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.
It’s hard for the press to keep up. What’s the big story of the day? The war and looming global recession? The US president attacking the pope, or him comparing himself to Jesus? Paul Connew looks at how the press is reporting the global chaos.
Local news organisations across the UK are today taking part in a coordinated Day of Action against abusive legal threats known as SLAPPs, led by the News Media Association in partnership with the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition.
The News Media Association, a voice of the UK’s local and national news media industry, has announced the appointment of Theo Bamber as its next chief executive.
The Independent deepens its partnership with the festival, delivering exclusive storytelling, artist access and on-the-ground coverage for its global audience.
A feature-length documentary film following former Prime Minister and Daily Mail columnist Boris Johnson deep behind the frontline of the Russia/Ukraine war has been commissioned by Channel 5.
Plans by the government to scrap proposals that would have blocked the security services from coming under the terms of a new Hillsborough Law have been welcomed by the Society of Editors.
Crispin Odey abandons £79mn libel case against the FT over sexual misconduct claims.
Preciso has announced the launch of Ultima for Publisher, a WordPress tool that enables publishers to increase revenues using brand-safe, native advertising placements.
The shortlist for the 47th Scottish Press Awards has been announced, celebrating excellence in national, regional, and digital journalism from across the country.
Digital Publishers’ Revenue Index shows fourth consecutive quarter of overall growth, though more publishers report revenue declines than in Q3 2025
Dozens of the UK and the Republic of Ireland’s student journalists have been recognised at the Student Publication Association’s 2026 National Awards.
On 28 February, Israel and the US attacked Iran. As in all wars, one of the early casualties was the truth.
Some conferences are more productive than others. This year’s Society of Editors conference saw substantial announcements from the culture secretary and the unveiling of a major new police relations initiative. Ray Snoddy was there.
What happens when the world’s press descends on your part of the planet? Alan Geere crosses continents to find out.
From the Policing and Media Charter to AI and access, Dawn Alford, chief executive of the Society of Editors, tells us why collective action is essential for trusted journalism.
