75% of SA women journalists face online abuse, Sanef study finds

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Aug 08, 2026 · 1188 words · By Glenda Daniels

Cybermisogyny Corporate Media Ethics Gender Inequality in Media

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Daily briefing

What to know about Cybermisogyny

More than 25 years ago, women journalists began cracking the glass ceiling, becoming editors-in-chief in relatively large numbers (see the collage on the right).

Claims checked 13

Techniques found 3

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center86%

Right14%

7 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

More than 25 years ago, women journalists began cracking the glass ceiling, becoming editors-in-chief in relatively large numbers (see the collage on the right).

Why it matters

But the findings of Glass Ceilings 2026: Women in South African Media, launched by the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) at Emoyeni Estate in Johannesburg on Thursday, 6 August, reveal a significant backlash against gender equality, with fewer…

Common ground

A hefty 75% of the women journalists surveyed for the Glass Ceilings 2026 research project cited online harassment and cybermisogyny as a serious problem with little recourse available.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole, Euphemism: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Cybermisogyny story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that the name Independent Group (which owned Daily News, The Mercury, Sunday Tribune, Independent on Saturday, Isolezwe, The Post, Cape Times, Cape Argus, Daily Voice, Weekend Argus, The Star, etc) no longer exists – it has become NMG?
How does this story connect Cybermisogyny with Corporate Media Ethics over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-08-2026-marks-the-shift-from-gla…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 3 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 95% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Euphemism 90% confidence

Using mild or indirect language to obscure the severity or nature of something.

Why it matters: Recognizing euphemism helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 13 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 4

schedule Pending 3

verified Verified By Reference 3

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 1

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Claim 1: “the name Independent Group (which owned Daily News, The Mercury, Sunday Tribune, Independent on Saturday, Isolezwe, The Post, Cape Times, Cape Argus, Daily Voice, Weekend Argus, The Star, etc) no longer exists – it has become NMG.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The evidence mentions 'Nation Media Group' (NMG) in the context of Kenya/regional layoffs and 'Independent Media' (Iqbal Survé), but does not confirm that Independent Group has 'become' NMG. These appear to be separate entities.

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web search NEUTRAL — Tectonics over Nation Media Group as anchor shareholder, the @Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development S.A (AKFED), announces full divestiture from the business after 66 years.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mbuguanjihia_rostamazizi-acti…

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web search NEUTRAL — Nation Media Group (NMG) has begun laying off many correspondents and other external contributors in what is viewed as the latest move by the regional media house to cut costs.
https://viraltea.co.ke/nation-media-group-to-fire-many-of-th…

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web search NEUTRAL — Independent Media chair Iqbal Survé dismissed claims that the group, which includes titles The Star and Cape Argus, has compromised its editorial independence and alleged that deputy finance minister …
https://www.businessday.co.za/bd/national/2019-04-03-mondli-…

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Claim 2: “More than 60% in the survey believed a gender pay gap existed in their organisations”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the gender pay gap percentage (60%) in the Glass Ceilings 2026 survey.

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Claim 3: “A hefty 75% of the women journalists surveyed for the Glass Ceilings 2026 research project cited online harassment and cybermisogyny as a serious problem”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results explicitly state that 75% of women journalists surveyed for the Glass Ceilings 2026 project cited online harassment and cybermisogyny as a serious problem.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — 352 and 353 Riverside Drive are a pair of houses along Riverside Drive on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York City, United States. They were designed in 1899 by Robert D. Kohn in the Beaux-Arts…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/352_and_353_Riverside_Drive

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The glass cliff is a phenomenon described by psychologists Michelle K. Ryan and Alexander Haslam, in which women are more likely to break the "glass ceiling" (i.e. achieve leadership roles in business…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_cliff

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of women's firsts noting the first time that a woman or women achieved a given historical feat. A shorthand phrase for this development is "breaking the gender barrier" or "breaking the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_women's_firsts

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “About 58% of women reported that the network prevails alongside general gender bias”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 5: “the findings of Glass Ceilings 2026: Women in South African Media, launched by the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) at Emoyeni Estate in Johannesburg on Thursday, 6 August”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm the launch of 'Glass Ceilings 2026: Women in South African Media' by SANEF, specifically mentioning the shift to 'cyberceiling' and the context of the launch.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa was part of the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On 5 March 2020, Minis…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_South_Afr…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a South African-based non-profit membership organisation for editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers. The SANEF supports South African …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_National_Editors…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Sunday Times is South Africa's biggest Sunday newspaper. Established in 1906, it is distributed throughout South Africa and in neighbouring countries such as Lesotho, Botswana and Eswatini
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunday_Times_(South_Africa)

