News24 May Cut Staff From 100 to 43 as SA Media Industry Faces Fresh Crisis
- Word on the street suggests News24 is set to slash its workforce dramatically, with September cited as the possible timeline
- The reported cuts come as South Africa's media industry reels from the closure of City Press and Daily Sun's print edition
- TV blogger MLU flagged the development, expressing heartbreak over journalists potentially losing their livelihoods
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South Africa's media industry may be about to absorb another heavy blow, with whispers circulating that News24 is preparing to dramatically reduce its workforce in the coming weeks.
According to TV and entertainment blogger MLU, who runs the popular account @TvblogbyMLU on X, insiders at the publication have already been put on notice. The reported plan would see the digital news outlet cut its staff complement from over 100 employees down to just 43, representing a reduction of more than half the current workforce.
SA Media in crisis
The news comes at a particularly painful moment for South African journalism. In recent months, the industry has watched City Press shut down entirely, while the Daily Sun brought its long-running print edition to a close. Publications like IOL have previously reported on the turbulence sweeping through local newsrooms, yet the scale of what is being described at News24 has still caught many off guard. MLU noted that staffers have reportedly been warned on more than one occasion, with September being the month when the changes could take effect. The blogger wrote:
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"Folks losing their livelihood. Quite a sad story for my beloved journalists."
Paywall strategy under scrutiny
The reported cuts have prompted broader questions about the sustainability of digital media's subscription model in South Africa.
@Senzeaux, responding to MLU's post, offered a candid take on why the outlet may be struggling financially:
"Really sad, but inevitable. Almost all their online articles were behind a paywall, and maybe people didn't subscribe as much.”
Coca-Cola announced 700 job cuts
Coca-Cola in South Africa said that almost 700 South African employees may lose their jobs as it plans to retrench employees.
The beverage production company is reportedly planning on closing its plants in the Eastern Cape and the Free State.
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Source: Briefly News
