Big tech to blame for huge layoffs in the media, says Sunday Times owner

Big tech companies are to blame for the rapid decline in newsroom staff in South Africa, says Bongani Siqoko, the group content officer at Arena Holdings.

Speaking at the Competition Commission's Media and Digital Platforms Market Inquiry on Friday, Siqoko said that digital platforms, such as those owned by Google and Meta, have been able to dictate the terms of the industry - to the detriment of publishers.

The inquiry seeks to understand the interplay between South African news media and digital platforms and plot a better path forward.