Select Page
Home » Inside the South African News Library

Inside the South African News Library

Feb 27, 2024 | Articles

Preserving South African History: Inside the South African News Library

History has a unique way of teaching us about the past and providing insights into the present. It’s a dynamic tapestry of stories, events, and perspectives that shape our understanding of the world. In South Africa, where history has been marked by profound changes and struggles, preserving the record of the past is of paramount importance. This is where Sabinet’s South African News Research Services comes into play, offering a treasure trove of historical insights and a gateway to the past.

Unveiling South Africa’s Rich History Through the South African News

The history of South Africa is a narrative of resilience, transformation, and progress. From the struggles against apartheid to the journey towards democracy, every moment in South Africa’s history has left an indelible mark. Preserving the records of these moments as they are reflected in the newspapers is crucial for understanding the nation’s journey forward and the complexities of its past.

The Importance of News Archives

News archives are like time capsules that capture the essence of a specific era. They contain the stories, events, and voices of the past and present, offering a unique perspective on historical and current events. For researchers, scholars, students, and anyone interested in delving into Africa’s and South Africa’s events, Sabinet’s News Research Services is an invaluable resource.

Sabinet’s South African News: A Living Archive

Sabinet‘s South African News is a living archive of South Africa’s newsworthy events, spanning from 1977 to the present day. This comprehensive resource meets the diverse needs of public and government libraries, universities, research institutions, and curious minds alike. It offers online access to the news research and news clipping service of SA Media (News Clippings) and Sabinet Newswire.

The Power of Our SA Media (News Clippings) News Research and Clippings Service

SA Media (News Clippings) is a remarkable component of the South African News, covering mainstream publications in South Africa from 1977 onwards. It boasts an impressive collection of over 5.4 million archived news articles, making it a vast repository of historical information. What’s more, it continues to grow, with approximately 2500 news articles added weekly, just 3-6 weeks after their publication date.

Sabinet Newswire

Sabinet Newswire provides the South African Press Association archive from 1998 to March 2015, as well as the African News Agency daily news feeds from November 2015 to September 2022. Clients can subscribe to the complete Sabinet Newswire collection consisting of both SAPA and ANA or they can subscribe individually to either of them.

Unlocking the Past with Searchable PDFs

One of the remarkable features of Sabinet’s South African News service is its ability to provide OCRed full-text PDFs of actual articles, making every word searchable. This feature is a game-changer for researchers, allowing them to explore the depth of the archive with precision. The snippet feature available on Sabinet Discover displays the locations of your searched keywords within the article on the results view page. In the case of SA Media (only) PDFs from 2016 onwards, it also displays a small image of the page where the article appeared.

Tailored Access for Everyone

Sabinet understands that different users have unique needs. That’s why we offer flexibility in access. . For SA Media (News Clippings), users can choose from various download packages, catering to schools and individual researchers or opt to purchase single articles. Single article purchases are available on all Sabinet’s news products. .

Explore South African News with Sabinet Discover

Sabinet’s commitment to providing easy access to historical information extends to its user-friendly platform, Sabinet Discover. With this single search interface, users can explore the vast South African News effortlessly. It’s a tool that opens the door to a wealth of historical knowledge.

A Growing Collection

Sabinet’s South African News is not static; it’s a collection that continues to expand. With two newswire archives, over 100 archive newspapers, and more than 30 current newspapers with daily updates, it offers a comprehensive view of South Africa’s news landscape. Users can delve into a wide range of topics, explore different perspectives, and track the evolution of South African society.

Sabinet recognises that users may have specific interests. That’s why the newswire archives and newspaper publisher collections can be subscribed individually or to the complete South African News collection consisting of SA Media (News Clippings), and Sabinet Newswire (SAPA and ANA). This flexibility ensures that users can access the content that matters most to them.

Sabinet’s South African News: Your Window to the Past and Present

Sabinet’s South African News is not just a repository of historical documents; it’s a gateway to understanding South Africa’s complex history. It’s a tool that empowers researchers, educators, and curious minds to explore the past, learn from it, and gain insights into the present.

With Sabinet’s South African News, events come alive. It’s a testament to Sabinet’s commitment to preserving South Africa’s rich heritage and making it accessible to all. Start your journey into the past with Sabinet today and uncover the stories and perspectives that have shaped South Africa’s remarkable history.

Here we want to emphasise the subscription model of the products, but if you prefer to have one section for tailored access/subscription, let me know I edited it slightly.