The Citizen
The Citizen is a Johannesburg-based South African daily newspaper and digital news platform operated by Caxton Publishers, serving millions of readers across news, sport, business, and lifestyle verticals through its website, mobile apps, and e-paper.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1976
- HeadquartersJohannesburg, South Africa
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What The Citizen does
The Citizen is a South African daily newspaper and digital news platform founded in 1976 and operated by Caxton Publishers and Printers Proprietary Limited, headquartered in Johannesburg. The publication distributes editorial content across a primary website (citizen.co.za), native iOS and Android mobile applications, and a digital e-paper edition delivered through the PressReader platform, with additional syndication via Google News and a WhatsApp broadcast channel. Editorial coverage spans national and international news, politics, business, sport (including the dedicated Phakaaathi soccer sub-brand and broader coverage of cricket, rugby, motorsport, and FIFA World Cup), lifestyle, motoring, entertainment, and local regional news across South African provinces.
The company's core technology is a multi-channel digital publishing platform built around a CMS-driven news website with mobile-native distribution. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: (1) digital and print advertising, including display advertising and sponsored content sections; (2) recurring premium subscriptions via The Citizen Premium, which bundles exclusive content, ad-free reading, and e-paper access; and (3) affiliate and promotional revenue through The Citizen Create platform, notably the Caxton Black Friday commercial hub. The business operates a freemium consumer model, serving a general audience of South African news consumers and dedicated sports enthusiasts, with global distribution reach for digital channels and domestic physical print distribution.
Operationally, The Citizen is embedded within Caxton's broader publishing portfolio, which provides shared advertising sales, distribution infrastructure, and editorial resources across a network of local South African community newspapers. The company holds 501–1,000 employees, is privately held with no external institutional investors or funding rounds disclosed, and maintains self-attested compliance with POPIA, GDPR, and related privacy frameworks. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no recent M&A activity, and no material leadership changes in the source data.
The Citizen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Citizen
- Legal name
- Caxton Publishers and Printers Proprietary Limited
- Website
- https://citizen.co.za
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1976
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- The Citizen is a Johannesburg-based South African daily newspaper and digital news platform operated by Caxton Publishers, serving millions of readers across news, sport, business, and lifestyle verticals through its website, mobile apps, and e-paper.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Citizen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- News Media
- NAICS
- Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131), Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital) (MPAJADAB)
Keywords
Where The Citizen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Johannesburg
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Citizen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Digital and Print Advertising: The Citizen generates primary revenue through advertising on its website and potentially print publication, including display ads, sponsored content sections like 'Sponsored' and 'Best Bets', and partnership content with brands.
- Premium Subscriptions: Subscription-based revenue from The Citizen Premium service offering exclusive content, ad-free experience, and e-paper access.
- Black Friday and Promotional Events: The Citizen Create platform hosts Black Friday deals content with advertising and promotional partnerships with retailers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free access to standard news content |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Citizen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Citizen is a South African daily tabloid newspaper and digital-first news platform that publishes national and international news, business, sport (with dedicated soccer brand Phakaaathi), lifestyle, motoring, and local news content. It distributes via its website, iOS/Android apps, e-paper on PressReader, and physical print, monetized through advertising and a premium subscription service.
Product overview
The Citizen is a South African news media company operating as a digital-first news platform with multiple content channels. The core product is the news website (citizen.co.za) offering comprehensive coverage across news, business, sport, politics, entertainment, lifestyle, motoring, and local regional content. Supporting the website are the E-Paper digital newspaper (via PressReader), native iOS and Android mobile applications, and branded sub-sections including Phakaaathi (soccer), Multimedia, and a dedicated Motoring section. The company also offers premium subscription services for enhanced access to journalism.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Phakaaathi: Sports brand focused on soccer coverage within The Citizen's portfolio
Products and services
- The Citizen Website Independent South African news website offering national and international news coverage across multiple categories including South Africa, World, Business, Sport, Politics, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Motoring, and Local News. Targeted at general news consumers.
- E-Paper Digital version of The Citizen newspaper accessible through the PressReader platform, allowing subscribers to read the publication in digital format. For subscribers and digital readers.
- The Citizen Mobile App (iOS/Android) Native mobile applications for iOS and Android devices enabling users to access The Citizen's news content on mobile devices. Targeted at on-the-go news consumers.
