The world paper famine and the South African Press, 1938-1955

Abstract

Adrian Hadland examines the immediate effects and the longer term implications of the shortage of newsprint on the the South African newspaper industry between 1938 and 1955. As a result all South African newspapers underwent significant cuts in the number of pages they could publish. His study of the world paper famine's effect on the South African press attempts to achieve two central objectives: (1) to illustrate the extent to which economic events, relations and strategies underpin almost every aspect of newspaper production; (2) to indicate how these economic relations served to further concentrate and regulate the industry, binding it in an ever closer relationship to the state.