Media24’s transformation into a digital-first publisher has gathered pace under the leadership of Jerusha Raath, who returned to the company in late 2024 as publisher of News24. With a background that blends editorial experience and commercial strategy, Raath has quickly become the driving force behind the group’s reinvention.
Speaking to Mark Challinor as part of his News Horizons series in The Drum, Raath described 2025 as a pivotal year for Media24. Innovations launched under her tenure include a “Good News desk” designed to counter negative news fatigue. It had already attracted more than 600,000 page views by mid-July. A disinformation desk, focused on fact-checking WhatsApp messages and social media posts, tackles another pressing need in the South African market.
This year has also seen Media24 complete the closure of print editions for major titles including Daily Sun, Beeld, City Press and Rapport, making them digital-only. Daily Sun now reaches 1.5 million users on its own platforms and 4.4 million across the network.
For News24, the company’s “hero brand,” the numbers are even stronger. The site now has 110,000 paying subscribers and 8 million monthly users, with about 80% of its paywalled content consumed by subscribers.
But Raath says subscriptions alone won’t sustain the newsroom’s 120 journalists. Advertising and sponsorship still play a central role, and the business is experimenting with new commercial products to support long-term growth.
These include Match24, an AI-powered contextual advertising tool inspired by the New York Times, which pairs campaigns with relevant editorial content to increase engagement. The group is also restructuring its advertising operations into a single team, better able to deliver campaigns that combine data, storytelling and measurable results.
The company has embraced generative AI at speed. Training has been rolled out across the business, a head of AI has been appointed, and a new AI Lab brings journalists and data scientists together to test and refine new tools. Much of this work takes place inside a protected “walled garden,” allowing for controlled experimentation without exposing users to risk.
Even as it pushes into new technologies, Raath is clear about the importance of trust. In the 2025 Digital News Report from the Reuters Institute, News24 was named South Africa’s most trusted news brand for the seventh year running, with an 81% trust rating and weekly reach of 58%. Raath says that trust must now be matched by relevance: useful, everyday content that positions News24 as a “pocket companion” offering advice, explainers and reviews alongside news.
She is also forthright on platform power. With the South African Competition Commission calling for Google to pay publishers for content, Raath has backed the principle of fair compensation while maintaining working relationships with platforms that remain essential for reach.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents recent developments at News24 under Jerusha Raath’s leadership, with specific dates and figures, indicating high freshness. However, similar themes have been reported in June 2025, such as Raath’s address at the INMA World Congress of News Media in New York. ([presscouncil.org.za](https://presscouncil.org.za/2025/06/03/news24s-publisher-tells-new-york-gathering-how-to-reframe-thinking/?utm_source=openai)) Additionally, Raath’s appointment as News24’s publisher was announced in October 2024. ([news24.com](https://www.news24.com/brandstory/partner-content/news24-names-jerusha-raath-as-its-new-publisher-20241004?utm_source=openai)) While the core content appears original, the presence of earlier reports on related topics suggests a moderate freshness score. No evidence of recycled content from low-quality sites or clickbait networks was found. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The article includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
Direct quotes from Jerusha Raath are present in the narrative. The earliest known usage of these quotes appears in the June 2025 report on Raath’s address at the INMA World Congress. ([presscouncil.org.za](https://presscouncil.org.za/2025/06/03/news24s-publisher-tells-new-york-gathering-how-to-reframe-thinking/?utm_source=openai)) No identical quotes were found in earlier material, indicating originality. The wording of the quotes matches the earlier report, with no variations noted.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Drum, a reputable UK-based publication known for its coverage of marketing and media industry news. This association enhances the credibility of the report.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the narrative align with known developments at Media24 and News24, such as the closure of print editions and the launch of digital-only formats. ([citizen.co.za](https://www.citizen.co.za/business/media24-on-the-dot-digital-first/?utm_source=openai)) The introduction of initiatives like the ‘Good News desk’ and the disinformation desk is plausible and consistent with industry trends. The adoption of generative AI and the formation of an AI lab are credible, given Media24’s previous investments in technology. ([24.com](https://www.24.com/2023/05/22/building-the-24com-cloud/?utm_source=openai)) The success of the ‘Match24’ advertising model is supported by reports of its introduction in May 2025. ([sappo.org](https://sappo.org/newsletters/june-2025/media24-advertising-and-content-marketing-event/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, with no inconsistencies noted. The structure is focused and relevant, with no excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is professional and typical of corporate communications, with no signs of sensationalism.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents original content with direct quotes from Jerusha Raath, sourced from a reputable publication. While similar themes have been reported in June 2025, the core content appears original. The claims made are plausible and align with known developments at Media24 and News24. The lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets is a minor concern but does not significantly impact the overall assessment. The language, tone, and structure are appropriate and consistent with the region and topic. Therefore, the narrative passes the fact-check with high confidence.
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