A content analysis to explore the decline of print newspapers in South Africa since 2018

Abstract

The study analysed the decline of print newspapers in South Africa (SA) from 2018 to 2024, using content analysis. It adopted a mixed methods design situated within a critical realism philosophical framework, combining interpretivist and positivist epistemological orientations. This approach enabled the researcher to explore both the quantitative dimensions of circulation trends and the qualitative implications for the practice of journalism and democracy in South Africa. The research relied on secondary circulation data pertaining to the largest and most influential print newspaper publishers, which collectively represent the dominant share of South Africa's print newspaper sector, thereby ensuring that the analysis reflected the structural realities of the industry. To contextualise and theoretically anchor its findings, the study integrated three complementary theoretical frameworks: uses and gratifications theory, which illuminates how shifting audience behaviours and preferences have reshaped media consumption patterns; technological determinism, which foregrounds the transformative role of digital technology in restructuring the media landscape; and agenda-setting theory, which speaks to the enduring and consequential relationship between the media and public discourse. The findings painted a picture of an industry in crisis, revealing devastating circulation declines across major newspaper titles, with a significant number of long-established publications having either permanently ceased print operations or transitioned to exclusively digital formats. Interestingly, community newspapers appear to be bucking the trend. The research concluded that the preservation of journalism’s democratic function requires innovative sustainability models that address South Africa’s linguistic and socioeconomic disparities. The research findings may have significance for governments, media organisations, society, and individuals who value journalism’s democratic role.