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 Guardian, with its global online following, has been at the forefront of Fleet Street’s digital charge for some time now. Ray Snoddy talks to Andrew Miller about The Guardian’s digital strategy and his plans to improve the financial health of the
The Content Marketing Association (CMA), the industry body for the content marketing industry, revealed the winners for its fourth annual International Content Marketing Awards on 27 November at Old Billingsgate in London.
Following nearly three years as Managing Director, Linda Grant is to leave Metro.
Signature Publishing’s dinosaur magazine, Dinomite, has been given a brand new name; Dinosaur Action.
The NCTJ held its sixth annual Journalism Skills Conference this week, at the Print Room, the former home of the Bournemouth Echo printing presses.
Promising young journalists and photographers were presented with their NCTJ Awards for Excellence at the Journalism Skills Conference in Bournemouth on Wednesday, 27 November.
Bauer Media UK has appointed Richard Dunmall as its new MD, Advertising, to lead the 200+strong sales team for its portfolio of multi-platform brands which include heat, Kiss, Grazia, Empire, Magic and Closer.
Despite Labour’s sustained attack on the Government’s provisions for enforcement of the Publicity Code’s restrictions on council newspapers, the Local Audit and Accountability Bill passed through the Committee stage intact.
Local press editors have called for the BBC “to be a better neighbour” outlining ways it could work with local media and taking measures to avoid competing unfairly with the industry.
The Guardian Australia has picked up a prestigious award at the 2013 Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism, in Brisbane, Australia.
Michael Stott is joining the Financial Times as UK news editor on January 1. In his role he will oversee the FT’s UK coverage in digital and print.
Yesterday, All About Sonic the Hedgehog magazine sped onto shelves.
Country Life yesterday revealed its Christmas Advent calendar cover in the lead up to the 25th December.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, Doctor Who Adventures magazine have teamed up with Blippar to create an interactive edition.
The international Digital Magazine Awards, in association with App Studio and the Dwell Agency, announced the winners of the 2013 competition at a showcase event held at the Proud Gallery in London this week.
