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 National says the appointment drives growth in its newsletter offering, with a renewed focus on delivering longer-form news and analysis from the Middle East and showcasing The National’s breadth of global journalism.
Private Eye has announced that the Paul Foot Award for Investigative and Campaigning Journalism 2024 has been awarded to Tristan Kirk, Evening Standard for his entry Single Justice Procedure: Conveyer Belt Justice.
Mail Metro Media has collaborated with Wavemaker UK and Immediate Media for a multi-channel content partnership with Morrisons' Market Street.
The New York Times has added a listen mode for a convenient way to catch up on the news in audio form, and more personalization to its News App.
The NUJ has expressed grave concern at a report of the PSNI Chief Constable regarding the use of covert powers against journalists and lawyers.
Never Mind The Ballots: Election Showdown will see the two candidates to be our next Prime Minister quizzed before a live audience of Sun readers on June 24.
The Guardian has outlined its UK general election coverage, including new daily newsletter Election Edition.
Tindle has appointed a new group IT director to lead technology roll-out.
DanAds and Brand Metrics say they will enable seamless management and optimization of ad campaigns through a complete offering tailored to boost productivity and innovation in the sector.
Utiq and Equativ unlock Authentic Audiences through programmatic curation.
Society of Editors has responded to the Liberal Democrat Manifesto pledge to proceed with Leveson 2.
Newsquest celebrated Childhood Day last week with a nod to the charity on the masthead of many of its titles, while staff from across the company took part in collecting and volunteering in communities.
The Scotsman has launched its new brand identity which pays homage to the country’s rich heritage.
National World has announced the acquisition of Athletics Weekly Limited, as part of its strategy to focus on higher-value, specialist content.
Editors in Wales warn of severe democratic deficit if public notices are removed from local papers.
