The day I had anticipated/dreaded for so many years finally came. On January 7th, after nearly 20 years with the different brands (FYI/ICI network, London Free Press, Canoe.ca, Bowes, Osprey, and Sun Media) of Quebecor Media, and, later, Postmedia, I finally got the proverbial tap on the shoulder. I was laid off. While initially this…
Tag: Newspapers
Video Paywalls? A viable options for newspapers?
I have been watching with interest a new trend where accessing premium content can only be seen after the user watching a advertiser video. Selectable Media allows users to choose what type of video they get to watch. The idea is that if users choose the video, they are more likely to pay attention and remember the advertiser message.
Remember how you felt seeing your name printed in the Newspaper?
Have you ever had your name published in a newspaper? It might have first happened when you were a kid, getting your name mentioned because your house league baseball team won their big game. Or maybe later, it was in the high School when you were awarded an academic achievement that made the papers. Or perhaps, as a business person, your business was centered out for some community contribution. Whatever the reason, didn’t it feel great, just to know that your name if published in print for everyone to see. That is the magic of the community newspaper. Somehow, we overlook that when we talk about the future of newspapers.
Thought Experiment # 1: Don’t suck, newspapers!
Does this tweet articulate the crux of the issue for many web savvy readers? Do Newspapers tend to suck compared to the emerging alternatives? Does it have to be this way? Are people too quick to write off the poor old newspaper?
And if so, what does the newspaper industry have to do to gain relevance and acceptance in the new digital world? Thus, begins the first of my “Thought Experiment” postings. What would it take for newspapers to suck less?
The thing about commenting is…
Dealing with inappropriate, racist, and hateful comments can drive publishers (and their lawyers) to think about radical solutions for dealing with the complaints, time wasted spent moderating,and/or the endless requests for comment deletions. If only there was a full proof solution…
Who are the customers of newspapers?
I came across a tweet today that triggered an interesting series of thoughts. Who are the customers of newspapers and will online pay walls keep them out or in?
Newspapers: Doom, Gloom, and Inspiration
I read another doom and gloom story for newspapers at the beginning of the day. Later, I read a second story that implies a path to redemption for newspapers. I love when two stories come together to provide inspiration. Sadly, the blog, Reflections of a Newsosaur, shows that print ad revenues have not re-bounded from…
Can an Auction replace Newspaper Classifieds?
I was reading an article from MediaPost, today. Several U.S. newspapers and Broadcast News sites have come together to create Boocoo.com, an auction and listing site. Their goal is to take back (or at least stop further losses) the revenues lost to Craig’s List and eBay. Read the article for yourself here: MediaPost: Newspapers Unveil…
Compelling content is key in print or online
I read 2 stories today that I think illustrate an important lesson for newspapers to remember: Advertising Age: “AOL to Hire ‘Hundreds’ of Journalists, Reorganize Content Division” ( http://mtn.bz/cnrfTY) Mashable: Google News and Why Human Editors Still Matter ( ) In the first case, AOL has discovered that they can monetize content they create and…
Smartest man in the World has the solution to the problem of Newspapers!
Saul Colt, in his blog today, has done it! He has the solved the problem of newspapers. And the answer if 3D! Hmmm… I’m having a “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” flashback. Wasn’t the answer 42, and not 3D… anyways… Saul Colt’s Blog, the “Smartest Man in the World” wrote today in his blog that…