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.
Guardian Faber has announced the acquisition of The Snowden Files: The True Inside Story of the World's Most Wanted Man by Luke Harding, scheduled for publication in Spring 2014.
A new study has confirmed that Intellectual Property Rights are vitally important to the EU economy just a week after an influential UK parliamentary committee attacked Google for its continued promotion of illegal content.
News UK Commercial rolled out a media first yesterday with the first ever ‘mini wraps’ of The Sun and The Times for Sony’s latest handset, the Xperia Z1.
The Mail on Sunday’s You magazine is exploring new partnerships with leading brands linking advertorial to both editorial and bespoke reader-events.
IPC Media has announced that Jo Smalley will be the publishing director of music brands, NME and Uncut.
More than 8,000 visitors and 300 exhibitors are expected in Berlin next week for the three-day World Publishing Expo, the largest global trade exhibition for the news publishing and media industry that will include some of the most influential names
Arrow, a new monthly comic from Titan Publishing Group, based on the television series, goes on sale 17 October, priced £2.99.
Guardian News & Media (GNM) has announced three new hires to join the commercial team of the Guardian’s digital edition in Australia.
The Financial Times has refreshed its web app for iPhone introducing new content, additional functionality and high quality video.
Immediate Media Co, a cross-media special interest content company, announces the launch of Mr Men and Little Miss Magazine, based on the books by Roger Hargreaves.
Harper’s Bazaar, the fashion magazine, has announced the production of its first edition of Bazaar ART, sponsored by Bentley Motors, featuring original covers from some leading artists.
News UK Commercial has appointed Nicole O’Shea as Head of Advertising Sales at its Manchester office.
Condé Nast Traveller UK has announced the launch of its Mandarin Expert Guide to Shopping in London.
Future plc, the international specialist media group, release Champions Of The Turf, the first ever Official Guide to QIPCO British Champions Day – the annual end of season championships that are this year taking place at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday
ABC UK has re-launched its Spiders & Robots service to deliver additional benefits to its members and encourage best practice to the wider digital community.
