Business
Local newspapers will not recover from recession, says former Express editor
A former editor of the Daily Express has said that local newspapers will never recover from the current economic slump.
Richard Addis, who edited the newspaper for three years in the 1990s, believes that regional newspapers are the worst hit of the print sectors.
He made the comment as regional newspaper groups sought government help to save further title closures and Kent media company KM Group announced plans to quit printing its own newspapers and concentrate on publishing.
Addis announced plans in 2007 to launch an "ultra-local newspaper" in London. However, he told PrintWeek that plans had changed and he is looking to launch a series of local news websites across the UK.
He said: "Print will never recover from this recession. And regional newspapers are the worst hit of all. Regional publishers are all looking at digital and how to improve their website. Over the next three years, we will see a huge failure of regional print businesses."
KM Group, which publishes the Kent Messenger, has announced up to 159 redundancies as it closes its print facility. Speculation is rife that the company will not be the last to move its titles to a large contract printer.
However, newspaper publishers are fighting back, with the formation of the Local Media Alliance, featuring chief executives of the seven largest newspaper printers in the UK.
According to the Financial Times, the group has held a secret meeting with the communications minister at which they told him how serious the situation has become. The group is hoping for merger restrictions on the media to take into account all mediums, not individual sectors.
See also:
New Johnston Press exec hits out at BBC and council-funded papers
Trinity Mirror rejects idea of bailout for UK newspapers
Local newspapers are struggling
Comments
The comments below do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of printweek.com, Haymarket Media Group or its employees
The Mighty Wind - 10 March 2009
Not so long ago it was the nationals that were dead and the regional's were where it was at. Still contract printing and larger geographical printing looks like it is the immediate future. Long term i think the suggestions put forward by the trinity mirror in the link above are sound
'Not A Doctor' (NDCT) - 10 March 2009
TMW - you may have seen the manufacturing output (sic) figures today - down 2.9% MoM for January - that's an annual rate of decline of one third if it carries on like this for the full year. (And if my experience this month is anything to go by, March is a million times worse than January was).
So thinking "what's the worst that could happen" (to the economy / manufacturing) I ask myself how many publications could be dispensed with, there being an alternative means of communicating the information and/or advertising that was previously contained in them.
I reckon about 50% of the newspaper / magazine / B2B publications could go. What do you think?
The Mighty Wind - 10 March 2009
NDCT {A}
I think this recession/depression will become one talked of in history books in twenty years time thus i think it will devastate a lot of sectors that feature any form of advertizing. Publications have increased massively over very recent times so it would be logical for them to fall back in harder times. In 1993 there were 2000 & 4,500 consumer and business magazines now there are 3,200 & 4,800, I think we will return to nearer 93 levels. Some of the generic type of advertizing has gone online [classifieds, recruitment etc] but too many claims are made for the Internet. You need massive public conciousness of your brand or a strong niche market before anyone finds you on the net. It works best as a delivery system for data, information, software, research, or for supporting online communities etc. I do not think it will be too long before there is a Facebook, Myspace, AOL etc magazine.
Jon Fennell - 10 March 2009
Business mags make sense on line after all do we read Print the mag like we used to?
MW I think is right and its a discussion we had elsewhere, internet works if you know what you are looking for, the impulse buy does not work on the net, press ads, door drop, inserts ect. do, whether in mags or the paper. Local papers relied on classified ads for bread and butter, ebay has killed this along with Exchange and Mart, Autotrader is down probably because it works online.
Publications mean different things to different people and for that reason the interest mags live on, social attitudes will cut down or cause some to be dropped, would think some conde nast titles could fit this bracket (guessing on this), yet fad mags will come and go as always. Print remains shareable and portable its hard to see the net ever being this. The nets use is restricted to the users own thoughts as to what to search or do, its led by the user rather than doing the leading which printed media does.
You only have to think on the effect womens mags have on the reader, where they can feel odd, lacking, to fat, to thin to see the power of print. The reader can be influenced by an article read because it was there and not because it was looked for this works for advertisers as well.
Karl Marx, "Give me 26 lead soldiers and I'll conquer the world,"
The futures maybe not as grim as we think
Jon Fennell - 10 March 2009
[TMW - you may have seen the manufacturing output (sic) figures today - down 2.9% MoM for January - that's an annual rate of decline of one third if it carries on like this for the full year. (And if my experience this month is anything to go by, March is a million times worse than January was).
Thats makes scary reading, based on that the worst is the UK becomes a 3rd world country and wasteland, with no method of cash generation and nothing to invest in. It seems we are closer to this than thought, with large euro or US owned UK businesses could well retract to home markets. NCT do you remember how big GEC used to be and what they did, now there is virtually nothing left as the business was dismantled by the Germans and French.
BA, Rolls Royce, Peugeot, Smiths, Corus (ex BS), the list is as long as you want are controlled offshore and have been part moved or moved or down sized.
Do your worst NCT whats the worst you can see?
