Respected media commentator Roy Greenslade has written a column – Suddenly, national newspapers are heading for that print cliff fall – for The Guardian that will challenge all who have print newspapers as part of their business model mix.
I am in Ireland to address the Irish Press Council’s annual general meeting in a lecture entitled “Have newspapers got a future?”
My theme is that they have no future. Declining circulation figures tell us that people are switching week by week from print to screen. It is simply a matter of time before it becomes unprofitable to continue publishing newsprint papers.
While we know that newspapers will stop publishing when the numbers no longer work, Greenslade makes an excellent point about the poorer quality of stories as newspapers cut costs in the end days.
Space in newsprint papers can be filled. The end result is something that looks like a paper, but the content lacks any real value. It is not journalism. It is pointless material without any public benefit.
While Grenslade is writing about UK newspapers, there are parallels here.
For our part, we newsagents should long ago have reset our businesses to not rely on newspaper traffic. Those who have not are facing trouble.
If I stopped selling papers tomorrow it would not affect my profitability, foot traffic yes but not profits. In fact it may increase profits due to more attention going towards more profitable products already available in the business.
Despite hassling my News Corp rep and complaining to my distributor. I repeatedly fail to receive flyers for A frame and poster frames. They now fail to arrive on more than 50% of days. The poster frames will be removed this week as I am fed up with displaying out of date posters.
Stupid stupid stupid
I agree with Greenslade, the cliff is getting closer.
Without the papers, I would need to look at magazines very hard. I suspect they would fall to a core of around 250 supporting key customer groups.
Colin, if you are in SA, a direct complaint to L Jones of NewsCorp should lead to a positive outcome re supply of posters. I know she takes a keen interest in seeing all retailers receive posters every day.
As a Distributor I am contractually obligated to supply posters to all retail outlets whether they want it or not and I do so religiously. The only time it doesn’t happen is those rare times I don’t receive any posters.
I agree with your ‘stupid’ comment
Life as a Newsagent without newspapers….hmmmm…..sounds like a sleep in to me…LOL
We should spare a thought for our fellow agents who are distribution only . What is the future for them?
June, for me the future is fine and something to look forward to. I think I have found something that allows for a smooth transition while managing the declining business in the proper and respectful manner it deserves. I say that bit for myself, not for any publisher. Hell of a service to provide to the community every morning up at the witches hour chucking flat-wrapped papers out of either window.
Perhaps the biggest worry for me is the thought of missing out on all that free upper body aerobic exercise. I’ll probably end up having to pay Gym fees for the privilege, rather than getting paid for it.
The death of print does need careful management though. With the gentle closing of one door (or slamming – yet to be determined), for those that need or want it and can’t find another door ready to be opened or have not built a door for themselves that does not have a lock on it, it will be a challenging time.
For others, the timing will be just right.
Still a bit of time left to get organised if there is a need to.
Those that do not employ staff will find it more difficult if they intend staying until the horse is ridden off the cliff. Others can follow the numbers decline down by reducing staff expenses accordingly.
Metaphorically speaking, it’s better to step off the horse and onto the new fan-dangled thing called a locomotive just before the cliff comes up or just before the horse collapses.
Nothing new in any of this. Look at any of the past generations. Pony express — Candle stick makers or indeed think of future generations with robotics coming around the bend like a steam train or AI.
…..OMG whatever will we do. 🙂
Always plenty of transitional challenges for any generation of workers/business owners.
The important thing to keep uppermost in mind is that no-one will be coming on a white horse to save us in a meaningful way. Probably just some half-hearted attempts by publishers to lull some into false hope as they aim for a smooth and trouble-free transition of the corporate model to full digital and that’s ok, that’s their job.
There are plenty of people who have already been impacted by declining print. People employed by publishers have already lost their jobs as the rivers of gold move to a trickle and corporations consolidate and transition.
I like to live by that old saying – ‘if it is to be, then it is up to me’.
You’d be wasting a few moments sparing a thought for me.
The thing about newspapers and retail and distribution newsagencies is – there is no surprise with the declining sales. Close to ten years ago I and others started speaking out, challenging newsagents to plan for this eventuality.