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 21st edition of the World Press Freedom Index, compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders, sheds light on major and often radical changes linked to political, social and technological upheavals.
Shine, the co-promoter of summer music festivals Belsonic, CHSQ and Emerge has announced its 15th consecutive year of partnership with publisher Reach.
Industry Charity NewstrAid has announced the promotion of its Financial Controller, Laura Grice, to Financial Director.
Clients can now measure data transfer and related carbon footprint, with performance insights, at creative, campaign and agency level.
Argonon branded content label Nemorin appoints Darren Smith as chief content officer.
The Evening Standard and artist Trevor Jones collaborate on NFT to mark the Coronation.
Publishers have to work hard to convince brands to spend their advertising budgets with them. A key part of this is being able to demonstrate brand uplift whatever the size of the campaign.
The Sun ignores Harry's accusations, Guardian cartoon, Raab's resignation, getting surveys to say what you want them to say, Sir Softy or Sir Softie, Rwanda trip revisited, Lineker again and spread of the fortnight.
The Telegraph has announced how it will celebrate His Majesty’s King Charles III Coronation.
To mark World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday, 3rd May, Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has written the following op ed.
Subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times who are new to Apple Music will be offered three months free access to Apple Music and the newly launched Apple Music Classical app.
The Society of Editors is today joining the United Nations, media organisations and worldwide press freedom organisations in celebrating the 30th anniversary of #WorldPressFreedomDay.
The Times has launched a podcast series - Poison - which exposes the harrowing investigation into the suicide of a young British student that can be traced back to a website run by a man in Toronto, Canada.
Reach plc has released a trading update for the 4-month period to 23 April 2023.
Telegraph Media Group (TMG) has announced it has been certified as a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, for its work in recruiting, retaining and developing disabled staff.
