Son tabloid could see job cuts, fewer editions

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Son, the Afrikaans tabloid newspaper known for its pun-filled, colourful headlines, may change from a daily to a weekly publication due to falls in advertising and circulation, Media24 CEO Ishmet Davidson has said.  

Data from the Audit Bureau of Circulations shows that Son's paid circulation dropped to 15 964 in the fourth quarter of 2022, from 66 043 at the end of 2017. 

Davidson said the Covid-19 pandemic had accelerated a "pre-existing and long-term structural decline in an already fragile print media sector".

"For many of our print titles, the benefits of prior interventions to offset the structural declines and keep them on the shelf no longer exist and they’ve run out of options in this regard."

Son, with its distinctive yellow and red colour scheme, was once South Africa's largest Afrikaans daily newspaper selling more copies than titles such as Die Burger or Beeld.

Its circulation fell sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic, however. 

Davidson said the planned interventions at Son are expected to impact around 20 staff members, mostly in editorial and production.

"We are fully committed to managing this highly sensitive consultation with compassion while following the process as prescribed by law."

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