Where newspapers are more than just news

     Speaking of culture shock (OK, so we weren’t, but maybe we should), I arrived in Melbourne on Sunday to be greeted by the Sunday Age, Rupert Murdoch’s original newspaper, which boasted it’s 52-page special Games section with pages of Sudoku, several variations of it, crosswords, word and math puzzles, and logic puzzles.

     With only two and a half pages of the 52-page section devoted to advertising, it was a throwback to the ages when newspapers really wanted readers. Again, maybe American newspaper publishers will look at what works in the rest of the world, and what worked for so long in America, and go after readers.  The key in building American newspaper readers was to give them much more than just news. Sure, newspapers a hundred years ago were news-oriented, but that was the era when comics, columns, and even fiction was used to bring in readers only marginally interested in news.

     I used to get so annoyed trying to get the old Journal management to go after readers instead of having advertising drive every decision. I felt that once we had readers, advertisers would follow.  Strong readership should translate into advertising.

     What’s annoying is that this is the formula that built that strong readership for American newspapers, but they’ve spent the last forty years ignoring readers using the mantra “advertisers” want this or that. Murdoch understands that advertisers want sales, and strong readership brings sales for advertisers. His newspapers are making lots of money. How many American newspapers can claim the same?

      Earlier this month, I spent two weeks in Italy reading Italian newspapers, all of which were filled with features aimed at readers – and advertising. Now I’m in Australia where the formula is followed. It makes me sick to see that American newspapers have apparently decided online – and news instead of entertainment – is the only way to go. Not necessarily.

Media atwitter over new media

First off, I apologize for that outrageous pun in the heading. I couldn't resist. Anyway, newspapers are all over the place in laying down rules for new media like Facebook and Twitter, reflecting the vast uncertainty many of them feel about social media. (I'm not sure some of them have a clue about social media; they sure don't act like it.) Guidelines range from very strict "thou shalt not 'friend' a source" to "keep it loose and conversational." My personal belief is that ethics rules really should rule. For example, I don't "friend" students until they graduate and ask. Seems to me that professional relationships should also be fairly easy to establish.

Nature abhors a vacuum

     With the Detroit newspapers now online most days a week, it was almost inevitable that someone would attempt to replace their printed editions with a new print product.  Well, they have. A new newspaper is expected to be launched within 60 days.  When the Detroit papers announced their plans, which include printing newspapers only on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, I wondered since Detroit is such a big sports town and Monday newspapers, especially during the what-seems-like 10 months a year NFL season, are important to readers.

Site offers future for citizen journalist

     New web site seeks to build on entrepreneurial journalists. Staffers could be paid by the traffic they draw. Entrepreneurial journalism is a concept that is going to grow as we redefine the media world.

     I'm not sure this is the way to go because things are changing so rapidly. But at least it offers journalist some pay as opposed to those new media folks who scream citizen journalists and free news. Frankly, news, like everything else, is generally worth what you pay for it.

Ad spending continues to decline

News flash!  Ad spending down all over. In fact, Nielsen reports, it's down 12% in the first quarter alone.

This isn't a surprise to anyone, but the breakdown is. The worst category is newspaper Sunday supplements. The best is Hispanic cable networks. All newspaper categories are below the average decline. 

Lenders may take over Tribune Co.

Reports say the Chicago Tribune Co. lenders may take over the company from Sam Zell.  They can't run the company any worse than he has been.

Outsourcing the news

Interesting column by a writer in New England about his newspaper's attempt to show what outsourced news looks like. His auto column was replaced by one written by a writer in India. 

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I don't think American media can safely farm out writing and editing news, which depends so much on institutional memory.  However, design, copyediting national and international stories and some columns are a different matter.  For example, an auto column. Having written one for the old Milwaukee Journal, I can say that local climates affect driving enough that I don't think a writer in India can really speak to the local issues.  Still, most car reviews don't depend on climate conditions (I remember four cars and trucks where Milwaukee's climate was mentioned in the reviews).

On the other hand (remember we're talking about India where the Hindu god Vishnu has four hands), I spent two weeks teaching students at an Indian college backpack journalism a few months ago, and was taken with their seriousness and dedication to learning. They are going to be formidable journalists, and I am proud to have helped them.

My bottom line is that as long as it is JOURNALISTS writing the news, it's not all that bad. I am not a fan of amateurs writing the news. There are standards and ethics that shouldn't be overlooked.

Another media success story, the ethnic press

Want to see an American media success story? Go to your local supermarket and look at the free newspapers. America's ethnic media, with newspapers as its backbone, is growing in importance, a poll shows. As the nation diversifies, niche marketers are having a field day.

Nobody knows what's going to happen.

Point one: No one knows what's going to happen to the media. Point two: So why then do so many claim they are right and everyone else is wrong?

Yet again, a new media person reads someone saying that newspapers have a place in society -- especially if they would quit cutting back and glory in their own role -- and a new media person says that's blather. 

I'm currently at a new media workshop in Italy where 24 American students from around the country are working on creating a new form of journalism, one combining print, video, audio and photography.  Yes, the ultimate product will be posted to the Internet, but their work could just as easily be shifted to some other form of delivery. I don't know what the future of journalism hold; and neither does anyone else, no matter how fancy their blog.

Radio & Records magazine folds, victim of the economy

In a sign of the perfect storm that media face these days, Radio & Records magazine is folding. Not only is the media business facing problems, but it's even worse when the magazine's subject -- in this case, the music industry -- is also tanking. 

Things are really, really bad for newspapers

Wanna know how bad things are for newspapers? The only joy in a Pew Research Report concerning classified advertising shifting to free online is concerns about violence and murder linked to Craigs' List. That's pretty sad.

Newspaper revenues off 28% in first quarter

Earnings reports for newspaper companies' first quarter really look bad. I'd like to say there is good news somewhere in this report, but it's not there. The analysis indicates that, yes, a part of the problem is the economic troubles we are going through, but it's only part. Online revenues are also dropping.