Media24, a major media conglomerate in South Africa, has shut down five of its newspapers due to a decline in circulation and advertisement revenues, reflecting the impact of the digital revolution on traditional print media. This move is expected to cause significant job losses and highlights the sociocultural implications of the shift to digital media, which could leave out a significant number of South Africans who don’t have access to electronic media due to technical or economic barriers. The future of print media in South Africa remains a pressing topic of conversation, as the switch carries a considerable human cost that shouldn’t be neglected.
Media24, a major media corporation in South Africa, plans to stop the production of four wellknown newspapers, including City Press, Rapport, Beeld, and Daily Sun, from October 2024. The decision comes as print media faces challenges such as rising distribution costs, falling advertising revenue, and a shift in readers’ preferences towards digital news platforms. While Media24 has not confirmed if it will create distinct online brands for the newspapers, it follows a broader trend of declining newspaper and magazine circulation figures across South Africa and highlights the growing importance of digital news consumption.