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 6: “Arena Holdings sold some of the country’s oldest newspapers (The Herald and The Dispatch) based in the Eastern Cape to Ubuntu Media Holdings”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Evidence mentions Arena Holdings and The Herald (South Africa), but there is no mention of a sale to 'Ubuntu Media Holdings'. One search result mentions 'HD Media' purchasing 'The Herald-Dispatch', but that is a US-based entity in Huntington, not the South African one.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Arena Holdings, formerly known as Tiso Blackstar Group, Johnnic Communications, Avusa and the Times Media Group, is a South African media company based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It publishes seve…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_Holdings

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Now Arena (originally known as the Sears Centre, Sears Centre Arena and stylized as NOW Arena) is a multi-purpose arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb 25 miles (40 km) from Chica…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Now_Arena

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Herald is one of South Africa's oldest newspapers, first published on 7 May 1845. The newspaper is aimed at the people of Nelson Mandela Bay and is published daily from Monday to Friday, and is pu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Herald_(South_Africa)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “These titles “have now applied for” and are “receiving licensing rights” from Sagarmatha Technologies.”

SINGLE SOURCE

No evidence was found regarding licensing rights between NMG/Independent titles and 'Sagarmatha Technologies'.

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web search NEUTRAL — Create API key in new project (recommended for new users).Gemini 2.0 Flash-Lite has a higher rate limit (30 RPM vs. 15 RPM) and is perfectly capable for summarization, classification, and simple code …
https://hypereal.cloud/a/google-gemini-api-key-for-free

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web search NEUTRAL — Get the full list of generation names, birth years, and key traits from Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha. Understand the meaning behind every generation.
https://infinitylearn.com/general-topics/generation-names-an…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — What's the typical career progression for a technology analyst at Credit Suisse?
https://app.joinhandshake.com/

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Claim 8: “Journalists revealed this week that 171 out of 309 jobs at eNCA, more than half its workforce, are on the line”

CORROBORATED

Three independent web search results explicitly confirm that 171 out of 309 jobs at eNCA are at risk due to a Section 189 consultation process.

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web search NEUTRAL — About 171 out of 309 of the news broadcaster’s employees, more than half its workforce, are in the line of fire.
https://www.businessday.co.za/news/2026-08-06-south-africas-…

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web search NEUTRAL — 171 jobs at risk. The issue has come into sharper focus after eNCA began a Section 189 consultation process that could affect 171 of its 309 employees.
https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-08-12-sactwus-hci-s…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — eNCA is staring down a huge jobs bloodbath, with 171 of its 309 employees − more than half its workforce — in the line of fire for retrenchment. The proposed cuts will hit the news, technical and broa…
https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/news/2026-08-05-brea…

schedule

Claim 9: “Glenda Daniels is editor of the new book Glass Ceilings 2026: Women in South African Media, a professor of media studies at Wits University and Sanef’s secretary-general.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 10: “35% believed it [AI] would worsen sexism and inequality, 24% believed it would make no difference, 22% felt it was still too early to tell, 11% believed that AI could improve equality and 7% said it depended on its implementation.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 11: “Of 111 women surveyed, 75% confirmed the existence of cyberbullying and cybermisogyny. Only 9% reported no such experience and 12% were unsure.”

CORROBORATED

Although the specific 'Evidence for claim 8' section was empty, the evidence provided for Claim 1 explicitly mentions: 'of 111 women surveyed, 75% confirm the existence of cyberbullying and cybermiso'. This corroborates the sample size and the primary percentage.

verified

Claim 12: “Media24 announced last week that it was about to start building a “new operating model” for editorial.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

The evidence provided for Media24 consists of general company descriptions and a skyscraper description; there is no mention of a 'new operating model' for editorial.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Media24 is a South African media company with interests in digital news and services, newspapers, magazines, television and book publishing. It is wholly owned by major South African mass media compan…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media24

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Media24 Centre is a 26-storey, 93-metre (305 ft) skyscraper located at 40 Heerengracht Street in the Foreshore area of Cape Town, South Africa. As of 2026, it is the 14th-tallest building in Cape …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media24_Centre

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Rapport (English: 'Report') is an Afrikaans-language weekly newspaper (released on Sundays) in South Africa and published by Media24. Its head office is in Johannesburg. It is the second largest Sunda…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapport_(newspaper)

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 13: “The 75% represents a 45 percentage point increase from the 2018 Glass Ceilings report by Gender Links and Sanef, which found that 30% of women journalists and 9% of male journalists identified cyberbullying and misogyny as prevalent issues.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While the 2026 data is corroborated, the provided evidence for the 2018 report consists only of general Wikipedia entries for the year 2018 and the term 'glass ceiling', with no mention of the specific 30% and 9% statistics.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A glass ceiling is a metaphor usually set in relation to women, used to represent an invisible barrier that prevents a given demographic from rising beyond a certain level in a hierarchy. The metaphor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_ceiling

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+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.