'Not A Doctor' (NDCT) - 10 March 2009
Not sure if I should play this game, but anyway this is 'the worst' but I could see: Unemployment hits 5 million+. Serious unrest in major cities. Increasing flight of educated individuals and their businesses from the UK. Asset values fall 80% in real terms. Currency halves in value. Poverty, especially for older people without pensions \(public sector excepted). Health services unable to cope, shortage of medicines. Possible food shortages. Printing becomes relatively expensive compared to current \(due to paper and machinery costs). Fuel hits £2/£3 a litre \(due to currency collapse and oil price rises). Gordon Brown executed for economic mismanagement and refusing to say 'sorry'. OK, this is getting silly now and that last one isn't the worst that could happen, obviously....
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
Guy's i pop'd out for a beer or two and you have got all depressed. This is not a UK thing it is a developed world thing, just because a spotty kid tells you that the world is digital does not mean that binary is the new rogets thesauraus. This is actually a good thing because the bullshit we were being fed was in danger of being believed, at least at the end of this perspective will return. This recession like all recession's will cleanse and it will be back to basic's
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
Hi jon
"Business mags make sense on line after all do we read Print the mag like we used to"
no disagree, it is here because like heineken it reaches the parts the analogue version could not, but it is paid for by the analogue version. Would you pay for access? do you access all areas or just the forum and news? Strange isn't it we pay for the mag but few would pay for the site. No magazine makes sense online unless it has a core niche market that has a compelling reason to be online. That is too say they are not serviced by analogue mean's like Elephants trunks weekly. Or if the experience is better online like Pornography [one of the true benefactors of digital].
Jon Fennell - 11 March 2009
Not wishing to point any fingers but NCT started it, but now we know what the worst is it can only get better.
MW you have the wisdom of a pint glass which makes the local tug look good
Jon Fennell - 11 March 2009
[quote user="The Mighty wind"]
Hi jon
"Business mags make sense on line after all do we read Print the mag like we used to"
no disagree, it is here because like heineken it reaches the parts the analogue version could not, but it is paid for by the analogue version. Would you pay for access? do you access all areas or just the forum and news? Strange isn't it we pay for the mag but few would pay for the site. No magazine makes sense online unless it has a core niche market that has a compelling reason to be online. That is too say they are not serviced by analogue mean's like Elephants trunks weekly. Or if the experience is better online like Pornography [one of the true benefactors of digital].
[/quote]your wisdom is indeed extremely wise and you make a valid point, I too will make equally valid points on something tomorrow night when I get back from the pub. (note the use of the word something).The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
jon
I thought your joke on the other forum was indeed something and possibly your best yet "idelberg" may yet define this recession
Jon Fennell - 11 March 2009
Is that a nice way of saying my humourisms are crap, Mursell didn't get it!
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
Mursell was after sales guy's as well, I don't think he got them either
William Joyce - 11 March 2009
Just to lob another point into the conversation, perhaps one of the UK's problems is its adoption of a sort of watered down NHS model -- free at the point of delivery.
We therefore expect that certain things -- trade shows -- for example, will be free.
But, of course, there is no such thing as a free lunch. If you pre-register for a show in Birmingham you may may walk through the door free but it is not impossible that the exhibitor will have paid a rather higher price for his or her space than at some other shows; and that exhibitor will want his or her pound of flesh.
You may receive a magazine free but that is only because advertisers are paying to reach you and they of course need to recover the ad spend through sales -- to you.
So, in the end, you [in the broad sense of all readers or visitors] pay.
You think you aren't but you are.
Rather than pretending that things are free mightn't it be better if we reverted to an 'old-fashioned' model of paying up front for something we wanted.
There are still out of the way backwaters where such antediluvian practices have not yet been completely swept away.
See you at the cash tills in Düsseldorf in 2012.
Doug Richardson - 11 March 2009
Hi Guys good morning, I have just had to re-register to get on, has anyone else had this problem?.
Is anyone else frustrated over our "free spirit or perhaps real ale" Mr Wind.
A view about anything and everything and to be fair much of his comment has merit, lacking only the authenticity of ownership.
regards
Doug
'Not A Doctor' (NDCT) - 11 March 2009
Good morning Doug. I think it is a regular requirement to re-register - certainly crops up from time to time.
Matt - the order of the posts is wrong on this thread on the 'News' page. Jon Fennel is blaming me for starting the 'depression' (everyone knows it was Gordon Brown) but if the posts were in the right order you will see that he made me do it!
Jon Fennell - 11 March 2009
Morning Doug or afternoon, I sense you feel you are being singled out as blogs get moved disappear and you have to re-register, its not just you, TMW hasn't managed that one yet!!
Matt - the posts are in the right order although I admit I may have accidentally triggered NCT into a dark state of mind, but wish to point out he DID start it.
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
Hi
Just had to re register as well so i can confirm It has nothing to do with me. However i did start the economic crisis and apologize.
Why the frustration Doug?
Jon Fennell - 11 March 2009
Doug strikes me as an easily frustrated guy, who has pushed the boundary of Alias cleansing and now feels a risk of persecution.
Apology is weak and wishy, washy but taken, slapped wrist take a fat pension and don't do it again. Thats an end to it. Just turn off the lights when you leave the country.
