President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 21-day national lockdown with a comprehensive breakdown of measures to curb and contain the worst impact of Covid-19 on the population and industry alike.
Yet uncertainty prevails, and citizens are now grappling with new questions: What does a lockdown really mean? Can I still take my dog for a walk? Who will go shopping for my elderly parents? Does my job fall under critical services?
In a time of crisis, the first casualty is accurate, useful and usable information. News offers a service to all South Africans that has never been so important.
The primary skill of journalists is to take information, decode it, and then reassemble it in a meaningful way. The most important element of journalists’ reports is that they answer the all-important ‘so what?’ question. Why does this information matter to me, to my family and my community?
In a democracy, a fearless and efficient press is key to holding power accountable and ensuring people get the accurate information they need to make decisions about their lives. Editors are the curators of credible and accurate information, they are beholden to their readers, society at large and the press council to deliver news that is true.
The corona virus has seen a global interest in news skyrocketing, with a reported 50% surge in news site traffic worldwide between 9-15 March, as infection rates soared globally. The International News Media Association (INMA) reports a 121% increase in articles published on the virus by news organisations in the same week, with a massive spike in subscription and engagement.
Support ethical, expert reporting
Now is the time to support ethical, expert reporting as we face the consequences of the rapidly spreading pandemic. It is necessary for us all to get credible, up-to-date and accurate information to larger numbers of South Africans in a brand safe environment. Our news brands are on hand to help you communicate effectively with your customers during this uncertain and rapidly changing time.
According to Statista, currently just short of 68% of South Africans have access to the internet. That’s well short of the kind of coverage we need to get the message out during this time, and this figure doesn’t take into account whether those people have internet coverage at home or if many are using their access to it at work to get connected.
Digital population
The digital population in South Africa in January 2020 was 36.54 million internet users, of which 34.93 million were mobile internet users. This means that online only isn’t reaching the most marginalised in our communities or those who prefer to take the time out to read content in more depth and process that information outside of the 15-minute news cycle that is rapidly stressing out citizens. Newspapers have a critical and impactful role to play in relaying information to all South Africans.
According to Statcounter only 18.04% of South Africans are on Twitter and 41.38% are on Facebook with media darling Instagram clocking up a paltry 10.3% of South Africans and YouTube only 2.35% of South Africans. These percentages are from February 2020. Social media is a valuable tool in every brand’s box, including our own, but it is no use in isolation.
Media24’s stable of well-read and trusted news brands are at the forefront of helping all citizens make the life changing decisions required of us day by day based on accurate information. Our readers – we reach one in four South African adults – are massively engaged on issues that matter to them, and what matters to them is anything that helps them live their best lives.
In an era dominated by fake news and the noise of social media platforms, we are trusted brands with a reputation based on strong editorial values, adherence to the Press Council’s code of conduct and vigorously curated copy. Our reputation is our brand.
Gayle Edmunds is special projects editor at Ads24’s content hub. Edmunds worked most recently at City Press for more than 14 years. She started out on the subs desk before moving to the position of managing editor, a position she held for more than seven years.
