Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / Globally and locally, print media publications and companies have been under immense pressure as circulation and advertising revenues have declined steadily. The rise of the internet and subsequently, Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 created new platforms on which consumers can access information. As a result, advertisers have followed consumers and have moved their funds away from print to digital and broadcast portals. The impact of the changing environment and changing media consumption behaviour on the newspaper industry has been well documented. This research report sought to understand the impact of these changes in the environment on the women’s magazine industry and to add to the lack of a body of knowledge in the academic sphere. The researcher chose a sample of women’s magazine editors based on the non-probability convenience sampling method, and to answer the research question, the researcher undertook a qualitative research methodology study. The researcher held in-depth interviews with each editor and open-ended questions were posed to them in order to understand their views on the future of women’s magazines based on the media consumption behaviours of readers, the media consumption behaviour of Millennials and the evolution of content and migration from print to digital. Findings from the survey revealed that the women’s magazine publishing industry has been in a steady decline. Older and more established glossy magazines have struggled to stabilise circulation figures. Consumer magazines in print format targeted at young females have closed down in favour of digital platforms. The future of women’s magazines in South Africa is dependent on the publishing companies’ ability to capture the Millennial consumer on appropriate and relevant platforms, but the industry first has to understand the drivers for media consumption behaviour in that particular market. One of the researcher’s key findings from this research is that women’s magazines will not only change platforms but that the old revenue model based on circulation and advertising revenue will need to be replaced by a completely new business model.

Thesis (MPhil) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2004 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: After 1994, the year in which the first democratic election in the country was held and which placed South Africa irrevocably on the road to the creation of a new society, many institutions had to change to adapt to the new circumstances. All government and private institutions were compelled to adhere to transformation requirements. This study investigates the damage to blacks in the period before 1994, as well as the legal instruments and other regulations of the new government to assist black empowerment, with a view to creating a more equal society. The transformation of media institutions is a subject which, up to now, has not yet been researched thoroughly. This study was undertaken to establish the progress that has been made by Media24, a Naspers affiliate. The paper discusses the practical problems surrounding transformation, specifically those attached to an historic Afrikaans "white" institution like Media24. The conclusion which was derived at after interviews with top management, is that the company's leadership has moved into a position where transformation isn't questioned any more. Practical efforts are now being made to accelerate affirmative action and transformation. An audit of Media24 which was completed in 2004, and which is indicative of the company's achievements according to the transformational charter for black economic empowerment, was studied. The result shows that Media24 has made excellent progress in some areas, but has failed to achieve the desired results in others. Resulting from this, Media24's management began to set specific goals in order to be able to adhere to certain legal requirements (which includes, amongst others, affirmative action) within a specific time frame. Some of the proposals in this study include: That Media24's upcoming leadership should be measured against its ability to understand the requirements to do business in a new, diverse society; that more successful communication measurements be instituted around transformational processes and measurements and that a transformational ombud be appointed to highlight shortcomings and to help accelerate the process. The study has not exhausted the subject and, with transformation being an ongoing process, it is recommended that it be investigated further. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ná 1994, die jaar waarin die eerste demokratiese verkiesing in die land gehou is en Suid-Afrika onherroeplik op pad na die skepping van 'n "nuwe samelewing" geplaas is, sou baie instellings moes verander om by die nuwe omstandighede aan te pas. Alle staats- en private instellings sou aan transformasievereistes onderhewig wees. Dié werkstuk ondersoek kortliks die benadeling van swart mense in die tydperk voor 1994 en die wetlike instrumente en ander maatreëls van die nuwe regering om swart bemagtiging te help versnel en 'n meer gelyke samelewing te help skep. Die transformasie van media-instellings is 'n onderwerp wat nog nie behoorlik nagevors is nie en dié studie is aangepak om vas te stel hoe ver Media24, 'n filiaal van Naspers, gevorder het daarmee. Die praktiese probleme rondom transformasie word uitgelig, spesifiek dié by'n histories Afrikaanse "wit" instelling soos Media24. Die afleiding wat gemaak word uit onderhoude met die topbestuur van Media24 is dat die maatskappy se leierskap verby die punt is waar transformasie bevraagteken word. Praktiese pogings word nou aangewend om regstellende aksie maatreëls te versnel en transformasie vinniger te laat geskied. 'n Oudit van Media24 wat in 2004 uitgevoer is en wat die maatskappy se prestasie volgens die bemagtigingstelkaart vir swart ekonomiese bemagtiging aandui, is bestudeer. Die resultaat daarvan het getoon dat Media24 op sekere gebiede van swart bemagtiging goed vaar, maar op ander gebiede ver agter is. Media24 se bestuur het na aanleiding hiervan bepaalde teikens begin stelom die wetlike vereistes, wat onder meer regstellende aksie insluit, binne 'n sekere tydperk na te kom. Van die voorstelle in die studie sluit in: dat Media24 se opkomende leierskorps gemeet word aan die mate waarin hulle die vereistes verstaan om in die nuwe, diverse samelewing sake te doen, daar groter kommunikasie in die maatskappy moet wees oor transformasieprosesse- en maatreëls en dat 'n transformasie-ombud aangestel word om op tekortkominge te wys en die proses te help versnel. Die studie het nie die onderwerp uitgeput nie en verdere navorsing kan aangepak word, veralomdat transformasie 'n deurlopende proses is.