News
Launch: Salford City News
Newsquest has launched the new weekly newspaper promising to “stand up for Salford”.
News Media
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.
Essential Resources
FEATURE
Returning to growth
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.
Best Practice in Publishing
News media
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…
INTERVIEW
Stand and deliver!
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.
INTERVIEW
Change before charge
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.
INTERVIEW
Ditching the generic
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.
INTERVIEW
The Observer’s premium future
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.
FEATURE
Opportunities & Threats: National News Media
What’s the outlook for national news media in 2024? Christian Broughton, CEO of The Independent, looks ahead.
FEATURE
Breathing new life into local media
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.
OPINION
We Need Trusted News Brands Now More Than Ever
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.
OUT & ABOUT WITH ALAN GEERE
Weekly does it
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.
All Articles
News
The Northern Echo launches Teesside Edition
The Northern Echo is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, and last week launched a new Teesside edition.
News
Emma Tucker appointed editor of The Sunday Times
Martin Ivens, editor of The Sunday Times, is to step down after seven years and join Times Newspapers Board as a Director.
News
Telegraph quits ABC
The publisher announced earlier this month that the ABC results published on 16 January would be the last ones that Telegraph Media Group participated in.
News
Publisher Podcast Awards – shortlist announced
In early January, the shortlist was announced for the inaugural Publisher Podcast Awards.
News
SoE welcomes House of Lords debate on the deaths of journalists
The Society of Editors has welcomed condemnation from the government of the targeting and killing of journalists worldwide and support for their attackers to be brought to justice.
News
Newsquest unveils Gannett Foundation grants
Newsquest, a local media group, has announced donations of more than £140,000 to 40 different community organisations across the length and breadth of the UK.
News
NMA Welcomes ICO Assurances
The News Media Association has welcomed ICO assurances on age appropriate design in relation to news media.
News
SoE celebrates 20th at House of Commons reception
The Society of Editors was joined on Tuesday evening by representatives from across the media industry to celebrate its 20th year at a reception staged at the House of Commons.
News
Guardian appoints Fay Schlesinger
The Guardian has announced the appointment of Fay Schlesinger as head of national news, based in London.
REVIEW
Podcasts – time to get serious
At the Campaign Publishing Summit, we heard that nine million people in the UK listen to podcasts and that the ad market is an estimated £30m. Now is a good moment for publishers to up their game…
News
GMG appoints Annette Thomas
Guardian Media Group this week announced that Annette Thomas has been appointed as its new chief executive by the GMG board.
News
Newsquest launches two new titles
Newsquest has announced two new launches – the Salford City News and a new Teesside edition of The Northern Echo.
News
Editors call on PM to review Westminster lobby changes
An open letter signed by every national newspaper editor as well as several prominent regional and broadcast editors was sent to the Prime Minister this week.
News
NUJ criticises Sussex’s approach to the media
NUJ members have voiced concern over the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex not to participate in the royal rota for reporters and instead to “provide access to credible media outlets”.
