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Newspapers ABC Q2 2021: Green shoots for newspapers

By Danette Breitenbach

12 Aug 2021

"The first six months of 2021 has highlighted a few green shoots for the print industry." This is according to a statement released by the Audit Bureau of Circulation of South Africa, following the release of the ABC Quarter 2 (Q2) results.

Newspapers ABC Q2 2021: Green shoots for newspapers

The Bureau cites 2020 as the print industry’s “annus horribilis” having to content with massive lockdowns that led to “plummeting circulations, drastic reductions in advertising budgets and the sad closure of many of South Africa's favourite titles”.

It praised the industry for being able to “pivot, adjust, and make some significant changes to stay around” and says these moves are paying off. "Every year, the doomsayers predict the final demise of print. But this quarter proved once again that the print media owners are an agile bunch. Always willing and looking to change, adapt and evolve to stay relevant to their readers," says Chris Botha, chairperson of the ABC.

The latest ABC results show that newspaper circulations are up 1% quarter on quarter and compared to the numbers in Q4 2020 – Newspapers are up 2%.

Daily newspapers

The category could not capitalise on its good showing in Q1 and the Dailies that did increase over the previous quarter only showed single figure increases. The best are Business Day and Cape Times, but both only increased by less than five percent.

Most of the Dailies showed a deceased on the previous quarter. However, like the increases, many of the decreases were small, except for Daily Sun which saw an almost 10% decrease on the previous quarter.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Daily Nation	MD, Mo-Sat	77,852		77,852	-1.2%	12.2%
Daily Sun	Mo-Fr	46,329	154	46,483	-9.5%
Isolezwe	MD, Mo-Fr	39,707	26	39,733	-0.7%
Sowetan	Mo-Fr	21,187	9,989	31,176	0.6%
Burger, Die Daily	MD, Mo-Fr	30,169	658	30,827	-3.7%
Bukedde	MD, Mo-Sat	29,782		29,782	-7.8%	-27.6%
Citizen, The (Daily)	MD, Mo-Fr	22,758	6,920	29,678	-0.4%
Star, The	MD, Mo-Fr	14,931	12,352	27,283	0.8%
Son (Daily)	MD, Mo-Fr	23,665	44	23,709	-5.3%
Beeld, Daily	MD, Mo-Fr	22,399	1,115	23,514	-2.3%
New Vision	MD, Mo-Fr	19,106		19,106	-0.5%	10.2%
Times of Swaziland	MD, Mo-Fr	17,806		17,806	-4.6%	-1.0%
Business Day	MD, Mo-Fr	11,850	2,677	14,527	4.1%
Cape Times	MD, Mo-Fr	8,926	3,130	12,056	3.6%
Mercury, The	MD, Mo-Fr	10,019	1,931	11,950	0.7%
Herald, The	MD, Mo-Fr	10,782	647	11,429	-1.9%
Cape Argus	MD, Mo-Fr	7,761	3,401	11,162	1.5%
Daily Dispatch	MD, Mo-Fr	10,667	233	10,900	0.2%
Daily News	MD, Mo-Fr	7,624	2,178	9,802	0.8%
Taifa Leo	MD, Mo-Sat	7,988		7,988	-2.2%	18.0%
Witness, The	MD, Mo-Fr	7,520	150	7,670	-4.5%
Pretoria News	MD, Mo-Fr	1,859	526	2,385	1.0%
Zambia Daily Mail	MD, Mo-Sat	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated
Namibian, The	MD, Mo-Fr	Resigned	Resigned	Resigned	Resigned

