10 years on: SA's most impactful news events

News24 - one of South Africa's leading digital breaking news destinations - today announced the most influential news stories over the past decade, as voted by its users. The results were part of A Decade of Breaking News, the news site's 10-year birthday celebration initiative that saw more than 10000 users vote for what they consider the top news story for each year since 1998.

Receiving almost 10000 votes, the most powerful event, by a long shot, was 9/11. The next most influential stories over the past ten years were the horrors of a killer tsunami in 2004 and the Springboks winning the Rugby World Cup in 2007.

“The tragic events of September 2001 had far-reaching consequences not only in the US, but worldwide,” said Jannie Momberg, editor of News24. “As terrible as that day was, as well as the devastation caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the euphoria and pride in our national rugby side recapturing the Webb Ellis trophy last year was also a top headline maker for many South Africans.”

“9/11 was a turning point for the world, as well as being an enormous catalyst for those seeking immediate and regular access to breaking news. The world changed forever that day, as did the way many South Africans consume and comment on news as it happens. Ever since then, the popularity and utility of instantaneous digitally delivered news, whether to a mobile handset or one's computer screen, has flourished.”

On-demand news and online community

With more than 1,3 million unique browsers monthly*, the site has evolved over the past decade into a mainstream on-demand news provider. Its website serves more than 27 million page impressions each month*, as well as reaching those with mobile phones and through its interactive channel on DStv. According to Geoff Cohen, General Manager, “We are now the largest digital news community in South Africa, acting as a destination for users to not only consume news on their personal computers, mobile handsets or interactive TV, but to share their views and converse about relevant stories and events at home and around the world.”

As an example of how South African citizens are increasingly reaching to instantaneous digital channels first for news, on September 23 this year more than 255000 unique browsers and a massive 1.7 million page impressions - as measured by Nielsen Market Intelligence (MI) Domestic Traffic - were recorded on the site when Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and 14 other cabinet members resigned. The response set a local one-day record for online browsers to any South African website.

A Decade of Breaking News” - top headlines

2008
• Xenophobia Takes Root - 3 692 votes
• SA Left in Dark - 2 564 votes
• Thabo Mbeki Quits - 3 999 votes

2007
• Bloodbath at US Campus - 1 743 votes
• Selebi: I Am Innocent - 923 votes
• Boks Rule RWC - 7 589 votes

2006
• Tsotsi Strikes Gold - 3 384 votes
• Taliep: Death of a Legend - 2 769 votes
• 438 Runs of Brilliance - 4 102 votes

2005
• Katrina: US Reels - 4 820 votes
• Terror in London - 3 179 votes
• 'Zumagate' Starts - 2 256 votes

2004
• Killer Tsunami Horror - 8 101 votes
• Charlize Oscar Glory - 1 026 votes
• Grieving for Leigh - 1 128 votes

2003
• US Braces for Iraq War - 5 435 votes
• 'Staaldraad' Rocks SA - 1 743 votes
• Disasters in Space - 3 077 votes

2002
• SA Spaces Out - 5 845 votes
• Madiba Slams RW Plot - 513 votes
• Nkosi Makes His Mark - 3 897 votes

2001
• World Reels at 9/11 - 9 845 votes
• Reality TV Goes Big - 102 votes
• Shock at Marike Killing - 308 votes

2000
• Hansie Cronje Axed - 6 563 votes
• Dog Unit Attack Shocks - 1 743 votes
• Zim Descent Begins - 1 949 votes

1999
• Mbeki Takes Hotseat - 2 461 votes
• Columbine Shocks Globe - 3 589 votes
• 2000 Bug Fails to Byte - 4 205 votes

1998
• House Impeaches Clinton - 4 820 votes
• Planet Hollywood blast - 3 794 votes
• Mallet's Boks Shine - 1 641 votes

*1 370 736 unique browsers - Nielsen Market Intelligence (MI) Total/Domestic traffic for the period of 31 October 2008.

*534 296 unique browsers - Nielsen Market Intelligence (MI) Total/International traffic for the period of 31 October 2008.