How to manage your newsletter preferences
The easiest way to manage your subscription is through the preference options linked in our newsletter messages. From there, you can choose what you receive, how often you receive it, or whether you want to pause updates for a while. If you are based in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto, Nairobi, Lagos, Accra or Lusaka, the same process applies, as newsletter settings are handled online and do not depend on your location.
When you open the preferences page, check that your details are still current. If you use more than one email address, make sure you are updating the one that gets the newsletter. A small mismatch can mean you think you have unsubscribed or changed settings, but the wrong inbox is still active.
What to do if a newsletter is not arriving
If you expected a newsletter and it has not arrived, start with your inbox search. Look for the publication name, recent subject lines, or any message from our publishing team. Sometimes a message lands in promotions, updates or junk folders, especially on shared office accounts or older mobile mail apps.
- Check your spam or junk folder first.
- Search your inbox for the newsletter name or the word popuplism, if you sometimes mis-remember it.
- Confirm that your mailbox is not full.
- Ask your provider whether a filter is blocking regular delivery.
- Add the sender to your safe contacts if your message service allows it.
If you are using a work address in a busy office environment, a strict mail filter may block newsletters without telling you. This can happen even when other mail comes through normally.
How to update your email address safely
If you have changed jobs, moved cities or just prefer a new address, update your subscription details as soon as possible. This helps keep your delivery clean and reduces the chance of duplicate messages. It also means important updates about essays, podcast notes, publication schedules or service notices reach the right inbox.
Use the unsubscribe or preferences link in a recent newsletter, then enter your new email address where requested. If the system asks you to confirm the change, complete that step before closing the page. If you skip confirmation, the old address may stay active and the new one may not receive anything.
- Update one address at a time.
- Wait for the confirmation message before testing the new inbox.
- Keep the old inbox active for a short while in case a confirmation message lands there.
- If you manage multiple accounts, note which one is subscribed to which list.
Pausing, resubscribing or stopping updates
A short break from newsletters can be useful without leaving altogether. If that option is available in your preference settings, you can pause delivery for a period and return later. It suits travel, a busy inbox or time away from regular reading. It can also help if you only want major updates and not every issue.
If you previously unsubscribed and want to join again, use the sign-up form once more. Enter the email address you want to use now and follow the confirmation step. If nothing arrives after you resubscribe, check whether an older unsubscribe link is still active on a different address. That happens more often than people think, especially when one person has used several message accounts over time.
Delivery issues on mobile devices and shared inboxes
Newsletters are often checked on phones first, then later on laptops or office computers. On some mobile apps, messages are grouped, clipped, or hidden behind conversation views. If your phone shows the newsletter but not the full content, open it in a browser or benchtop mail client to see the complete issue.
Shared inboxes can also cause trouble. In a household or office, one person may mark a message as spam, which affects future delivery for everyone using that account. If several people read from the same mailbox, agree on one person who handles subscription changes. It saves time and avoids mixed signals.
- Refresh the mailbox before assuming a newsletter is missing.
- Open the message fully if the preview only shows part of it.
- Check whether images or links are blocked by default.
- Avoid marking a real newsletter as spam unless you want it stopped completely.
When to contact us through the enquiry form
If you have checked your folders, confirmed your settings and still cannot sort the issue, send us a message through the editors' form on our contact page. Use the form for problems such as repeated unsubscribes, a broken preferences link, duplicate delivery, or a subscription that behaves as if it is stuck. Please include the email address that should receive the newsletter and a short note about what is happening.
Our team based in Rosebank, Johannesburg handles newsletter support alongside publishing and audience work. If you write in, give enough detail for us to trace the issue properly. A clear message helps us work through your request, especially when there are multiple addresses or old sign-up records involved.