Weekly newspapers

The smallest category under Press saw only four out of its 11 members increase on the previous quarter. Except for the Diamond Fields Advertiser with an increase of 184.1%, all the other newspaper gains were small. The best two are Soccer Laduma and Mail & Guardian gaining 0.6% and 0.3% respectively. The biggest loser is The Midweek Sun, decreasing 19.8% on the previous quarter.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Soccer Laduma	Wkly, Wed	92,755		92,755	0.6%
Ilanga	2xW, Mo&Th	43,757		43,757	-3.8%
Post, The	Wkly, Wed	19,323	2,249	21,572	-0.5%
Mail & Guardian	Wkly, Fr	10,188	2,000	12,188	0.3%
Voice, The	Wkly, Fr	9,860	379	10,239	-1.5%	21.4%
Lesotho Times	Wkly, Th	6,612		6,612	3.2%	17.8%
BOTSWANA GUARDIAN	Wkly, Wed	5,825		5,825	-3.4%
Diamond Fields Advertiser.	Wkly, Fr	5,322	30	5,352	184.1%
The Midweek Sun	Wkly, Wed	4,189		4,189	-19.8%
Mmegi Reporter, The	4xW, Tu-Fr	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated
The Monitor (Formerly Mmegi Monitor)	Wkly, Mon	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated

Weekend newspapers

Only eight of the newspapers in the category had an increase on the previous quarter. None of these increases were in double figures, with the increases ranging from 4.3% (TheSaturday Star) – which continued its gains in the previous quarter - to 0.9% (Sunday Tribune).

While the remaining 14 newspapers all showed a decrease on the previous quarter (except for Sunday Mail, which has been terminated and Pretoria News (Saturday) which had no issue), these are also only slight, ranging from -9.8% (Citizen, The (Saturday)) to -0.7% (Sunday Nation), Rapport, Ilanga Langesonto and Isolezwe ngeSonto all decreased on the prior quarter by 6.8%.

All three newspapers that submitted year on year data, had increase on the prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Sunday Mail	Wkly, Sun	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated	Terminated
Sunday Times	Wknd	89,768	29,696	119,464	3.7%
Sunday Nation	Wkly, Sun	88,056		88,056	-0.7%	0.7%
Rapport	Wknd	75,957	230	76,187	-6.8%
Burger, Die Saturday	Wkly, Sat	42,595	667	43,262	-4.2%
Sunday World	Wknd	28,960	3,858	32,818	1.0%
Beeld, Saturday	Wkly, Sat	30,003	204	30,207	-5.5%
Isolezwe ngoMgqibelo	Wkly, Sat	30,118	2	30,120	1.2%
Isolezwe ngeSonto	Wkly, Sun	25,577	4	25,581	-6.8%
City Press	Wknd	25,283	280	25,563	-4.5%
Sunday Tribune	Wkly, Sun	19,853	2,554	22,407	0.9%
Ilanga Langesonto	Wknd	21,224		21,224	-6.8%
Independent on Saturday	Wkly, Sat	12,698	2,315	15,013	1.1%
Citizen, The (Saturday)	Wkly, Sat	13,276	2	13,278	-9.8%
Weekend Argus	Wknd	9,664	3,446	13,110	1.0%
Sunday Vision	Wkly, Sun	12,182		12,182	2.0%	8.0%
Daily Dispatch Weekend Edition (formerly Saturday Dispatch)	Wknd	9,164	200	9,364	-4.3%
Weekend Post	Wknd	8,908	392	9,300	-7.6%
Saturday Star, The	Wkly, Sat	6,653	2,573	9,226	4.3%
Weekend Witness	Wkly, Sat	7,063	126	7,189	-3.7%
Taifa Jumapili	Wkly, Sun	7,042		7,042	-1.4%	5.9%
Pretoria News Saturday	Wkly, Sat	1,165	18	1,183	No Issue

Local newspapers

It was an almost good news story for this category as just under half, 14 out of 30 newspapers, showing increases on the previous quarter. The biggest came from Capricorn Voice, which has changed sectors, with a whopping 563100,0% increase.

Other newspapers that had good increases are Witbank News, Fri (34.3%), Middelburg Observer, Fri (37.0%), Talk of the Town (14.7%), Daller, Die (14.2%) and Estcourt and Midlands News (10%), The Courier is stable with no increase on the prior quarter.

The other 15 local newspapers all had a decrease on the prior quarter. In a reversal of fortunes, Vaalweekblad, which had double figure increases on the previous quarter in Q1, had a decrease of -11.7%. Newcastle and District Advertiser had a decrease of-10.3% and Oudtshoorn Courant and Northern Review Weekend both decreased by -10.2%.

