The South African National Editors’ Forum has described the closure of City Press and the loss of 19 jobs as a blow to South Africa’s news industry and the public. In a statement issued on Wednesday,4 March, South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) said it was saddened that a newspaper which played a critical role during apartheid and in the 32 years of democracy was shutting its doors abruptly.

The paper, owned by Media24, ended its print edition at the end of 2024 and shifted to an online-only model. SANEF said the move to digital was always going to present challenges, particularly because newspaper advertising revenue still far exceeds online advertising income. At the same time, it acknowledged that the cost of printing and distribution remains prohibitively high.

The organisation warned news managers and owners to exercise caution as they navigate a disrupted industry facing declining profits and structural changes.

“Managers must walk a fine line in managing changes,” SANEF said, adding that decisions affecting newsrooms require careful and strategic thinking.

While Media24 has outlined its reasons for accelerating the transition to a digital-only platform for City Press, SANEF urged the company to explore all available options to save jobs where possible.

It said poorly managed transitions could have devastating consequences for journalists, editors and other workers across the news ecosystem.

SANEF said it would continue to engage with Media24 and affected employees as the process unfolds, in line with the Labour Relations Act. It called for fair treatment of workers and for priority consideration to be given to them for any vacancies within the company.

The forum said the loss of City Press in its current form should concern not only the media sector but the broader South African public, given the paper’s longstanding role in holding power to account.

The South African National Editors’ Forum has described the closure of City Press and the loss of 19 jobs as a blow to South Africa’s news industry and the public. In a statement issued on Wednesday,4 March, South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) said it was saddened that a newspaper which played a critical role during apartheid and in the 32 years of democracy was shutting its doors abruptly.

The paper, owned by Media24, ended its print edition at the end of 2024 and shifted to an online-only model. SANEF said the move to digital was always going to present challenges, particularly because newspaper advertising revenue still far exceeds online advertising income. At the same time, it acknowledged that the cost of printing and distribution remains prohibitively high.

The organisation warned news managers and owners to exercise caution as they navigate a disrupted industry facing declining profits and structural changes.

“Managers must walk a fine line in managing changes,” SANEF said, adding that decisions affecting newsrooms require careful and strategic thinking.

While Media24 has outlined its reasons for accelerating the transition to a digital-only platform for City Press, SANEF urged the company to explore all available options to save jobs where possible.

It said poorly managed transitions could have devastating consequences for journalists, editors and other workers across the news ecosystem.

SANEF said it would continue to engage with Media24 and affected employees as the process unfolds, in line with the Labour Relations Act. It called for fair treatment of workers and for priority consideration to be given to them for any vacancies within the company.

The forum said the loss of City Press in its current form should concern not only the media sector but the broader South African public, given the paper’s longstanding role in holding power to account.