON for this very informative and well presented newsletter." – Dr Albert van Jaarsveld, President and CEO, NRF

"I found your e-newsletter very interesting and would like to get regular updates. Although the environmental concerns addressed by SAEON are more global in nature, I found several articles that will assist us as we formulate our Environmental Program for iThemba LABS." - Danny McGee, Head : Radiation Safety & Environment, iThemba LABS

"Latest edition of SAEON ezine looks really good and lots to read! Congratulations - this is how (in my opinion) an electronic newsletter should be done!" - Marina Joubert, Southern Science

"Your newsletter looks very good! I also see that SAEON has good ratings on Google." – Hardy Jonck, Managing Director, Q-Sens

"Thanks for your help with making our projects known out in the marketplace." - Professor Les Underhill, Director: Avian Demography Unit, UCT and Vice-President: International Ornithological Committee

"I have enjoyed your informative newsletter during my year at the IGBP Secretariat" – Erik Huss, Information Officer, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences