Today, SAGN adds a further product to its existing suite, a global information presence on the Web through the launch of its new Web site, http://www.sagoodnews.co.za, at a function held at FNB in Johannesburg.

SAGN started life as a concerned reaction to negative 'dinner party' talk and unsustainable and negative conventional wisdoms about SA.

Its creators, Steuart Pennington and Brett Bowes, wrote their first book, South Africa The Good News, in 2002, which has become a bestseller.

The book takes an unashamedly positive look at the SA economy, at political life, public sector service delivery, sport, and many other facets of SA life.

The book was compiled as a collection of contributions from 50 acknowledged experts in their fields.

The work of portraying that positivity is as important as ever - in a recent open letter published in the national press, President Mbeki makes it clear that perceptions about the country, such as the crime statistics, need to be countered by the facts, which show, for example, that serious and violent crime has been on a steady decline over the last few years.

A sequel, South Africa More Good News, continued the investigation, and included another 50 prominent citizens presenting positive perspectives on development. This book also found a large audience.

The books have resulted, in the past 16 months, in 102 public presentations to 19 225 citizens, in 120 000 pocketbooks (a summary of both books) being distributed, in 52 productions of industrial theatre to over 10 000 citizens, and in a video being produced in September.

Also, in December 2003, FNB sponsored a nationwide media campaign to spread the good news around the country over the holiday period, in collaboration with SAGN, a mass media effort including producing thousands more pocketbooks.

The campaign was worth a total of R15m. Clearly, there is considerable demand for â¬Ëœgood news, and hence the launch of the new product from SAGN - the Web site.

The SAGN Web site (http://www.sagoodnews.co.za), sponsored by FNB, has been officially launched at a function held in Johannesburg on October 5.

The site will provide daily, weekly and archived Good News updates to subscribers, and will contain a wealth of information about positive developments going on in every corner of the country.

It will contain news and contact information for South Africans abroad, and provide information and opinion on national debates and matters of national importance.

Says Steuart Pennington: The SAGN Web site will be a crucial information resource for people from all walks of local life. We live in rapidly changing times, so having access to accurate and positive facts regarding developments in SA is important for anyone who wants to present a balanced image of the country.

Derek Carstens, brand director at FNB, sponsor of the Web site, comments: As a Proudly South African company, we have been proud to be associated with SAGN since their inception. During that time the project has gained momentum and the self-image of SA as a country has changed for the better. What pleases us to be involved with SAGN is that the campaign is based on facts about the country, not suppositions or perceptions. The ongoing dissemination of the facts about SA, we trust, will have a more positive and lasting impact on perception in the long term. We are sure that the Web site will continue that momentum, and give our Good News a global reach.