In an ever-changing media landscape, South African news consumers are increasingly concerned about misinformation and the spread of fake news. According to Reuters’ 2024 Digital Media Trends Report, concern about misinformation increased by six percentage points over the past year to 81%. This is well above the global average of concern for misinformation, which stands at 59%.
Alongside this growing concern, interest in politics in South Africa has declined from 81% in 2021 to 70% this year. A worrying trend, especially in a country that recently held general elections on May 29.
Misinformation can undermine trust in the media. Chris Roper, the deputy director of Code for Africa, a non-profit African network of digital democracy and data journalism labs, highlighted that disinformation plays a significant role in this crisis of trust. He also mentions the proliferation of competing news sources, including those that solely spread disinformation for profit.
The report highlights that distrust of South Africa’s media is also fueled by infighting between news organizations. Disagreements and the dissemination of disinformation from certain compromised organizations contribute to this unfavorable climate. This phenomenon is manifested in particular through the controversies between News24, Daily Maverick and Independent Media.
Trust in the media in South Africa remains stable at 57%, but there is still a slight decline compared to 2022. However, this trust has increased compared to levels recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Despite these challenges, some media brands continue to be highly valued by the South African public. Among the most trusted news brands are News24 (83%), eNCA (81%), the SABC (79%), the Sunday Times (75%), the Mail & Guardian and The Citizen (71%) .
The publication of this report comes just after the announcement of the likely closure of several major Media24 newspapers, including City Press, Rapport, Beeld and Daily Sun in October. This decision arises from the significant financial constraints facing the print media, notably due to rising distribution costs, falling advertising revenues and the shift of reading to online platforms.
At the same time, sources of information are also evolving. Traditional media such as print, television and even some social media platforms are seeing their use decline. For example, 25% of the written press is now used for information, while TikTok has gained popularity, becoming the preferred platform for many consumers to follow the news.
In conclusion, the South African media landscape is changing, facing major challenges but also opportunities for renewal. It is essential to invest in the production of relevant and crucial news within our media ecosystems to ensure quality information and renewed public trust.