The decline of newspapers in Australia and around the world can't be denied any longer. With online media and the advent of citizen journalism, the traditional hard copy newspaper seems to be dwindling by the second. Media giants like Rupert Murdoch are now pushing for people to pay for online news; a move which has received little support so far (ABC Television, 2010). So who will pay and will this be the start of quantity journalism over quality?
On April 5 this year, ABC's Media Watch produced a short documentary-style video which discusses the decline of newspapers, people's willingness to pay for online news and what options exist for the future. Host, Jonathan Holmes, interviews Chris Mitchell (Editor-in-Chief at The Australian), Marc Frons (Chief Technology Officer at The New York Times) and media commentator, Frederic Filloux. I've attached the full link below for you to view the video. It's about 13 minutes long and it's well worth watching for a balanced overview and critique.
Media Watch: http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2864273.htm
One of the most interesting points was made by Filloux. He says that many people under 25 years old will not pay for quality online news because it has always been free. The only ones who will are those who are educated, affluent and elderly; in effect limiting quality journalism to a class-based system. John Hartigan, News Limited CEO, has a much more optimistic view. "I believe people will pay for content if it is original, exclusive, has authority and is relevant to our audiences" (Janda, 2009: 1).
Another interesting point raised in the video concerns the Apple ipad. Could it be the saviour of newspapers and quality journalism? Chris Mitchell believe so. He says, "The product is very satisfying in this form, you know you're getting display with pictures, you're getting layout, you're getting headlines that aren't designed for search engine optimisation but have puns and traditional journalistic values in them...I think these are pretty attractive and much more traditionally journalistic" (ABC Television, 2010).
What do you think about the ipad as the future of newspapers?
On April 5 this year, ABC's Media Watch produced a short documentary-style video which discusses the decline of newspapers, people's willingness to pay for online news and what options exist for the future. Host, Jonathan Holmes, interviews Chris Mitchell (Editor-in-Chief at The Australian), Marc Frons (Chief Technology Officer at The New York Times) and media commentator, Frederic Filloux. I've attached the full link below for you to view the video. It's about 13 minutes long and it's well worth watching for a balanced overview and critique.
Media Watch: http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2864273.htm
One of the most interesting points was made by Filloux. He says that many people under 25 years old will not pay for quality online news because it has always been free. The only ones who will are those who are educated, affluent and elderly; in effect limiting quality journalism to a class-based system. John Hartigan, News Limited CEO, has a much more optimistic view. "I believe people will pay for content if it is original, exclusive, has authority and is relevant to our audiences" (Janda, 2009: 1).
Another interesting point raised in the video concerns the Apple ipad. Could it be the saviour of newspapers and quality journalism? Chris Mitchell believe so. He says, "The product is very satisfying in this form, you know you're getting display with pictures, you're getting layout, you're getting headlines that aren't designed for search engine optimisation but have puns and traditional journalistic values in them...I think these are pretty attractive and much more traditionally journalistic" (ABC Television, 2010).
What do you think about the ipad as the future of newspapers?
MEAA's report Life in the Clickstream: The Future of Journalism also discusses the issues associated with online news and journalism. The report comes to the conclusion that newspapers and the journalism industry will endure this changing landscape, but the key is in building sustainable partnerships across multiple media platforms. "The future news organisation must be as flexible as the technology that is transforming it" (MEAA, 2008: 37).
While it seems a grim future right now, I believe newspapers will move into the digital age by finding a balance between paying for online news while also maintaining quality.
Sources:
ABC Television. (2010). Will The Tablet Cure Newspapers' Ills? Media Watch. [http://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2864273.htm] Last accessed 20 August, 2010.
Janda, M. (2009). Papers can survive digital age: News CEO. ABC News. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/01/2614148.htm] Last accessed: August 19, 2010.
Janda, M. (2009). Papers can survive digital age: News CEO. ABC News. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/01/2614148.htm] Last accessed: August 19, 2010.
Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA). (2008). Life in the Clickstream: The Future of Journalism. The Future of Journalism Summit Report. 1-39.
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