The announcements last week by News Ltd and Fairfax that they will introduce a paid model for their news websites needs to be carefully considered by newsagents.
Despite what publishers and some analysts say, it is a step in migration. Eyeballs have migrated online as have many advertisers. Introducing an access charge is the last step in replicating the print model online. As much as they can at least – classifieds are free online so it will be hard for publishers to bring that revenue stream across.
Charging for access is a challenge for newsagents because it may work. Publishers may find that they have a model which generated better than expected revenue. If this happens they will look to cut more loss making areas from the print model. It makes sense. This is where there will be a challenge for newsagents. Our relevance will diminish.
If the move to charge for content is not successful then both publishers and newsagents will have challenges. Publishers will need other ways of covering the costs of journalism. Newsagents will need traffic generators to replace newspaper customers who will migrate to other online news sources.
For too long, we have sat idle and watched sales move online. Most of our time has been invested in complaining. Sure some have created websites but these tend to be copies of a traditional newsagency. That won’t work.
The move by the publishers should be a call to action to us to be bold in pursuing our future.
You pay for health rego coffee parking naughty girls, etc. should I go on……..
get over it Mark. Paying for news is nothing different from any other vice. The only thing is that Fairfax should do is tell News to stop undercutting them, problem fixed
Paul you have missed my point altogether.
Havn’t read it yet, but there is a cover story in “The Week” out today