About Us

The Association of Independent Publishers (AIP) is a vibrant national organisation for advancing the interests of the local grassroots independent print media sector in South Africa. We represent hundreds of small, locally owned media outlets from across the country, including newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and online publications.

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AIP member publications are distinct from mainstream media owned by large media groups such as Media24, Independent, Caxton and Arena.

As of January 2022 the organisation had over 200 members. Members publish primarily in rural areas and disadvantaged communities, in a diverse range of languages and service a diverse range of interests. Some are one-person operations that operate literally at grassroots level – a shack in an informal settlement, converted garage or unused classroom. Some are 15 staff members strong and have offices on three floors.

The AIP represents print and online media published in all South Africa’s 11 languages. Our geographical communities range from rural Cofimvaba to the urban people of Bonteheuwel, Heideveld and the Cape Flats; from Makhado to Gansbaai; Mangaung to Jozini and much more in between.

Print and online media aimed at communities of interest vary from South African Muslims to African art and literature fanatics, social justice activists and teachers, teenagers and fruit farmers. The AIP membership strives to reflect true media diversity and pluralism. In a broader sense the objectives of the AIP are to encourage ownership and control of, and access to, media by historically disadvantaged communities, historically diminished indigenous languages and cultural groups.

Marketing Team Discussing Plans for the Company - By Prathan Chorruangsak-min

178

Total publications

147

Total Publishers

7 491 699

Total monthly readership

2 497 233

Total monthly print run

Our Values

Through networking, training, and support for grassroots media, AIP is committed to:

Striving for media diversity and pluralism

Promoting inclusivity, accuracy and integrity

Defending and advancing media freedom at a grassroots level

Giving strength to independent voices

Past and Present Funders

Our Partners

Media sector

Audit Bureau of Circulation

The ABC is a non-profit company registered in terms of Section 8 of the Companies’ Act, based on a bi-partite agreement between advertiser and advertising agencies and media owners. The primary function is the certification and provision of accurate and comparable circulation figures, to assist the bi-partite groupings (advertisers/marketers and publishers) in the buying and selling of advertising and promotional material.

National Community Radio Forum

The NCRF is a national, membership-driven association of community radio stations and support service organizations.

Press Council

The Press Council, the Press Ombud and the Appeals Panel are an independent co-regulatory mechanism set up by the print and online media to provide impartial, expeditious and cost-effective adjudication to settle disputes between newspapers, magazines and online publications, on the one hand, and members of the public, on the other, over the editorial content of publications.

South African National Editors Forum

SANEF is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists and journalism trainers from all areas of the South African media. SANEF promotes excellence in journalism through fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, education and training programmes.

Advertising Regulatory Board

The Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB) in South Africa is an independent industry body responsible for regulating advertising content to ensure it is ethical, honest, and in line with the country’s Code of Advertising Practice. The ARB was established in 2018 as a self-regulatory organisation after the Advertising Standards Authority of South Africa (ASA) was liquidated.

International Fund for Public Interest Media

The International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) is a global initiative that provides financial and technical support to independent, public-interest media, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Code for Africa

Is the continent’s largest civic technology and data journalism initiative, using technology, open data, and investigative journalism to promote democracy, transparency, and accountability. It operates across multiple African countries, supporting media, civil society, and governments with digital tools, data-driven storytelling, and fact-checking initiatives.

Tshikululu Social Investments

Is a South African social investment and advisory firm that manages and implements corporate social investment (CSI) programmes, philanthropic funds, and impact investments. It works with businesses, foundations, and governments to drive sustainable social change.

Africa Check

Africa Check is a non-profit organization that identifies important public statements, interrogates the best available evidence and publishes fact-checking reports to guide public debate.

The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism

The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism is South Africa’s oldest communications and journalism training institute. It offers a variety of short courses to up-skill early and mid career journalists and communicators.

Rhodes University, Sol Plaatje Institute for Media Leadership

The Sol Plaatje Media Leadership Institute offers professional media management and leadership training programmes.

Fray College of Communications

Fray College is a pan-African accredited media training organization focusing on providing practical workplace skills for journalists, communicators and business leaders.

FP&M Seta

The Fibre Processing and Manufacturing Sector Education and Training Authority (FP&M SETA) is one of South Africa’s SETA organisations, responsible for skills development and training in the fibre processing and manufacturing industries. It was established to support education, training, and employment opportunities in 13 sub-sectors.

Wits Centre for Journalism

The Wits Centre for Journalism (WCJ) is a leading journalism and media research institution based at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) in Johannesburg, South Africa. It provides training, research, and advocacy to support quality journalism and media freedom in Africa.

Campaign for Free Expression

The Campaign for Free Expression is a non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and expanding the right to free expression for ALL, and enabling EVERYONE to exercise this right to the full, whether it by speaking out, by protesting, by revealing information, by blowing the whistle on wrong-doing, by arguing, debating, writing, painting, composing or just by shouting out your opinion.

Freedom of Expression Institute

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) was established in 1994 to protect and foster the right to freedom of expression and to oppose censorship. Its vision is a society where everyone enjoys freedom of expression and the right to access and disseminate information.

Media Monitoring Africa

Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) was established in 1993 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since then, MMA has developed from a pure monitoring based project to an organisation that implements successful media strategies for change, using technology, social media and data tools to make their work more efficient and effective.

SOS Coalition

The SOS Coalition is a member-based public broadcasting network that campaigns for democratic media and broadcasting, as well as excellent programming by the public broadcaster – in particular the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to serve the public interest.