A group of newspaper industry execs have launched a new project to promote the importance of newspapers. The project Web site - http://news.newspaperproject.org - will provide a clearinghouse of news and information on the future of newspapers:
NewspaperProject.org was launched in 2009 by a small group of newspaper executives to support a constructive exchange of information and ideas about the future of newspapers. While we acknowledge the challenges facing the newspaper industry in today's rapidly changing media world, we reject the notion that newspapers—and the valuable content that newspaper journalists provide—have no future.
Unlike websites that feature negative, gloom-and-doom stories about newspapers, this website will be devoted to insightful articles, commentary and research that provide a more balanced perspective on what newspaper companies can do to survive and thrive in the years ahead.
Today's Mondays with Dr. Joe column highlighted "gloom-and-doom" issues that newspapers are facing as they redefine themselves including an adjusted forecast from Barclays Bank analysts:We are cutting our 2009 and 2010 newspaper advertising revenue forecast to down 17.0% and down 7.5%... Specifically, in 2009, we estimate retail down 11.0%, national down 17.6%, and classified down 27.9% (help wanted down 44.7%, auto down 37.5%, and real estate down 28.8%). In 2010, we estimate retail down 5.0%, national down 7.0%, and classified down 13.5% (help wanted down 15.0%, auto down 12.5%, and real estate down 12.5%).
Focusing on the gloom-and-doom is just as foolish as downplaying it. Newspapers have played an important part in keeping us informed, but as media usage shifts it will take entrepreneurial ideas to for them to survive.
Discussion
By Michael Josefowicz on Feb 03, 2009
There's a great post about Print and newspapers at
http://newsosaur.blogspot.com/2009/02/why-newspapers-cant-stop-presses.html
The headline: Why newspapers can’t stop the presses
The lede:
Contrary to some of the ill-informed articles you might have read lately, almost every newspaper company still needs to print newspapers if it wants to stay in business.
By Michael Josefowicz on Feb 04, 2009
A very interesting and sometimes contentious discussion is emerging at the Nieman Idea Lab at Harvard about this group.
You can get to it by following the links at
http://sellingprint.blogspot.com/2009/02/people-keep-talking-at-harvard.html
By Michael Josefowicz on Feb 05, 2009
I could use some help from the Print Cavalry.
Here's a copy of what I just posted to Adam's post at Digital Nirvana..
"Tom and Bryan,
I could use some help.
I’m involved with a bunch of journalists,professors and “leaders of the Newspaper industry” at a Harvard hosted online discussion. As you might expect I’m the only Printer in the room. Meanwhile they are all blablablablabla with social media this and twitter that and other such nonsense.
It would be awesome for some of the real world Print cavalry to ride in to fight the bs.
You can get to it by following this link on my blog..
http://sellingprint.blogspot.com/2009/02/discussion-at-harvard-continues.html
By Michae Jahn on Feb 10, 2009
@ Michael Josefowicz,
I recently attended my son Erics wedding in Buffalo, NY. I had not been to Buffalo in 10 years and was there for 3 weeks. While there, I re-connected with friends and family, and was quite surprised that every single niece and nephew had an email address, a facebook page and were quite up on world events. Not one subscribed to the Buffalo News. Not one single person under 30 had ever subscribed to a newspaper. I am sorry, but Newspapers in the physical form are irrelevant to this generation, so it is hardly "blablablablabla" or nonsense, regardless of popularity of social media.
No one cares. No one keeps a bird either so they might have an actual use for Newspapers.
By Michael Josefowicz on Feb 10, 2009
Hey Michael,
Good information. Here's my take. The problem is not physical newspapers. That problem is the content they deliver. They call it
"news", they pretend it's "news" but mostly its rewrites of press releases and the AP.
Meanwhile many community newspapers are doing fine. They don't pretend to give "news". They give local advertising. People want local advertising and Print is the best way to deliver it.
The best mass market "news" is the Daily Show. Not only because it's funny and smart. But because they are ruthless in lampooning the talking heads and "experts" who have to give quick soundbites for complicated issues.