Vaalweekblad and Oudtshoorn Courant, together with Graaff Reinet Advertiser also had decreases on the prior year.

Publication	Frequency	Paid circulation	Free circulation	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Capricorn Voice	Wkly, Wed	Changed Sector	Changed Sector	Changed Sector	563100.0%
African Reporter	Wkly, Fr	16,075		16,075	2.1%
Witbank News, Fri	Wkly, Fr	11,302		11,302	34.3%
George Herald (Thursday)	Wkly, Th	11,025		11,025	6.0%	32.2%
Middelburg Observer, Fri	Wkly, Fr	10,855		10,855	37.0%
Paarl Post	Wkly, Th	7,171	10	7,181	-7.9%
Weslander, The	Wkly, Th	6,308	24	6,332	-9.2%
Worcester Standard	Wkly, Th	5,986	3	5,989	-8.2%
Mpumalanga News	Wkly, Wed	5,945		5,945	1.5%
Zululand Observer Weekend (Formerly Friday)	Wkly, Fr	5,651		5,651	-4.1%
Mosselbay Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	5,300		5,300	3.9%	20.1%
Limpopo Mirror	Wkly, Fr	5,038		5,038	3.5%	26.0%
District Mail	Wkly, Th	3,707	21	3,728	-9.0%
Vaalweekblad	Wkly, Th	3,607		3,607	-11.7%	-28.1%
Zululand Observer Monday	Wkly, Mon	3,376		3,376	-3.2%
Representative	Wkly, Fr	2,732		2,732	-4.9%
Newcastle and District Advertiser	Wkly, Fr	2,460		2,460	-10.3%
South Cape Forum/Suid Kaap Forum	Wkly, Th	2,157		2,157	-8.6%	6.8%
Knysna Plett Herald	Wkly, Th	1,828		1,828	6.5%	18.2%
Talk of the Town	Wkly, Fr	1,756		1,756	14.7%
Streeknuus	Wkly, Fr	1,684		1,684	8.5%
Northern Review Weekend	Wkly, Fr	1,651		1,651	-10.2%
Daller, Die	Wkly, Fr	1,532		1,532	14.2%
Bosvelder Review	Wkly, Fr	1,501		1,501	-9.4%
Ladysmith Gazette	Wkly, Fr	1,421		1,421	3.8%
Northern Natal Courier	Wkly, Fr	1,372		1,372	-9.3%
The Courier	Wkly, Fr	1,126		1,126	0.0%	0.0%
Oudtshoorn Courant	Wkly, Fr	1,124		1,124	-10.2%	-3.8%
Graaff Reinet Advertiser	Wkly, Th	1,034		1,034	-8.7%	-13.6%
Vryheid Herald	Wkly, Fr	922		922	-9.8%
Estcourt and Midlands News	Wkly, Fr	617		617	10.4%

Free newspapers

In general, Free Newspapers fared better this quarter.

Several Free Newspapers had very slight increases on the previous quarter ranging from 0.1% to five percent. The best showings, and the only newspapers in this category to have double figures increases, came from Umgungundlovu Eyethu (former Umngeni) that increased over the previous quarter by 50.2%, City Vision (Khayalitsha) with 19.7% and Mid South Coast Rising Sun with 11.2%.

For Umgungundlovu Eyethu (former Umngeni) and City Vision (Khayalitsha) this quarter followed their double figures increases in Q1.

Many free newspapers had no increase, but also no decrease. Free newspapers that submitted year on year figures showed good increases, with many in double digits. Alex News was up 51.3% on the prior year, with South Coast Fever increasing by 48.9% and Randburg Sun by 43.6%.

