Yesterday, I found myself with unexpected time on my hands—enough to read two business magazines from cover to cover while I waited. What I discovered was troubling, if not entirely surprising: the decline in quality, editorial clarity, and purpose in print media has reached new lows.
One of the magazines, once a serious business publication, left me unsure of what it is trying to be. It no longer offers the clear, confident editorial stance it once did. Instead, it presents a scattershot mix of content, mostly about small- to mid-cap companies clinging to JSE listings. It’s hard to muster enthusiasm when you feel like you’re reading about companies playing musical chairs with their portfolios in search of elusive profits. These aren’t the titans of industry—they’re survivors in an increasingly unforgiving economy.
The editorials, once a touchstone for readers navigating political, social, and economic landscapes, have lost their gravitas. There was a time when such pieces shaped debate and helped one think deeply. Now, the insights are thin and the seriousness diluted.
Up front, the magazine features columns from younger writers—meant, I assume, to add lightness. But this content is simplistic to the point of condescension. There’s nothing wrong with lighter material, but should it be leading the charge in a publication aimed at thoughtful professionals? It would be better placed at the back, in a designated “lighter fare” section.
One feature article particularly stood out—for the wrong reasons. It began by explaining the very basics of investing, as if the readers had no background at all. This would be acceptable in an educational magazine aimed at high school learners, not a business title with a long-standing reputation. Worse still, the article read like a mishmash of hastily gathered data, padded out with repetitive copy. Where were the sub-editors? This was writing in dire need of tightening, reshaping, and care.
That said, the magazine did have some value. A few of the reporters clearly still have the instincts to sniff out interesting investment developments. Those stories, buried between the fluff and filler, offered glimpses of the magazine’s former strength.
The second magazine I read is more of a weekly industry rag—long known for being a soft vehicle for press releases rather than hard-hitting journalism. It avoids taking a stand on anything contentious. Instead, it plays lapdog to the government line and follows the prevailing left-wing current—just like the first magazine.
The ideological homogeneity of magazines in South Africa is tiresome. There are no alternate views, no debates, no friction. Without opposing perspectives, readers are left with bland, risk-averse content that inspires little thought or discussion.
Meanwhile, readers—especially younger ones—are finding richer insight online. Just last night, I came across an excellent piece from an American investment newsletter offering sharp, informed analysis on Iran. It was the kind of article that reminds you what good journalism looks like: well-researched, clear, and compelling.
Internationally, we still have strongholds of quality like The Economist, though even that revered publication has drifted leftward over time. In the 1980s, it was essential reading. Today, it risks alienating its centrist readership if it leans much further.
Speaking of the 1980s, I’ve been looking at some data from that era. While exact figures are hard to pin down, it seems South Africa had a diverse and thriving magazine industry even then. By the 2000s, there were around 280 titles published locally. That number is believed to be significantly lower today—possibly below 100. Of course, the nature of publishing has changed: many magazines have gone digital, others have morphed into custom publications or closed entirely.
Here’s a quick summary based on recent industry data:
- In the 1980s, South Africa’s print magazine landscape included both commercial and alternative publications, with influential titles like Drum and Staffrider.
- By the early 2000s, the market had expanded significantly—up to 280 titles.
- As of 2025, the Audit Bureau of Circulations tracks several dozen active titles in print, with custom and digital magazines helping to prop up the industry.
- Print readership and ad revenues are in steep decline, but niche interest and loyalty-based publications persist.
Despite the changes, the need for thoughtful journalism, insight, and storytelling hasn’t disappeared. People still have special interests, and those interests will always demand content—whether in print or online.
There was once something sacred about settling down with a weekly or monthly publication. You could read at leisure, cover to cover, and trust that the editorial team had curated the experience with care. Editors now operate under tremendous pressure: political winds, economic constraints, shifting reader habits, and a fragmented market. It’s hard to please everyone, especially when “everyone” is no longer reading the same thing.
But let’s not declare the death of magazines just yet. The slow decline of print doesn’t mean we’ve lost the hunger for good journalism. It only means the supply has changed—and perhaps, too often, what’s on offer now simply isn’t what it used to be.