So I take from that the problem is not Print. And the problem is not saving journalism.
The real issue is inventing journalism that serve their customer's needs. The New Yorker has done it. Community newspapers have done it. It's just the self important bubble wrapped leaders of newspaper companies who took on so much debt that they killed a golden goose that was doing just fine.
So, with all due respect, and I have been following you around the blogosphere, so that is sincere, most of the talk about the end of Print and the Death of Newspapers is, in fact, mostly blablablabla.
And just to keep it interesting, I also think that much, BUT NOT ALL of buzz about web 2.0 and the twitter about twitter is also blablablabla.
Gentlemen of the Print calvary no matter where in the world you are,
The ball is in your court.
By Jan Eskildsen on Feb 12, 2009
If you haven't seen the presentation EPIC 2015, look it up on the internet.
A year ago the Danish newspapers spent 40 million DKK on a campaign called "Avistid" (time for newspapers, or newspaper time) = spend more time with your newspaper.
Since then the sales have dropped further, Berlingske lost 17.000 newspapers on a daily basis during last December.
We have several "free" newspapers here, one of them published by the newspaper publisher, that also try to sell newspapers.
Lots of television, radio channels, web sites with lost of news - the same as in the newspapers. That's why more people ask "Why should I pay for news, that I get for free?"
I love to rest my eyes on a newspaper Sunday morning, but I find them less interesting during the week - so I have subscription on two "serious" papers Friday and Saturday, and switch between them on sundays - if I buy one at all.
By Michael Josefowicz on Feb 12, 2009
Jan,
You are correct about Epic it is awesome and in many ways prescient. However, I think because it was done by Internet folks it is blind to the physical world.
In the physical world Print is still king. Even with all the digital hoopla. Will the newspaper survive in it's present form. Not likely. But if Lehman, Merryl Lynch haven't survived in their present form it does not mean that money or investing have disappeared. Just badly run companies.
At the risk of seeming like shameless self promotion, I've been asked to be the print correspond for MediaShift, a PBS.org website.
In today's column I give my take as to why newspapers will thrive in the coming era.
The title of the post is Print is The Next Big Thing. Here's the link..
http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2009/02/print-is-the-next-big-thing042.html
By Scott Griffin on Mar 08, 2009
You should all take a look at this newspaper campaign: www.newspapersmatter.com
By Michael J on Mar 09, 2009
Scott, thanks for the link, but..
The site seems well designed. The message is clear. The "but" is based on a conversation I had with a vocational high school student.
Me: How do I convince you this is important?
He: Don't tell me what you'll do. Show me what you've done.
Newspapers are delivery method of information infrastructure.
Can you imagine another infrastructure business advertising as in "Electricity Matters" or "Roads Matter" . It's why "Print Matters" PR campaigns, are, in my humble opinion, mostly a waste of time, money and energy.
By Scott Griffin on Mar 09, 2009
I think our campaign has answered your student's request. Our ads show readers, in specific terms, the positive things we've done for the community.
Please ignore how the web site looks. I put that together quickly late at night just to showcase the ads running in the paper.
By Michael J on Mar 10, 2009
I guess the thing that I find missing is something that cannot easily be solved by a website.
"Show me how this is going to make the lives of people like me easier and better.
My sense is that the best way to show instead of tell would be to deliver Print product that demonstrably makes the user's life easier and better.
The irony is that doing that on a website is very, very hard. But if you give someone a printed piece that delivers exactly that experience, while logistically difficult, would communicate the message more effectively.,
By Michael J on Mar 10, 2009
Just a thought..if the intended market is high school kids, how about a deliver and print message with specific information on scholarships, print companies in the immediate area, and tables of pay rates, for newbies, 5 years out, 10 years out.
Plus a couple of stories from old timers that come from that community - people like us- who have made successful career in Print.
If the intended market are CMO's, a similar product could be designed, personalized and delivered to the 200 decision makers in the industry.