Doug Richardson - 11 March 2009
Hi Guys thanks for the comments on registration.
TMW posed the question
Why the frustration Doug?
I am delighted TMW gave me this opportunity to make a brief announcement about an initiative I am about to launch.
The idea came from a comment from Ian Cooper where he reacted in frustration to an anonymous comment and stated how much he would like to know the identity of the author.
I intend to launch a web site that will focus on identifying anonymous authors to the Printweek website.
It will be called " Bounty Hunters in Print "
The principles are simple, anyone can contact the site and pledge not less than £50 in return for receiving the true identity of his nominated author.
The "bounty" will be split 50/50 half will be donated to the Colchester Hospice and the other half to the person who provides the correct identity of the requested target. Hopefully this will also be donated to a worthy charity.
I welcome any thoughts or suggestions to make the site as user friendly and interactive as possible as possible
regards
Doug
Doug Richardson - 11 March 2009
testing
roger clark - 11 March 2009
hi Doug yes me to had to had to re register come on guy's don't be so pesarmistic will say according to the media program on the money program the dailies aint all that bright, mirror alone lost 700,000 down in one year roger
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
[quote user="Douglas Richardson"]
Hi Guys thanks for the comments on registration. TMW posed the question Why the frustration Doug? I am delighted TMW gave me this opportunity to make a brief announcement about an initiative I am about to launch. The idea came from a comment from Ian Cooper where he reacted in frustration to an anonymous comment and stated how much he would like to know the identity of the author. I intend to launch a web site that will focus on identifying anonymous authors to the Printweek website. It will be called " Bounty Hunters in Print " The principles are simple, anyone can contact the site and pledge not less than £50 in return for receiving the true identity of his nominated author. The "bounty" will be split 50/50 half will be donated to the Colchester Hospice and the other half to the person who provides the correct identity of the requested target. Hopefully this will also be donated to a worthy charity. I welcome any thoughts or suggestions to make the site as user friendly and interactive as possible as possible regards Doug
[/quote]
wow you really are frustrated? with regard to Ian cooper's comment I took it as a wry wish rather than an expression of frustration, but good luck with your cyber war and I hope you do not get sued.
Jon Fennell - 11 March 2009
Ok Doug, If I confess to being someone else can I have £25.00 because I want to go out for a beer.
My real name is Gloria Idelberger Schnitzellfrau.
Now stop being frustrated and give me the money?
Bill Cheesman - 11 March 2009
Quite frankly, I don't give a tinker's cuss for the true identity of the guys and gals who post on here. I do take exception when things get to the 'throwing toys out of the playpen' stage, but so what - I can ignore the post and look for something more constructive from the poster at some time in the future. Most of the gossip passes me by as well, but the humour (including gallows) lightens my day.
What I would like to see is the thread sticking to the point. It is quite easy to start a new thread if there is a particular topic or grievance that needs to be aired, and it would prevent me (and I suspect others) having to trawl through lots of 'off-topic' posts to get to the meat of the discussion.
And now that I have subscribed to the 'off-topic' scene, I will crawl back to my hole.
Lesley Beckley - 11 March 2009
I have already been outed as a man by JF - sooo can we split the money if I say its true?
'Not A Doctor' (NDCT) - 11 March 2009
Doug - here's your 'starter for ten' - I'm NOT Colin Thompson.
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
god this is a picasso moment cubism goes digital...........and now for something completely different!!!!
'Not A Doctor' (NDCT) - 11 March 2009
or am I?
Doug - email me for a copy of my new report entitled "find out who you're really talking to" (including contributions from Basil Brush and Orville)
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
I am spartacus
The Mighty Wind - 11 March 2009
good news doug
I am away for the next month so you are TMW free, don't do anything I wouldn't
Jon Fennell - 12 March 2009
[quote user="Lesley Beckley"]
I have already been outed as a man by JF - sooo can we split the money if I say its true?
[/quote]Sorry already blown the cash, can lend you a fiver if you need a loanDoug Richardson - 12 March 2009
Hi Guys thanks for your observations what an ironic analogy TMW.
Do you remember the scene, the slaves are defeated and L.O. demands of the slaves the identity of Spartacus, K.D stands to identify himself to save the lives of the other slaves.
Before he could speak the short stocky one claims to be Spartacus, which then is followed by all of the slaves claiming to be Spartacus.
I suspect had Spartacus been an anonymous figure the scene could not have been written!.
At the end when J.S. is showing the now crucified K.D. his son she says something like " look Spartacus here is your son who will grow up to be free and he will grow up to know who is father was and what his father stood for".
I always cry at this point I find it really moving.
My favourite film is the Magnificent Seven and I always fancied myself as the James Coburn character. Now TMW be truthful which one would you like to portray and don't say The wise old man in the mountains!
I hope you have a nice 4 week break \(or is this some more pseudo profiling?)
I had a policy that no one could take more than two weeks off at any one time. Not that popular but when you have responsibility on occasions you have to make unpopular decisions.
Has New Girl gone on holiday too?
regards
Doug
To post comments please log in here