The State of Freelance Journalists in South Africa – A Report
PICTURE: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
Prof Sarah Chiumbu and Dr Allen Munoriyarwa
This report was commissioned by the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and the Henry Nxumalo Foundation (HNF)
Freelance journalism is increasingly becoming a growing practice and culture, taking up a
significant portion of employment across different industries. In the media industry, particularly in journalism, freelancing is not a new phenomenon and has a long history.
The concept of freelance writers, including journalists, dates to the early days of journalism itself. But digital technologies, such as online publications, blogs, and digital news platforms, have generated new opportunities for freelancers.
The barriers to entry have been lowered, thereby enabling a greater number of individuals to contribute content and reach a broader audience.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to a widespread shift toward remote work, which, in turn, helped to ‘normalise’ freelancing. However, even before the pandemic, the ongoing media crisis—marked by poor revenue generation, declining advertising income, and other challenges—had already resulted in significant job losses across the industry. This crisis forced thousands of highly skilled journalists and media professionals into freelancing.
The media crisis remains complex and not fully understood, but there’s widespread agreement that the transformations in media labour have been profound.
In light of this, the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) and the Henry Nxumalo Foundation (HNF) commissioned this research to explore and understand the current state of freelance journalism in South Africa.
Focusing on the state of freelance journalism is crucial because freelancers play a vital role in sustaining democracy. They often provide unique and diverse perspectives, covering a broader range of topics and viewpoints than staff journalists, who may be constrained by the editorial policies of specific publications
This diversity enhances the representation of public opinion and concerns, which is essential for a healthy democracy.
The report aims to highlight key issues rather than provide exhaustive solutions concerning the future of freelance journalists in South Africa. Currently, limited research has examined the state and working conditions of freelance journalists, making this report an initial step in addressing that gap.
The objectives of the research are to:
• Examine the working conditions of freelance journalists in South Africa
• Explore the industry conditions giving rise to the status quo of freelance journalism in South Africa; and
• Provide possible remedies to alleviate challenges and consolidate opportunities for freelance journalists in South Africa.
The report drew on key informant interviews with freelance journalists and media editors and credible document analysis.
The findings from the research are broadly structured around eight themes:
• Freelance journalism in South Africa
• Working conditions
• Relationship with mainstream media
• Associational life
• Safety and wellbeing
• Training and skills building
• Technology and Generative AI
• The future of freelance journalism
The study categorises freelance journalists into four groups:
• The first includes seasoned, typically white and male journalists who have built successful freelance careers in mainstream media and the corporate sector over time. They have been ‘in the game’ for several years, some dating back to the apartheid era, and have built considerable journalistic capital as freelancers
• The second consists of journalists who have been retrenched in the past decade
• The third comprises recent graduates from colleges and universities who are not being absorbed into newsrooms
• The fourth includes freelance journalists employed by the emerging community and local media sector some of whom are in the far-flung rural communities
The experiences, perspectives, and expectations of journalists in these four categories vary. Significant differences in both attitudes and practices were observed between established freelance journalists and newcomers to the field.
In examining the nature of freelance journalism across various categories, it is crucial to understand the professional identity of freelance journalists and their motivations for pursuing this career path.
- Read the whole report here
