Latest news with #AdriaanBasson
News24
29-06-2025
- Business
- News24
News24 leads trust in South Africa for the seventh year running
News24 continues to set the standard for trusted journalism in South Africa, receiving the highest score for trust among news brands featured in the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism's Digital News Report 2025, the most comprehensive global analysis of news consumption. In addition to its trust rating of 81%, News24 is also the top-ranked digital news platform in terms of weekly reach, with 58% of the survey respondents accessing News24 weekly and 39% engaging with the platform three times or more per week. Adriaan Basson, editor-in-chief of News24, attributes these achievements to the newsroom's unwavering focus on credibility, engagement, and quality. 'Trust is the cornerstone of everything we do. It's built through consistent investment in accurate, independent journalism that empowers readers to navigate an often-overwhelming world of information. Whether it's uncovering the challenges facing communities – like Sikonathi Mantshantsha's award-winning investigation into the Mogale City sewage crisis – or inspiring South Africans with uplifting journalism through our new Good News section, our approach is rooted in making every story matter. 'This trust is also reflected in our team's incredible achievements, with 10 of our journalists currently shortlisted for the 2025 Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards. Their work, spanning investigative reporting, hard news, and visual journalism, highlights the depth and diversity of News24's newsroom.' With a committed audience and measurable engagement, News24 leads not just in scale but in fostering deeper connections with its readers. It has built a large subscriber base and delivers significant page views. These accomplishments, combined with investments in fact-checking initiatives such as the full-time Disinformation Desk, reinforce News24's ability to meet the needs of an increasingly critical audience. Minette Ferreira, CEO of Media24 Media, highlights the commercial value of maintaining such a rigorous standard. 'In an age where attention and trust are hard-won, reach alone isn't enough. News24 creates a brand-safe environment where advertisers can align their messaging with high-quality, credible journalism. Trusted media platforms like ours offer unrivalled opportunities for advertisers to engage with audiences thoughtfully and meaningfully, ensuring greater resonance than unregulated platforms. 'News24's continued success reflects the importance of credibility in both journalism and advertising and reaffirms the vital role of trusted media in building a sustainable, reliable environment for audiences and partners.' South Africa's media landscape With a population of 61 million and internet penetration at 76%, South Africa's media environment is highly competitive and increasingly challenged by global digital gatekeepers. Public and commercial broadcasters operate across multiple languages, while print publishers are increasingly adopting an integrated digital approach – often while navigating an uneven playing field where international platform giants capture the lion's share of advertising revenue despite using locally produced content. These overseas technology conglomerates control user data, attention, and distribution channels, yet contribute minimally to the local content ecosystem. Amid these profound market distortions, News24's ability to maintain trust and reach reflects not only its commitment to quality journalism but also its resilience in countering the algorithmic advantages and resource disparities imposed by foreign digital monopolies within an increasingly fragmented landscape.
News24
17-06-2025
- Business
- News24
News24 tops list of trusted SA news brands for seventh consecutive year
News24 continues to lead with the top trust score among SA news brands in the annual Reuters Institute Digital News Report. Graphic: Sharlene Rood/News24. Credits: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach;; Yeshiel Panchia/News24; Netwerk24/Deaan Vivier;for Victoria's Secret News24 has again scored the highest trust levels among South African news brands featured in the annual Reuters Institute Digital News Report, maintaining the leading position for seven consecutive years. The report, commissioned by Oxford University's Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, measures trust in media, among other key news consumption insights. It surveyed more than 100 000 online respondents across 48 countries to provide an overview on the state of news publishing worldwide. The report found that South Africa has one of the highest overall trust scores for news at 55%, ranking fifth out of all countries surveyed. South African respondents scored News24 81% on the trust barometer, followed by eNCA at 80%. Other publications in South Africa's top 10 trusted news brands include BBC News, SABC News, Sunday Times, The Citizen, Mail & Guardian, TimesLIVE, City Press and a category for regional or local newspapers. News24 News24 is South Africa's largest subscription publication with over 110 000 monthly subscribers. According to Google Analytics, 6.6 million users visit News24 per month. Editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson celebrated the continued recognition of News24 as the steward of trusted journalism in South Africa. He stressed that trust remains a golden metric for credible news platforms in a climate of disinformation and skepticism. 'Being regarded as South Africa's most trusted news brand for seven years straight is an incredible honour. It is a testament to our newsroom's unwavering commitment to truth and serving our readers and subscribers with integrity. It's also a vote of confidence in the calibre of journalism that we produce daily.' While South Africa remains well ahead of the global media trust average of 40%, there has been a decline in the country's overall trust score, which previously reached a high of 61% in 2022. The report said: The fact that almost all news brands have suffered a decline in trust is also a disturbing sign, signalling that the industry will have to actively work to reverse this trend. The report acknowledged News24's efforts in combatting the rise of disinformation with establishment of a dedicated fact-checking desk earlier this year. 'We are proud to see that our work calling out falsehoods does not go unnoticed. We remain committed to discerning the facts and defending the truth every single day,' Basson added. The Disinformation Desk is one of several newsroom initiatives launched this year in response to the evolving needs and interests of News24's audience. The publication also appointed a Good News editor, unveiled a schools hub and added The Lead podcast to its arsenal of trusted journalism content.
