From print to digital: evolution, adoption and contribution of ePapers in the Ugandan press

Abstract

The evolution, adoption, and contribution of electronic newspapers (ePapers) remain underexplored in Global South media scholarship, particularly Uganda. Existing literature often conflates ePapers with social media or frames them as threats to print journalism, overlooking their distinct potential. A key unanswered question is whether ePapers can viably deliver traditional newspaper services amid digital transition. This study addresses that gap by examining the case of New Vision and exploring factors responsible for the evolution of ePapers, the drivers behind theuir adoption and their contribution in the Ugandan press. Grounded in technological determinism, social shaping of technology, and critical political economy, the study highlights how technological innovation, socio-economic pressures, and institutional dynamics shape the evolution, adoption and contribution of ePapers in the press. Using key informant interviews and netnography, findings reveal that technology and socio-cultural factors such as the Structural Adjust Programmes of the 1990s, internet/ telecommunications penetration, social media, and COVID-19, are central to ePaper uptake in the Global South. ePapers have transformed news dissemination, redefined economic models, elevated digital archival journalism, and offer potential resistance to press censorship. The study introduces an ePaper Business Viability Model offering insights into sustainable revenue and digital resilience for newspapers in the Global South. Recommendations include further research on the digital divide, cultural-technological intersections, and more case studies. The study further recommends that newspapers should improve accessibility, innovate content formats, monetize archives, and integrate Artificial Intelligence into their ePapers for better results. Strategic partnerships with other industries are essential. Policy interventions must prioritize broadband infrastructure, digital literacy, media freedoms, and fair competition to foster public-private collaboration and digital transition. This study contributes to rethinking digital press viability in Uganda and offers a roadmap for sustainable media transformation across similar contexts.