“Without investigative journalism and the work of everyday reporters, democracy would crumble.”
These are the words of Mamaponya Motsai, CEO of fraycollege of Communications speaking as a panelist at the launch of the 2024 State of the Newsroom report on 27 November.
The launch, hosted by the Wits Centre for Journalism, centered on discussions around the critical challenges and the future of journalism in South Africa and beyond.
Other panelists included Prof Glenda Daniels, associate professor and head of the Department of Media Studies at Wits University, political journalist and author Qaanitah Hunter, and Prof Anthea Garman, professor of journalism at the Rhodes School of Journalism and Media Studies.
“The future looks bleak because there is going to be no stop to disinformation,” said Prof Daniels
The journalism industry has been weakened by disinformation, which has harmed journalists’ reputations and at times come from inside the journalism community itself.
The panelists shared insights into financial sustainability, the use of AI in newsrooms, collaborations, navigating journalism’s unsafe spaces, and the urgent need for systemic support across sectors.
The event moderator, Alan Finlay who is the research associate at the Wits Centre for Journalism, set the tone of the discussion by raising the question of financial sustainability and how newsrooms can think of more creative ways of making money.
Motsai emphasised the need for establishing measures to support journalism, including financial contributions from various sectors such as the government. However, she stressed that government involvement must not compromise editorial independence or dictate content. Motsai also stressed the importance of transparency in funding processes.
“Mainstream journalism is on the backfoot because not everyone belongs to the Press Council, not everyone who would call themselves journalists would subscribe to the codes of ethics,” said Daniels.
Mainstream journalism should focus on presenting stories authentically rather than imposing its views or dictating what people should think. The aim should be to reflect on reality and tell stories as they are.
Nearly half a million copies of the weekend newspaper Sunday Times were distributed in 2013, but by the final quarter of 2023, that number had fallen to just over 62,000. The Daily Sun’s circulation was around 300,000 during that time, but it fell to 12,600 in 2023.
These figures highlight the challenges faced by print media in an increasingly digital world, where the convenience of online platforms continues to redefine how news is accessed and consumed. Furthermore, as the media navigate this evolving landscape, journalists often struggle to stay relevant and attuned to their audiences’ diverse realities and voices.
“I think sometimes, as journalists, we live in echo chambers. We have the same conversations. We move in the same circles. And we begin to live in these echo chambers and really move away from the reality of the people.
“That’s why, if you look at mainstream coverage of elections—who was given a voice, who was expected to do well, and who actually did well—you can see the disconnect between what people are feeling and wanting and what the media is covering and who it’s giving a voice to,” said Motsai.
Prof Daniels stressed that saving journalism is a shared responsibility.
“It can’t be the job of newsrooms alone. Communities, government, and the private sector must all play a role.”
She pointed to examples where people on social media came together to support struggling businesses, suggesting that this same teamwork could help sustain journalism. However, she noted that mistrust between the media and the public, along with political hostility toward journalists, creates more challenges.
“I’m excited for the next year. I think that there are huge opportunities to innovate, to do better, to change the game in many ways. And I think if we ever have to have this conversation in a year, we’ll be talking about a very, very, very different landscape”, said Hunter.
Click here to download the State of the Newsroom report.