Publication	Frequency	Total circulation	% change quarter	% change year
Amanzimtoti Fever (formerly Uppercoast Fever)	Wkly, Wed	Ceased Publishing
Athlone News	Wkly, Wed	54,151	1.2%
Atlantic Sun	Wkly, Wed	30,794	2.1%
Berea Mail	Wkly, Fr	27,148	0.2%
Bloemfontein Courant (formerly Krant)	Wkly, Wed	44,889	0.0%
Bloemnuus	Wkly, Th	41,080	0.5%
Bolander	Wkly, Wed	30,461	2.2%
Bonus Review	Wkly, Wed	19,875	0.0%
Breederivier Gazette.	Wkly, Wed	11,920	-2.0%
Capricorn Voice ..	Q	5,354
Chatsworth Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	51,550	0.0%
City Vision (Khayalitsha)	Wkly, Th	50,517	19.7%
City Vision (Langa/Gugulethu)	Wkly, Th	32,500	0.0%
City Vision (Lwandle / Nomzamo) former Kasi Vision Helderberg	Wkly, Th	10,000	0.0%
Constantiaberg Bulletin	Wkly, Wed	31,316	2.1%
Corridor Gazette	F	9,800	0.0%
CXpress	Wkly, Wed	Ceased Publishing
Daily Sun On the GO - EC	Wkly, Th	10,995
Daily Sun On the GO - FS	Wkly, Th	7,995
Daily Sun On the GO - KZN	Wkly, Th	5,995
Daily Sun On the GO - WC	Wkly, Th	4,976
Die Ghaap - Kimberly Gazette	F	Discontinued
Diepkloof Urban News	Wkly, Fr	29,820	0.0%
Dolphin Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	Suspended
East Coast Mail	Wkly, Wed	Suspended
Eastern Cape Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	No Submission
Eikestadnuus.	Wkly, Th	23,696	0.3%
Eldorado Urban News	Wkly, Fr	29,820	0.0%
Express	Wkly, Wed	33,970	-0.1%
Eyethu Bay Watch (Formerly Baywatch)	Wkly, Wed	30,062	0.0%
False Bay Echo	Wkly, Wed	30,879	2.1%
Go & Express	Wkly, Th	40,400	-4.6%
Hazyview Herald	F	9,795	0.0%
Heidelberg/Nigel Heraut	Wkly, Wed	19,285
Helderberg Gazette.	Wkly, Tue	31,641	-0.1%
Hermanus Times.	Wkly, Wed	20,550	-0.5%
Herrie	Wkly, Th	12,724
Highvelder, The	Wkly, Fr	No Submission
Highway Mail	Wkly, Fr	54,243	0.3%
Hillcrest Fever (formerly Forest Express)	Wkly, Tue	Ceased Publishing
Intshonalanga Eyethu	Wkly, Fr	23,780	0.0%
Komani Karoo Express	Mtly	29,980	0.0%
Kouga Express	Wkly, Th	19,961	0.0%
Maluti News	Wkly, Fr	2,495	0.0%
Maritzburg Fever (formerly Mirror, The)	Wkly, Wed	Ceased Publishing
Maritzburg Sun	Wkly, Wed	29,956	2.9%
Merebank Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,850	0.0%
Mid South Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Tue	19,850	11.2%
Msunduzi Eyethu (former Edendale)	Wkly, Th	34,948	5.0%
Mthatha Express	Wkly, Wed	69,970	0.0%
Noordkaap Bulletin	Wkly, Th	35,118	0.0%
North Coast Courier	Wkly, Wed	29,934	0.0%
North Coast Rising Sun	Wkly, Wed	64,860	3.3%
Northern Eyethu	Mtly	15,855	0.0%
Northglen News	Wkly, Fr	27,559	0.2%
Overport Rising Sun	Wkly, Th	42,350	5.0%
PE Express	Wkly, Wed	119,961	0.0%
People s Post Athlone	Wkly, Tue	20,000	0.0%
People s Post City Edition	Wkly, Tue	14,000	0.0%
