The 2026 edition of RANKED, Africa’s leading report on digital news media performance, will be officially unveiled at a launch event scheduled for April 23, 2026, at Amber Residence, Ikeja, Lagos.
Published by SquirrelPR and organised by Squirrel Media Technologies in partnership with KT Communication, the annual report has become a key reference point for understanding media visibility, audience behaviour, and influence across the continent.
This year’s edition delivers a more expansive and nuanced analysis of the African media ecosystem, covering 13 countries across Anglophone and Francophone Africa, its widest geographic scope to date.
A key finding from the 2026 report reveals a decline in readership traffic across all markets tracked, pointing to shifting audience behaviours and increasing fragmentation in how content is consumed. Despite this trend, the report highlights a consistent rise in media influence, suggesting that authority, credibility, and audience trust are becoming more critical metrics than sheer traffic volume.
Beyond traditional traffic tracking, the latest edition introduces deeper performance indicators, including local versus foreign audience traffic by news outlet, domain authority rankings, and audience growth across key sectors. These additions provide a more holistic view of how media platforms are evolving and where influence is being built across Africa’s digital landscape.
The report will be officially launched at the event, making it available to media professionals, PR practitioners, and communication leaders seeking data-driven insights into the continent’s rapidly changing media environment.
Speaking ahead of the launch, James Ezechukwu, Co-founder of SquirrelPR, described the report as an essential tool for industry stakeholders.
“The Ranked report has evolved into an invaluable resource for media relations and communications professionals across Africa. In an environment where traditional metrics are no longer sufficient, this report provides clarity on what truly drives influence and visibility. It helps practitioners move beyond assumptions and make more strategic, data-driven decisions in how they engage with the media,” he said.
The launch event will feature an expert-led panel session with prominent industry voices, including Muyiwa Matuluka, CEO of Techpoint Africa; Rasheed Bolarinwa, Head of Communications at Polaris Bank; Damilola Bright-Ukwenga, Communications Manager, ScribeTribe Africa; and Olufemi Ajasa, Online Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, among others. The session will explore the theme: “The Reality of Digital Media Performance in Africa: Navigating the Future Through Data and Tools.”
Another highlight of the event will be the unveiling of cutting-edge PR and communications solutions developed by Squirrel Media Technologies, aimed at equipping African practitioners with more effective tools for navigating the evolving media landscape.
