Ivorian Press: Digital Shift, Online Media, and the Decline of Print

Interview with Salifou Dabou, Head of Web News at Fraternité Matin

Introduction

\"The Ivorian print press is a dying sector.\"
This statement from Salifou Dabou, also known as Salif D. Cheickna, perfectly sums up the state of a media landscape in full transformation. Between the rise of digital platforms, the diversification of channels, and the collapse of print newspaper sales, Côte d’Ivoire is undergoing a true media revolution.

As Head of the Web News Department at Fraternité Matin, he spoke with Clipse Africa about his career, the industry’s transformations, and the challenges facing Ivorian media today.

Can you introduce Fratmat.info, its editorial focus, and your role?

Salifou Dabou:
Fratmat.info is the online outlet of the Société nationale de presse et d’édition de Côte d’Ivoire (SNPECI), publisher of the pro-government daily Fraternité Matin, created on December 9, 1964. Our digital platform was launched in 2004 to support the transition to online media.

We share the editorial line of the daily newspaper: relaying and explaining government actions to inform citizens. The group employs around 50 journalists, including 9 dedicated to the web newsroom.

I coordinate all sections — politics, society, economy, culture… While versatile, I remain a specialist in visual arts, especially cinema. I regularly cover FESPACO and am a member of the Grand Écran network, which brings together journalists and communicators committed to African cinema.

Our editorial independence is genuine: beyond institutional topics, each journalist is free to propose articles whenever relevant information is identified.

How would you describe Côte d’Ivoire’s current audiovisual landscape?

S.D.:
Public service media remain dominant. RTI 1 and RTI 2 are among the most watched channels, while Fréquence 2 and Radio CI lead in radio. Audience surveys, such as those by MCMY, confirm the central role of Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne in national media consumption.

However, private channels are gaining ground: NCI, Life TV, A+ Ivoire and 7info attract younger audiences with diversified and interactive programming.

In radio, there are about 200 stations, including:

• 3 public service radios (Radio CI, Fréquence 2, Radio Bouaké),

• 5 international radios (RFI, BBC, Africa Radio…),

• 5 private commercial radios (Trace FM, Vibe Radio…),

• more than 170 non-commercial private radios (community, school-based, religious),

• 1 institutional radio (Radio de la Paix).

This diversity illustrates a highly competitive and rich media environment.

What is the impact of online media development on print press?

S.D.:
The rise of digital platforms has democratized access to information but has also triggered an explosion of fake news. The sector is still poorly regulated, which is why the Autorité nationale de la presse (ANP) must strengthen oversight.

The digital transition has severely weakened print press: newspaper sales are collapsing. The situation in Côte d’Ivoire, already alarming, reflects a wider continental trend.

What are the key figures of digital media in Côte d’Ivoire?

S.D.:
According to REPRELCI, the country has:

• 41 online newspapers,

• 10 portals/aggregators,

• 4 Web-TV platforms,

• 1 Web-Radio,

• 3 news agencies.

That’s a total of 59 outlets — a figure that is likely underestimated.

In 2015, the sector employed 316 people, including 186 professional journalists (20.66% of the national workforce).

As for print, the decline is dramatic: the industry’s combined revenue fell from 6 billion FCFA in 2011 to under 2 billion in 2021 — a 70% drop in a decade.

Do Ivorians now mainly get their news online and via social media?

S.D.:
Yes. In January 2021, Internet penetration stood at 46.8% (12.5 million users), including 5.9 million active social media users. These platforms, combined with online news sites, have become the primary source of information for much of the population.