- Phakaaathi Dedicated soccer/football section covering local soccer (PSL), Bafana Bafana, World Soccer, and Mgosi content within The Citizen's sports coverage. Targeted at soccer fans.
- Multimedia Section Visual content hub featuring photo galleries, pictures, podcasts, videos, and multimedia stories from events and news coverage. Targeted at general news consumers and lifestyle audiences.
- Motoring Section Automotive news and reviews section covering vehicle launches, road tests, Formula 1 racing, and motor industry news. Targeted at motoring enthusiasts.
- The Citizen Premium Subscription Paid subscription service offering enhanced access to The Citizen's journalism, exclusive content, ad-free experience, and e-paper access. Targeted at readers seeking an enhanced, ad-free news experience.
Companies that use The Citizen
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Citizen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
The Citizen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Caxton Publishers and PrinterscoreThe Citizen is owned and operated by Caxton Publishers and Printers, a major South African publishing company. Caxton operates a network of local newspapers and digital publications, providing The Citizen with distribution infrastructure, advertising sales support, and operational resources.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Citizen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- News24: South Africa's largest digital news platform, covering national and international news, sport, and lifestyle. Directly competes with The Citizen for the same South African news audience and digital advertising budgets.
- TimesLIVE (Sunday Times / The Times): Digital presence of South Africa's largest Sunday and weekly newspapers, covering national news, sport, and business. Directly competes with The Citizen for premium news subscribers and advertising.
- Sowetan: Established South African daily newspaper with digital presence, covering national news, sport, and lifestyle. Competes with The Citizen in the same daily newspaper market segment.
- Business Day: South African business-focused daily newspaper covering finance, economics, and corporate news. Overlaps with The Citizen's Business section and competes for business readers and advertising.
- Mail & Guardian: South African weekly newspaper and digital site known for investigative journalism. Overlaps with The Citizen in national news coverage and competes for similar audience demographics.
- IOL (Independent Online): South African digital news site owned by Media24, offering national news, sport, and lifestyle coverage. Directly overlaps with The Citizen's coverage areas and audience segments.
- Daily Maverick: Digital-native South African news outlet with a strong subscription business and investigative journalism focus. Competes with The Citizen for premium digital subscribers and advertising in the same national news market.
- EWN (Eyewitness News): South African digital news outlet focused on breaking news and current affairs. Directly competes with The Citizen for time-sensitive news readership and digital advertising inventory.
Others
- Caxton Local Newspapers: Sister publications within the Caxton network covering regional news across South Africa. Not direct competitors but ecosystem partners providing distribution infrastructure, cross-promotion, and shared advertising sales for The Citizen.
Regional players
- The Witness: South African regional newspaper in KwaZulu-Natal (also part of the Caxton network per website references). Compares to The Citizen as a Caxton-affiliated title with both print and digital editions, though focused on a specific province.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Citizen social profiles
Digital presenceThe Citizen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
The Citizen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Citizen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
The Citizen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Citizen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Citizen
What does The Citizen do?
The Citizen is a South African daily tabloid newspaper and digital-first news platform that publishes national and international news, business, sport (with dedicated soccer brand Phakaaathi), lifestyle, motoring, and local news content. It distributes via its website, iOS/Android apps, e-paper on PressReader, and physical print, monetized through advertising and a premium subscription service.
Is The Citizen a public or private company?
The Citizen is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Citizen founded?
The Citizen was founded in 1976. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is The Citizen based?
The Citizen is headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does The Citizen make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Digital and Print Advertising is the primary driver. The others are premium Subscriptions and black Friday and Promotional Events.
Who are The Citizen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are News24, TimesLIVE (Sunday Times / The Times), Sowetan, Business Day, Mail & Guardian, IOL (Independent Online), Daily Maverick and EWN (Eyewitness News). Caxton Local Newspapers is listed as an others. The Witness is listed as a regional player.
Does The Citizen have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Citizen.
What industry is The Citizen in?
The Citizen's product category is News Media. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJADAA, National & General-Interest Newspapers (Print & Digital), with a secondary code of MPAJADAB, Local & Regional Newspapers (Print & Digital). Its NAICS code is 5131 and its SIC code is 2711.