UK: Independent's Simon Kelner against the digital revolution
As other newspapers invest heavily in online content, Kelner remains unconverted. Unlike many editors, Kelner views the digital revolution and integration of news sources with much skepticism. "We're happy not being pioneers, because it means we won't get shot in the back,” he said.
Though Kelner says the Independent website will receive some renovations this year, he is unconvinced of newspaper websites’ translation to reality. "I've never met anyone who ever listens to podcasts," he said. "When I saw in the Telegraph 'Get your podcast of Simon Heffer discussing David Cameron's latest policy announcement', I thought you've got to be joking! I'm not convinced that they're the future."
Further, Kelner has no tolerance for the common view of newspapers as an endangered species. “It's madness,” he said, “that we don't actually promote our own value and too many people within our own industry talk us down."
Recently, the Independent announced 40 voluntary, staff-shuffling layoffs as part of a major cost-cutting effort. Around 70 journalists applied for the layoff package, but Kelner doesn’t see this as an indication of fear. In speaking with staff members who applied for the packages, Kelner found no one who cited fears of the paper’s financial demise as a reason for applying.
"Look,” he said, “you can put whatever spin you want on it, but what we've done is go through the same process which every newspaper in the world has gone through or is going through.”
Source: MediaGuardian
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