motleyanimal (97.75)

How do newspapers survive?

March 05, 2009 – Comments (4) | RELATED TICKERS: GCI , MNI , NYT

There is no longer any need for the daily newspaper, this being a redundant observation that's been true for nearly a decade. The key word here is daily. Among the many ideas that have been offered to save print journalism, one that stands out is to reduce the printed product to weekend editions. I found this recent article on the Motley Fool which gives a brief list of suggestions.

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2009/03/04/a-better-plan-for-the-newspaper-industry.aspx?source=itxsitmot0000001

Saturday and Sunday editions have the largest advertising volume and readership. Most consumer shopping is done on weekends. So does it not make sense to only produce the printed product on those days that are profitable? 

Weekday news can still be covered, but limited to the websites, email alerts, and in concert with local television, as many newspapers have such partnerships. The websites need more interactive features, with forums and live chat sessions with the journalists. You keep people on your site by paying attention to them.

There is so much angst out there, but little from the publishers themselves on how they can reinvent themselves and develop a new and sustainable business model. I've been following it in some of the blogs that have developed since many papers have folded and many more are experiencing massive cutbacks and layoffs.

http://gannettblog.blogspot.com/

http://newspapertrails2.blogspot.com/

Of course, I wish them all the best and will miss my morning paper when that day comes, but this is no time to be whining and fearful. They must change now.