Sorry Koos, you miss point

»» Narrowing of diversity of coverage creates an anarchic landscape.

- ANDREW TRENCH

Naspers chair Koos Bekker has waded into the "rather lively debate", debate", as he called it, around Media24's decision to axe numerous print newspaper titles, blaming technological change and shifts in consumption.

In his history-heavy opinion piece in City Press, Bekker got much right but missed the main point. There's more at stake than a shift from print to digital formats.

Media24's plan to shutter print editions of Rapport, Beeld, City Press, Daily Sun and Soccer Laduma must have devastated journalists there.

As a former media executive and editor, I've presided over two title closures in this cruel entropy consuming the industry. What haunts me is that few, including Bekker, seem to appreciate the consequences of this contraction and journalism's decline.

Here are some hard facts: total paid daily newspaper circulation in South Africa is around 150 000 or 200 000, including free copies - according to first quarter 2024 ABC figures.

In 2011, it was around 1.4 million, a 90% collapse over 13 years.

Today's combined circulation of all dailies is less than what Daily Sun alone sold (374 000) back then.