| National and local newspapers across the world are | | | | reading news for free on the web; that's got to |
| facing their most radical restructuring in history; | | | | change." |
| scores are folding as advertisers migrate to online | | | | Recently it was announced that the tycoon has won |
| advertising. Cutbacks have led to hundreds of | | | | a concession from Google to limit access to free |
| journalists being invited to clear their desks. Falling | | | | news reports. It is called slamming the stable door |
| circulation and higher production costs are making | | | | before the horse bolts. Head of Associated Press, |
| matters worse whilst increasing numbers of readers | | | | Tom Curley agrees: "The readers and viewers are |
| save time and money by reading their favourite | | | | going to have to pay more." Others argue that |
| newspaper online. | | | | viewers will simple not pay. The truth is no one |
| Very little news content today is gathered by | | | | knows as no one has been there before. |
| reporters; most of what we read is downloaded free | | | | A Spanish Journalist Shows the Way |
| from court and local authority reports. Much is | | | | One online media hopeful is Arcadi Espada, a Catalan |
| editorial-advertising and product reviews. Why pay a | | | | journalist. He is certain that print journalism does not |
| journalist when you can charge an advertiser? | | | | have a future. His online Factual will be accessed by a |
| Another threat to traditional reporting is posed by | | | | 50EUR annual subscription. With characteristic |
| citizen journalists; freelances who offer their services | | | | forthrightness Espada says: "A journalist's work is not |
| in return for lead gathering opportunities. | | | | free; nothing in life is free. We have to re-invent the |
| Few doubt the superiority of online newspapers | | | | business." |
| compared to hard copy. The online edition of the | | | | According to one poll 60 percent of newspaper |
| average daily newspaper carries so much information | | | | proprietors are considering ways to charge for online |
| and advertising; a builder's labourer could not hope to | | | | access. A quarter of them are ready to take the |
| carry it in a wheelbarrow if it went to print. It is not | | | | plunge. Those who gather their daily news and |
| the Internet that threatens journalists' careers; it is | | | | information from online newspapers now stand at 30 |
| the nature of the change. They too are learning to | | | | percent. |
| adapt. | | | | Hot off the Press |
| The Internet News Revolution | | | | Of the UK Times and Sunday Times 20 million plus |
| News organisations are still profitable but their | | | | users, 500,000 are now dependent upon their online |
| proprietors have seen the writing on the wall. As High | | | | edition and the gap will close further. Plans are already |
| Street retailers morph into Internet shopping the | | | | in place to charge for the privilege of reading the |
| newspaper industry knows that street vendor and | | | | Times online editions. Freelance journalist, Sandy |
| newsagent distributed newspapers, subsidised by | | | | Collins, doesn't see a problem or fear for his job. |
| online profits, will follow typewriters into obscurity. | | | | "Some of my best stories have been blue pencilled |
| The dilemma facing the industry is how best to profit | | | | out by hard copy newspapers because with limited |
| by charging browsers who access their online editions. | | | | space available the advertiser is king. Online publishing |
| Print and distribution costs are crippling news print | | | | is a no-brainer. Everyone wins." |
| editions; costs for online copy are comparatively low. | | | | He adds: "Newspaper proprietors' costs are cut and |
| Online newspapers do not have a space problem and | | | | their readership reaches a worldwide audience |
| deadlines are not an issue. The news is almost | | | | potential. As a journalist I now send my stuff to my |
| immediate and rolled out 24/7. However, in a | | | | online editors, knowing that if it is not published, it |
| click-driven competitive market online news media | | | | was not a space problem. If work is accepted |
| increasingly rely on challenging and investigative | | | | according to merit then of course this must improve |
| journalists, columnists and event analysts. | | | | news quality. It must also improve opportunities for |
| Rupert Murdoch | | | | writers." |
| If a charge is imposed the trick will be to prevent | | | | Collins says his online newspaper proprietor has an |
| each newspaper's readership migrating to free online | | | | insatiable appetite for fast turnover of quality and |
| editions. Under the radar discussions are already | | | | originality. "He wants my take on breaking news now, |
| taking place. Heading the agenda is the quest to | | | | not next week or next month. What I produce in the |
| discover the most practical means of getting readers | | | | morning is being read by the public hours later. You |
| to pay for their PC screen content without losing | | | | don't get much fresher than that. A recent report of |
| them. News magnate Rupert Murdoch already | | | | mine had 7,000 readers within hours of my blotting |
| charges a subscription to access the Wall Street | | | | it." Hard copy has gone the way of typewriters. |
| Journal's insider information copy. He says: "People | | | | Typewriters! What are typewriters? |