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.
Continuing on from the successful re-launch of their website and launch of a new tablet web app, the Law Society has launched the online version of two of their main directories for the legal profession within the LSG website.
The Financial Times yesterday launched a new global learning forum for senior executives to stimulate fresh thinking about the biggest financial, business, economic and political issues of the day.
The Attorney General yesterday withdrew the ‘take down’ clauses in the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill.
Guardian Australia has appointed three-time Walkley Award winner Gay Alcorn as its Melbourne editor.
Incisive Media and The 2112 Group, a New York-based business strategy firm, last week announced a licensing agreement to expand Incisive Media's channel coverage to North America and continental Europe, laying the foundations to establish a channel n
Haymarket Business Media’s Third Sector is to launch a monthly magazine, with additional weekly and monthly iPad content, and a redesigned website.
On 26 June, the Financial Times held its annual summer party in London. Hosted by editor Lionel Barber, the event saw 350 VIPs from business, finance, politics and luxury gather at the newly opened Banking Hall in the heart of the City.
Metro yesterday announced that Jo Mazenko has been promoted to Head of Planning and Sean Parrott has been promoted to Head of Trading.
Dennis Publishing’s consumer technology website, expertreviews.co.uk, relaunched yesterday with a new look and feel, improved functionality and more product reviews than ever before.
Archant honoured scores of staff from across the company at its annual Archant Awards lunch at the Landmark Hotel in London on June 27.
Vogue has announced the appointment of Sallie Berkerey as Associate Publisher, who will take up the position from Monday 7th July. In addition, Grace Wasyluk has been promoted to the position of Associate Publisher of Glamour.
The Content Marketing Association (CMA), the industry body for the content marketing industry, has announced IPC Media has become the first major media owner member.
Say Media has announced the introduction of Accountable Content – a new sponsored content solution that’s priced solely on guaranteed pageviews.
Celebrating a milestone with its 50th issue, the latest edition of JAMIE MAGAZINE will showcase garden party food, cakes and other summer recipes.
Titan Magazines has announced the UK release of How To Train Your Dragon 2 Magazine: the official accompaniment to the film, hitting cinemas July 4th.