News24
13-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
The Lead: ‘I am an Afrikaner', with Adriaan Basson
Whatever you'd like to call them; the '49ers', the 'Amerikaners', the 'Afrikaner refugees', they've officially discarded Madiba's Rainbow Flag for Eisenhower's Stars and Stripes. Their departure, facilitated by the Trump administration, has generated intense debate over the Afrikaners' place in this world. But for News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson, two things have never been more crystal clear. One is that he's certain of his heritage: 'I consider myself an Afrikaner. I identify as an Afrikaner. Firstly, I'm a South African,' says Basson. And two is that he's not a refugee. 'We can discuss ultimately what led to these Afrikaners leaving South Africa now but Afrikaners are not refugees, Afrikaners belong in South Africa, this is our home, this where we're from,' adds Basson. You can listen to the full 24-minute conversation by simply clicking on any of the links displayed here. You can read Basson's opinion piece here. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer reveals that the US Episcopal Church refuses to resettle the 'Amerikaners'. And finally, in true Mzansi style, our comedians teach the world a lesson or two about load shedding. Listen on YouTube: Listen on Apple Podcasts:
News24
05-05-2025
- Sport
- News24
News24 launches new Schools Hub to celebrate pupil, teacher and school wins across SA
News24 has launched a dedicated Schools Hub to share uplifting stories out of South Africa's diverse classrooms. This section will cover stories from local schools, like extraordinary teacher and student accomplishments and sports accolades. Schools journalist Aphelele Mbokotho has been appointed to produce unique stories for the new section. There are few stories of victory and bravado that move and inspire as much as those that come out of the institutions shaping our future generation. From unmatched school spirit to tales of perseverance and triumph in the face of adversity – News24 wants to shine a spotlight on the incredible stories coming out of schools across the country through its dedicated Schools Hub. Born from the aim to amplify the voices of local teachers who serve as unsung heroes in making a difference in their students' lives as well as a platform for the brilliance of students doing incredible things regardless of their age, circumstance, or access – this section is dedicated to celebrating school wins, big and small. In February, News24 appointed schools journalist Aphelele Mbokotho to help find and report on the incredible things that schools, students, and teachers are accomplishing across SA. As for why this section has come about, News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson put it best: Schools are at the heart of communities. Schools are places where people come together, share ideas and dreams and build the foundation of our country's future. Therefore, News24 must be reporting on the incredible things that happen at our schools. The purpose of the Schools Hub on News24 is to highlight not only incredible news coming out of schools, but also to celebrate the fun and gees [spirit] involved in cultural and sporting school events. "We will cover any story about performance, endurance, ubuntu and excellence, whether it be in sports, culture, academics, science, innovation or just doing good," Basson explains. As a former drama student at Cape Town's Brackenfell High School, he fondly remembers the opportunities he had to connect with like-minded creative children from across the nation. This is one of the many reasons he is passionate about platforming school stories. "I was part of the drama class at Brackenfell High in Cape Town and fondly remember our drama tours to towns like Montagu and Fraserburg to perform what we believed were world-class productions!" he recalls. "It was great to meet creative children from other schools and explore the countryside in this way." News24's Good News editor, Paul Herman, who will oversee the schools hub, echoes this sentiment as he believes education is a vital section enshrined in our Constitution. Some of Herman's favourite school memories lie in the camaraderie, spirit, and victorious highs and lows of athletics or sports day – which makes running this section a nostalgic passion for him as editor. "South African schools are spread along the length and breadth of our country. A big proportion of our population are actively involved in schools right now, and all of us would have passed through a school hall at some point in our lives," Herman explains. It's great to be able to reflect on all the amazing, interesting and important work that schools, parents and pupils are doing around our country. News24 Saara Mowlana As for why Mbokotho felt drawn to the role as News24's school journalist, she credits her passion for highlighting the incredible work being done by teachers who go the extra mile. "I chose to be part of the Good News team as a school reporter because I am passionate about highlighting the incredible work being done by dedicated teachers who go above and beyond to help students succeed, and the remarkable achievements of students who thrive despite challenges," she elaborates. In an era where we're often inundated with negative news, these uplifting stories are rarely told, and I wanted to bring them to the forefront. Basson, Herman, and Mbokotho all firmly believe that sharing stories from local schools is crucial to inspiring communities to celebrate and support their local school initiatives as well as to inspire more schools to share their moments of victory, unity, and student excellence. "Sharing these stories is important as it shines a light on the perseverance and dedication of students, teachers, and staff, fostering pride and unity within the community," shares Mbokotho. "These accounts serve as inspirational examples that show success is attainable, regardless of a school's size or resources." Mbokotho believes that News24 readers have a lot to gain from this new section, namely unique insights into the vibrant activities and achievements within local schools – including sports and cultural offerings. In her position, she hopes to be able to be the bridge that connects communities to their local schools, and in doing so even inspire them to contribute valuable support to help their schools accomplish even more great things, as she explains: Publicising these achievements can draw valuable support from the community, local businesses, and government, boosting the school's reputation and encouraging parental involvement. Basson believes that each school has a unique story to tell and that News24 readers have a vested interest and passion for the school they went to or the school in their community they may be involved in. "South Africa has a wide variety of schools, from very poor to very rich, and everything in between. But I believe each school has a special, unique story to tell," he shares. "Whether it is a teacher or a learner doing amazing things, improved matric results or a unique invention or activity." How can you get your school in the news? Do you have a school story to share – either of a student accomplishing great things, a teacher going above and beyond, or a sporting moment worth some spotlight? Please share your school pride and stories via email at feelgood@
