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- 100 000 and counting! News24 has grown to become the biggest subscription-based news publication across the African continent.
- It's been a little over three years since News24 introduced a subscription model to its audience.
- You can sign up here to join the website's growing community of paying subscribers.
More than 100 000 people pay to access News24's quality journalism, making it the largest subscription-led news website in Africa.
News24 has also overtaken the circulation of all daily and weekly newspapers in South Africa, including the Sunday Times which was for decades the best-selling title in the country.
Having acquired its 100 000th subscriber in January, News24 is firmly placed within a cohort of world-class English news publishers - including the Harvard Business Review, Fortune, The Globe and Mail and Time magazine - that have garnered sustained subscription growth over the years.
The New York Times (10 million) continues to lead the way for international digital subscriptions.
"This is an unbelievable moment for the News24 newsroom and the South African media industry at large," said editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson.
"Starting from zero subscribers after 22 years of existence, we took a leap of faith in our journalism and our readers when we launched a subscription service in 2020.
"This is proof that discerning South African readers, like their counterparts abroad, will reward quality journalism with their rands and cents," added Basson.
According to Press Gazette, only about 40 news websites globally has managed to acquire more than 100 000 subscribers.
"Internationally, reference is made to the 100k Club of online news services and News24 now finds itself part of that elite group.
"To reach this milestone in such a short space of time is a momentous feat and displays the country's willingness to support trusted, credible news," said Justin Langeveld, News24's general manager.
Langeveld added the media group remained upbeat about the future for News24's digital subscriptions as the appetite for quality journalism increased.
News24 launched its subscription strategy in August 2020, which enabled the newsroom to elevate its digital offering, increase the size of the newsroom and unlock a wide range of innovative publishing tools.
Media24 CEO Ishmet Davidson said the transition to subscription-based news was crucial to ensuring the survival and evolution of News24.
"When we first launched the News24 paywall, a major motivator was the fact that advertising revenue alone would not be sufficient to sustain News24," added Davidson.
He thanked News24's subscription community for contributing to the success and financial sustainability of the trusted news brand, saying:
According to Greg Piechota, a global subscription expert from the International News Media Association, the "public votes with its wallet and in subscribing, over 100 000 citizens have endorsed News24's journalism as indispensable".
Piechota, who has assisted numerous publications with their transition to subscriptions, said News24 provided "original reporting and analysis that connects with South Africans, and it compels them to not just read articles but financially support the newsroom".
"For the News24 newsroom, that so many choose to pay for your work when they could easily access free alternatives is a major achievement.
"It reflects the trust and relationship News24 has built with communities across South Africa, and it recognises the vital role it plays in the South African discourse.
"As the publication continues to grow, even more South Africans stand to benefit from its dedication to informative, insightful, and investigative journalism," added Piechota.
After celebrating its 25th birthday in October last year, the newsroom reached a turning point in its subscription journey.
It set a higher benchmark for its paid-for news and reserved the bulk of its exclusive reportage for its paying readership.
Basson attributed News24's subscription success to the quality of its investigative, business, political, sport and lifestyle journalism, and the world-class team and technology powering acquisition and retention of subscribers.
"Since the launch of our subscription service, we have grown our newsroom by almost 40%.
"Stories like Mashatile Unmasked, exposing the construction mafia and our investigative series into the assassination of Babita Deokaran would not have been possible without the support of our subscribers," he said.
Piechota added reaching 100 000 subscribers places News24 in a global league.
"News24 hitting the 100 000 digital subscription benchmark places it in the company of the top 100 leading global publications - an exclusive club for news media.
"With its latest figures, News24 now stands alongside subscription powerhouses like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Le Monde as publications that have built large audiences willing to pay."
News24's subscription fee is only R75 a month.
In addition, the publication continues to offer various discounts and special packages to promote its subscription service, which can be accessed here.
