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.
Johnston Press plc has announced that it has entered into an agreement for the sale of Formpress Publishing, which holds the trade and assets of its Republic of Ireland operations, to Iconic Newspapers Ltd for £7.2 million in cash.
The NFRN has written to Trading Standards Authorities across the UK to complain about Waitrose giving free newspapers to customers spending more than £5.
Telegraph Media Group (TMG) has announced it is to relaunch QP Magazine and expand the related SalonQP fine watch event, following TMG’s acquisition of the brand last year.
Worldwide content publisher Imagine Publishing unveils new monthly digital only magazine to make learning Photoshop as easy as 1-2-3.
Sue Crewe, Editor of House & Garden has decided to retire in October 2014, it was announced yesterday by Nicholas Coleridge, President of Condé Nast International and Managing Director of Condé Nast Britain.
Traders Hotels is implementing PressReader, an all-you-can-read digital newsstand, in its 15 hotels throughout Australia, Asia and the Middle East.
Devon & Cornwall Media are planning to launch a Sunday edition of the Western Morning News.
PageSuite, a digital publishing company with both UK and US operations, has launched a new iPhone and iPad app for Kent News, one of Archant’s regional titles.
Over 140 budding journalists from schools in South Wales joined a stellar line-up of journalists and Welsh First Minister, Carwyn Jones in Cardiff yesterday to mark the Welsh launch of the News Academy – News UK’s investment in the next generation of
The Association of Circulation Executives held its 63rd annual Press Awards at the Museum of London on 27th March.
Air Business, the global mail, fulfilment, distribution and integrated subscriptions management bureau has appointed Jon Tubb as head of international development.
Telegraph Media Group (TMG) has appointed Allister Heath, currently Editor of City A.M., as Deputy Editor at The Telegraph, running business coverage across both print and digital.
IPC Media today announces that it has entered into a 30-day consultation with staff about the potential closure of Nuts and Nuts.co.uk.
Responding to increasing client demand, Air Business is offering an enhanced freight and exhibition handling service with the support of a dedicated team.
GuardianWitness has celebrated its first year by announcing the winners of the inaugural GuardianWitness Awards, at a ceremony hosted by comedian and writer David Mitchell.
