Tabloid fever: is the temperature going down?

Posted by Bertrand Pecquerie on February 15, 2005 at 5:57 PM

There were more newspaper launches in Germany last year than in the past 60 years, and several of the new publications were tabloids. One of the most interesting is Die Welt Kompakt, the smaller, younger sister of Germany's national quality daily Die Welt. Jan-Eric Peters, the Editor of Die Welt, Welt Kompakt and Berliner Morgenpost, will present the story behind this intriguing new paper at the 12th World Editors Forum, to be held concurrently with the World Newspaper Congress in Seoul, Korea, from 29 May to 1 June. It might seem unusual for one man to be editor of three daily newspapers, but there is good reason: Die Welt, Welt Kompakt and Berliner Morgenpost share a single newspaper staff -- a "mini news agency" for three distinct papers. "It is not just a new concept for newspapers, it is part of a unique world-wide journalistic model," says Mr Peters. "We've not only increased quality, but we cut costs. Name me a publisher in the world who would not want such a model!"

The new model began when Axel Springer's Die Welt and its regional sister publication, Berliner Morgenpost, combined their editorial staffs -- going from 300 journalists each to 350 for the two publications. Die Welt benefits from the regional competencies of Berliner Morgenpost, while the Berlin paper benefits from the national competencies of Die Welt. And when Welt Kompakt joined the mix, it benefited from both.

Launched in May 2004 in Berlin and seven other German cities, Welt Kompakt is not a substitute for the broadsheet, but a different offer aimed at new readers, particularly younger readers who don't have a lot of time but want quality journalism. The tabloid sells for 50 euro cents.

The majority of readers are between 18 and 35 years old and have not read newspapers before on a regular basis. And although it was designed to be a quick read, customers spend an average 50 minutes with it -- same as the broadsheet Die Welt.

Mr Peters will present his case in a session entitled, "Tabloid Fever: is the temperature going down?", which will be chaired by George Brock, Saturday Editor of the London-based Times who was the launch editor for The Times' tabloid edition. Others in the session include newspaper designer Mario Garcia, Didier Pillet, Editor of France's biggest newspaper, Ouest-Franceand Robb Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times Visual Editor, .

The World Editors Forum, the division for editors within the World Association of Newspapers, will focus its annual conference on the theme: "Your Readers are Changing? Change Your Newspaper!". More than 1,000 publishers, chief editors, managing directors and other senior newspaper executives are expected at the events this year in Seoul.

Full conference information, including programme details, a list of participants and registration information, can be found here