People s Post Claremont/Rondebosch	Wkly, Tue	20,000	0.0%
People s Post Constantia/Wynberg	Wkly, Tue	20,000	0.0%
People s Post False Bay	Wkly, Tue	22,000	0.0%
People s Post Grassy Park	Wkly, Tue	14,000	0.0%
People s Post Landsdowne	Wkly, Tue	18,000	0.0%
People s Post Mitchells Plain	Wkly, Tue	50,000	5.3%
People s Post Retreat	Wkly, Tue	14,000	0.0%
People s Post Woodstock	Wkly, Tue	14,000	0.0%
Pimville Urban News	Wkly, Fr	24,820	0.0%
Plainsman	Wkly, Wed	89,536	0.0%
Polokwane Observer.	Wkly, Th	29,757	-0.2%
Protea Urban News	Wkly, Fr	24,820	0.0%
Public Eye	Wkly, Th	29,952	2.3%
Queensburgh News	F	13,052	0.4%
Rekord Central/Sentraal	Wkly, Fr	18,500	0.0%
Rekord Centurion	Wkly, Wed	60,243	0.2%
Rekord East/Oos	Wkly, Tue	79,058	0.0%
Rekord Mamelodi	Wkly, Fr	29,950	0.0%
Rekord Moot	Wkly, Th	33,570	0.0%
Rekord North/Noord	Wkly, Th	39,999	0.0%
Rekord Noweto	Wkly, Fr	28,950	0.0%
Rekord West News/Wes Nuus	Wkly, Fr	20,200	0.0%
Ridge Times	Wkly, Fr	No Submission
Sentinel News	Wkly, Wed	7,145	3.2%
South Coast Sun	Wkly, Fr	19,915	0.1%
Southern Mail	Wkly, Wed	48,853	1.4%
Southern Suburbs Tatler	Wkly, Wed	47,238	1.4%
Southlands Sun	Wkly, Fr	17,780	1.3%
Soweto Express	Mtly	29,900	0.0%
Springs Advertiser	Wkly, Wed	26,092	0.3%
Standerton Advertiser.	Wkly, Fr	No Submission
Steelburger	Wkly, Th	17,700	0.0%
Swartland Gazette (formerly Swartland Monitor).	Wkly, Tue	19,571	2.1%
Tabletalk	Wkly, Wed	67,844	1.0%
The Hilton	Mtly	4,960	0.0%
The Olifants News	F	19,416	-0.2%
Thembisan	F	49,840
Tygerburger Bellville	Wkly, Wed	19,197	0.0%
Tygerburger Brackenfell	Wkly, Wed	19,393	0.1%
TygerBurger De Grendel	Wkly, Wed	18,565	0.0%
Tygerburger Durbanville	Wkly, Wed	20,917	-0.1%
Tygerburger Eersterivier/Blue Downs	Wkly, Wed	27,995	0.0%
Tygerburger Elsiesrivier	Wkly, Wed	20,013	0.0%
Tygerburger Goodwood	Wkly, Wed	14,091	0.0%
Tygerburger Kraaifontein	Wkly, Wed	18,678	0.0%
Tygerburger Kuilsrivier	Wkly, Wed	19,337	-0.1%
Tygerburger Milnerton	Wkly, Wed	18,718	0.0%
Tygerburger Parow	Wkly, Wed	14,363	-0.1%
Tygerburger Ravensmead/Belhar	Wkly, Wed	20,011	0.0%
Tygerburger Table View	Wkly, Wed	31,484	0.0%
TygerBurger Tyger Valley	Wkly, Wed	17,444	-0.1%
UD Express	Wkly, Wed	29,975	0.0%
UGU Eyethu	Wkly, Wed	19,850	0.0%
Umgungundlovu Eyethu (former Umngeni)	F	19,960	50.2%
Umlazi Eyethu	Wkly, Fr	29,881	0.0%
Uthukela Eyethu	Wkly, Th	9,980	0.3%
Village Talk	Wkly, Wed	11,946	0.0%
Vista	Wkly, Th	35,154	0.1%
Vrystaat Kroon	F	12,211	-0.7%
Vukani	Wkly, Wed	78,056	0.8%
Weskus Nuus	F	14,980	0.3%
Xpress Times	Wkly, Wed	21,981	3.4%
Ystervark	Wkly, Th	7,900	0.0%
Zululand Eyethu (formerly Eshowe Watch)	Mtly	11,847	0.0%
Maseru Metro	Wkly, Th	34,649	-0.5%	330.7%
Alex News	F	14,810	0.0%	51.3%
