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.
Jack Blanchard, Yorkshire Post political editor, has been appointed chairman of the Newspaper Conference which represents London editors and political correspondents of NS member regional newspapers.
The Newspaper Society has joined other European industry bodies to protest against new draft data protection regulations.
Baked & Delicious Spring Special, a new oneshot from Eaglemoss Publications, goes on sale 13 March, priced £9.99.
Magazine publishers anticipate more disruptive technology, according to a new white paper, from YUDU.
In launching its Innovation Excellence Award, the Stationers’ Company is aiming to recognise the key role the Communications and Content sector plays in the UK economy and highlight outstanding innovation able to generate future growth and prosperity
The Content Marketing Association (CMA) has announced the appointment of Andrew Hirsch, CEO of content agency John Brown Media, as its new Chairman.
The PPA has unveiled the winners of the 2014 New Talent Awards, a celebration of the rising stars in the consumer magazine and business media sector.
Haymarket Network playing a major role in helping to develop the next generation of professionally registered engineers.
It is undeniable that the news landscape is changing, with people getting their information from more sources than ever before. Newsworks, in partnership with Twitter, conducted a survey to better understand the relationship between Twitter and newsb
The Racing Post has demonstrated that it is not prepared to gamble with newsagents’ support, says the NFRN, by announcing cover price rises for its weekday, Saturday and Sunday editions and maintaining the percentage margin that retailers receive.
The Duke of York will join regional newspaper editors at the Society of Editors regionals’ seminar in April to support the campaign for more apprenticeships.
Wil Harris has been appointed Head of Digital of Condé Nast Britain, it was announced yesterday by Nicholas Coleridge, President of Condé Nast International and Managing Director of Condé Nast Britain.
Guardian Media Group plc (GMG) today announced completion of the disposal of its 50.1% stake in Trader Media Group (Trader Media) to Funds advised by Apax Partners, its joint venture partner, which acquired its previous 49.9% stake in Trader Media fr
News UK is offering thousands of independent retailers across the UK and the Republic of Ireland the opportunity to “revitalise the news category within their stores and renew their shop fronts”.
Renowned fashion journalist Suzy Menkes will join Condé Nast International as a critic and reporter on all the international Vogue websites, it was announced yesterday by Jonathan Newhouse, Chairman and Chief Executive of Condé Nast International.
