The newspaper business was built for a world where one product served everyone and advertising paid for most of it. That model has gone. What replaces it is still being worked out title by title, from national groups to weeklies covering a single town.
Reader revenue is the clearest shift. Even Reach, which argued for free access for years, now puts some of its journalism behind a paywall, and the regional titles doing best changed their newsrooms before they asked anyone to pay. Ownership keeps changing too. National World rebuilt local editorships after years of centralisation, and the Observer is being reinvented as a premium print and digital title under new owners.
The strongest publishers understand the difference because they are not trying to be everything to everyone. They are trying to be essential to someone.
Chris Sherrard News media
Local news is where the pressure shows most. Millions of people now live without a dedicated local title, and new reader-funded and membership startups are moving into the gaps. Platforms are pulling back from news at the same time, which leaves trust and a direct relationship with readers as the assets that matter most.
Print hasn't disappeared either. Well-run weeklies still hold on to their readers, with circulation falling slowly while digital audiences grow.
Below you'll find some of our best feature articles on news media, from reader revenue and newsroom change to ownership, local news and trust, alongside our latest news and industry commentary.
Where is the growth opportunity for today’s publishers? Douglas McCabe tracks how the commercial model has evolved over the past fifty years and examines whether a better understanding of what online audiences want, will help drive future growth.
We asked Chris Sherrard, editor-in-chief of The Irish News, what does best practice publishing look like in news media? This is what he said…
After years of resisting paywalls, Reach is now launching them across its titles. But David Higgerson, Reach’s chief content officer, carefully avoided the word ‘U-turn’ when interviewed by Steve Dyson.
It’s one thing to think that readers should pay for your journalism, but the reality is that unless you improve your offering, then you will struggle to start charging for it, as DC Thomson Editor-in-Chief Frank O’Donnell tells Ciar Byrne.
How can you edit a regional newspaper when you never visit the area you’re writing about? By filling it with generic content, an approach that National World’s David Montgomery, the new owner of JPI Media, is rapidly doing away with.
Ray Snoddy talks to Co-CEO Rich Furness about the thinking behind Tortoise Media’s acquisition of the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper and about their plans for its future.
What’s the outlook for national news media in 2024? Christian Broughton, CEO of The Independent, looks ahead.
There is a new generation of entrepreneurs launching local media businesses, bringing with them new ideas on business models and funding. Phil Clark looks at some of the stand-out examples.
With Meta backing away from ‘news’ and AI accelerating the growth of disinformation, we need to redouble our efforts to safeguard access to quality journalism, says News Media Association Chief Executive Owen Meredith.
East Lothian is not just the best place to live – it has the best newsbrand too. Alan Geere heads over the border to find out what’s happening in the world of Scottish weeklies.
The Ad Ops team is the nerve centre for many digital publishing businesses and they are well-positioned to know what changes a business needs to make and to drive these forward. Kerys Arundell gives us her six resolutions for the coming year.
A picture is worth a thousand words, as the saying goes. Some MailOnline stories have more than a 100 pics. You do the maths! Peter Sands looks at the impact of pictures in news media.
With rising costs, tighter margins & increased competition, publishers need to ensure their print products deliver exceptional performance. Quality & commitment to net-zero, underpinned by robust business continuity measures, are what's needed.
Spread the Word Media has announced the launch of its new dedicated marketing division Spread the Word Digital.
FT Weekend Magazine has announced its Most Influential Women of 2023, featuring those who have earned accolades and accomplished remarkable things.
The Secretary of State has released a statement regards the decision to intervene in the anticipated acquisition of Telegraph Media Group by RedBird IMI.
How can publishers think more strategically about how and where they collaborate with other publishers – even their competitors? This was the top-line question for the final AOP CRUNCH event of the year, writes AOP MD Richard Reeves.
Sony Pictures Entertainment and news media organisation Guardian Media Group have announced a new strategic creative collaboration.
GumGum says its Mindset Index allows brands to identify the contextual categories securing the highest levels of attention to drive outcomes and stay in sync with customers’ mindsets.
Jo Wallace has joined Jellyfish as global executive creative director.
The British press often comes in for criticism over its reporting of climate change. Former tabloid editor Ted Young says mainstream media can sometimes be the victim of fake news.
The Shropshire Star has announced the newest addition to its team as it welcomes former BBC presenter Eric Smith who will be hosting an exclusive weekly podcast.
As Cop28 gets under way in the United Arab Emirates, the Guardian’s team of environment reporters will provide round-the-clock coverage during another critical year of climate talks.
Two publications in the West Midlands have introduced a paywall on their websites, as part of an ongoing commitment to investing in high-quality, trusted local journalism – and delivering the best possible service to readers.
Entries are open for the Guardian’s new advertising awards, celebrating some of the most unforgettable brands and campaigns that have featured across the Guardian in the last year.
