Contrary to the common belief that journalism is on the verge of disappearance, experts assert that the industry is undergoing a process of evolution. This idea is often voiced by various individuals, including journalists, government representatives, and politicians.
In memory of Black Wednesday, observed on October 19th, now known as Press Freedom Day within a democratic structure, it is important to reflect on the progress achieved. On October 19, 1977, the apartheid regime attempted to suppress the voices of the black population and independent media by banning 18 Black Consciousness organizations, closing progressive publications such as 'The World' and 'Weekend World', and detaining editor Percy Kobosa without trial.
Since the beginning of democracy, there has been the emergence and disappearance of numerous newspapers. The advent of social media has added complications to this media catastrophe: print publications became the first victims, and now broadcast media are suffering, evidenced by mass job cuts.
Nevertheless, interactions with journalism students from various higher education institutions, both formal and informal, consistently evoke admiration for their optimism regarding the future of the profession. Despite the decline of traditional media companies, the difficulties faced by print publications, and the closure of iconic titles like City Press, Beeld, and Rapport, these students maintain a positive outlook.
Even when broadcasting channels such as eNCA and Newzroom Afrika face serious operational problems and staff reductions, the new generation refuses to lose hope. The South African media landscape is not alone in this struggle; globally, the industry is experiencing significant losses.
Well-known publications, such as The Washington Post, are reducing staff, and international news networks, including BBC and CNN, have not escaped these difficulties. These challenges, while serving as a sharp awakening in the era of social media, digital platforms, and artificial intelligence, are not insurmountable. They demand composure, deep self-reflection, and the emergence of a new level of leadership. Both media owners and editorial managers must demonstrate creativity and innovation instead of completely abandoning the old ways.
Thus, the answer to the erroneous claim about the death of journalism is a categorical no. Although the industry is undoubtedly going through a painful transition, journalism itself is not dying, but evolving. We have long entered the era of media convergence, blurring the lines between print, broadcast, social, and digital media. This era demands vigilance.
Media outlets must defend press freedom while simultaneously promoting ethical journalism across all platforms. It is critically important to expose disinformation (the author refuses to call it 'fake news' because if information is false, it is not news) to restore public trust and authority.
According to the Reuters Digital News Report 2026, since 2013, newspapers, radio, and television have shown a double-digit decline in the percentage of people who use them to get news weekly. The study found that while newspapers are experiencing a deep structural decline due to low usage frequency and low audience retention, for radio news, the more significant factor is low adoption frequency, and for television news, the problem lies in viewer retention. Although most people consumed television news at some point in their lives weekly, many have stopped doing so, with the decline being attributed to the inability to retain younger audiences. In this sense, television news has moved away from use for many people, whereas newspapers and radio may never have been part of the picture.
The data indicates that in the case of newspapers and radio, relatively few young people initially adopted these consumption habits. The study adds that 'the social reproduction of newspaper and radio audiences could have completely collapsed. And although many young people have developed the habit of consuming television news, there are clear signs that this habit is less sustainable than among older groups.'
As for alternatives people turn to after ceasing to use a source, that is a question that cannot be answered with cross-sectional data. However, it is worth noting that it is assumed that people always replace one source with another, which is not necessarily the case.
The study also noted that 'although social media and video networks are becoming the most widely used news sources in many parts of the world, this is due not so much to growth as to the decline in the use of other sources.'
Yes, journalism is evolving—newspapers, radio, and television are no longer the only sources of news. This harsh reality requires all participants in the value chain to wake up, especially now that we have entered the era of algorithmic journalism and clickbait. This is the time of content creators, influencers, YouTubers, TikTokers, Facebookers, podcasters, and videocasters. Some content is real news, while most of it is entertainment.
The fact is: the news audience and how they consume it are changing. However, thanks to the convergence of print, digital, and online formats, the traditional role of journalism—holding those in power accountable and adhering to the core principles of a noble profession—remains vital. Trust and authority remain inviolable.
Higher education institutions, media companies, and industry organizations are well aware of this evolution. They understand the necessity of journalism serving the public good and weigh the pros and cons of these rapid changes to ensure that the media fulfills its constitutional mandate in our democracy.
It is critically important that the traditional function of journalism has not changed: holding those in power accountable and following the core principles of this noble profession. In a rapidly changing world, trust and authority are sacred. Proponents of ethical journalism and defenders of media freedom must always uphold this profession. We must oppose unscrupulous and reckless elements threatening to tarnish the indispensable pillar of our democracy. We must ensure the integrity of information at all costs.
We cannot allow journalism to die because it holds those in power accountable. If we allow the natural death of journalism, the founders of journalism, such as Percy Kobosa, Nat Nakasa, and Agreyn Klaaste, among others who came before us, will regret it in their graves.