South Coast Fever	Wkly, Th	34,938	0.0%	48.9%
Randburg Sun	Wkly, Th	59,558	0.3%	43.6%
Sandton Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	49,896	0.8%	40.9%
Northcliff & Melville Times	Wkly, Tue	30,226	0.4%	37.8%
Rosebank Killarney Gazette	Wkly, Tue	40,829	0.1%	31.5%
Midrand Reporter	Wkly, Th	28,115	0.3%	28.8%
Germiston City News	Wkly, Tue	30,255	0.0%	24.5%
Boksburg Advertiser	Wkly, Tue	43,500	0.1%	24.3%
Coastal Weekly	Wkly, Th	29,647	0.6%	23.3%
Benoni City Times	Wkly, Tue	38,832	0.0%	21.5%
Stanger Weekly	Wkly, Wed	29,272	0.0%	21.4%
Brakpan Herald	Wkly, Tue	18,959	-0.2%	15.4%
Bedfordview & Edenvale News	Wkly, Wed	44,420	0.6%	14.4%
Comaro Chronicle	Wkly, Wed	20,527	0.3%	12.1%
Greytown Gazette	Wkly, Mon	9,900	0.0%	11.2%
Alberton Record	Wkly, Wed	37,871	0.4%	11.2%
Fourways Review	Wkly, Wed	36,854	0.5%	10.8%
The Springfield Weekly Gazette	Wkly, Th	52,480	3.7%	8.3%
Rising Sun Lenasia	Wkly, Wed	29,925	0.0%	7.1%
Kempton Express	Wkly, Th	48,623	0.8%	6.4%
Chatsworth Tabloid	Wkly, Wed	52,480	0.0%	4.5%
Phoenix Tabloid	Wkly, Tue	55,980	0.0%	3.0%
Roodepoort Northsider (FormerlyNorthside Chronicle	Wkly, Th	26,926	0.5%	2.8%
Kathorus Mail	F	54,025	0.0%	2.1%
Randfontein / Westonaria Herald.	Wkly, Tue	18,444	0.1%	0.5%
Ster, North	Wkly, Tue	32,896	0.2%	0.3%
Ethekwini Times	Wkly, Fr	40,980	0.0%	0.0%
Free State Sun	Wkly, Th	4,750	0.0%	0.0%
Inner City Gazette	Wkly, Th	4,935	-0.8%	0.0%
Issue, Eastern Free State	Wkly, Th	21,900	0.0%	0.0%
Southern Star	Wkly, Fr	31,980	0.0%	0.0%
The Weekly Free State	Wkly, Th	4,950	0.0%	0.0%
Tongaat & Verulam Tabloid (former Northern Star)	Wkly, Tue	34,980	0.0%	0.0%
Umlazi Times	Wkly, Th	40,980	0.0%	0.0%
Sedibeng Ster	Wkly, Th	90,980	0.0%	0.0%
Carletonville Herald.	Wkly, Fr	11,970	0.0%	0.0%
Ster, South	Wkly, Tue	41,460	0.0%	-0.1%
Issue Mangaung	Wkly, Wed	29,900	0.0%	-0.2%
Roodepoort Record	Wkly, Th	46,459	-0.7%	-0.2%
Potchefstroom Herald.	Wkly, Fr	16,938	0.0%	-0.2%
Parys Gazette	Wkly, Fr	7,480	0.0%	-0.3%
Krugersdorp News	Wkly, Wed	26,609	-0.1%	-1.4%
Taxi Times	F	146,641	0.5%	-2.2%
Maritzburg Echo	Wkly, Th	37,207	2.5%	-10.7%
Southern Courier	Wkly, Tue	25,459	0.3%	-26.3%
Tame Times - Weekly	Wkly, Tue	39,987	0.0%	-50.0%

Non-South African titles from Botswana, Kenya, Uganda, and Lesotho not included.

Danette Breitenbach

About Danette Breitenbach

Danette Breitenbach is a marketing & media editor at Bizcommunity.com. Previously she freelanced in the marketing and media sector, including for Bizcommunity. She was editor and publisher of AdVantage, the publication that served the marketing, media and advertising industry in southern Africa. She has worked extensively in print media, mainly B2B. She has a Masters in Financial Journalism from Wits.