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 Press Complaints Commission has upheld a complaint from S & R Motors that the Swindon Advertiser was in breach of Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article published on 30 January.
Cake Decorating – Wedding Special Edition, a new oneshot from De Agostini, goes on sale 14 May, priced £4.99.
UBM plc today announces that it has acquired Expo CIHAC from Centro Impulsor de la Construcción y Habitación A.C. (CIHAC), the Mexican construction industry trade association.
Guardian News & Media (GNM) has announced that Rafael Behr - formerly Political Editor of the New Statesman - will join the Guardian as a political columnist in June 2014.
News UK announced on Friday that Victoria Sanders, has been appointed to head up its commercial travel team.
BMJ, one of the world’s leading healthcare knowledge providers, has announced the appointment of Joe Douress as US Marketing and Sales Director to help drive the company’s US business objectives.
Future yesterday unveiled the Granny Square a Week app, from the makers of Simply Crochet. The free app will bring subscribers a colourful new granny square design every week.
A complaint made to the Press Complaints Commission, that photographers commissioned by The People had breached Clause 4 (Harassment) of the Editors' Code of Practice has been upheld.
Home Sewn Gifts, a new oneshot from Practical Publishing International, goes on sale 22 May, priced £7.99.
Knit Today has revealed a fun and modern new look following a comprehensive cover-to-cover redesign that will see the title appeal to, and cater for, knitters of all levels, sizes and budgets.
EMAP has appointed Ruth Faulkner as Editor of Retail Jeweller, the B2B brand for the jewellery and watch industry.
The winners of the 2014 British Media Awards were announced last night.
GroupM Entertainment, Say Media and Not Impossible have joined forces to create NotImpossibleNow.com, it was announced yesterday by CEOs Peter Tortorici, Mick Ebeling and Matt Sanchez of GroupM Entertainment, Not Impossible and Say Media, respectivel
The shortlist for the 2014 Online Media Awards has been announced.
Continuing the evolution of the multi-media travel source, a new editorial section entitled Inspiration has launched on the Condé Nast Johansens website, it was announced yesterday by Charlotte Evans, Group Publishing Director.
