http://www.editorsweblog.org/ en Copyright 2008 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:37:21 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The New York Post has been slowly shrinking in the past two weeks, reducing from a height of 34 cm. to 30 cm. The smaller paper now appears almost square.

However, the size change has not been implemented with all published copies, and the smaller Posts were only available in certain locations, according to Editor & Publisher.

"Just like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, the NY Post will be making the size of the daily paper slightly smaller effective tomorrow," spokeswoman Suzanne Halpin said in a statement to the New York Times' City Beat blog on April 21.

Although Halpin did not touch on the reason for the reduction, an expert on the field said that such a reduction can save a publication millions of dollars on printing costs, reports Le Monde.

Sources: Editor & Publisher, Le Monde
]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_new_york_post_reduces_print_size.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_new_york_post_reduces_print_size.php Newspaper design US Fri, 09 May 2008 11:26:58 +0000 News Corp. has announced plans to further integrate its redesigned Wall Street Journal website and its News International holdings in the UK, such as the Times Online.

"It will be partly about tools, partly about deep linking to each other's content," said Anne Spackman, editor in chief of the Times Online. Spackman also suggested that similarities between The Sun and The New York Post may lead to integration between the two.

The Times had first announced plans for cross-selling advertising opportunities with WSJ. It now seems, however, that the integration will touch editorial as well as advertising content.
 
Speaking at the PPA conference, Spackman said: "We are increasingly linking to them around subjects of common interest. Our friends down under at news.com.au - we link to sport with them on cricket and rugby; with the Wall Street Journal, it will be the same on business. It will be an extremely useful thing in a way that it would never have been when we were only selling to our home audiences and when there was no power of the link."

In other news from the PPA conference, The Times, published since 1785, announced the beta launch of 200 years-worth of archive content on the web. The archives, which are supported by search technology from FAST, will be free to users initially, although subscription plans may be introduced down the line.

The Telegraph also unveiled plans to introduce user-generated content across its website.

Sources: PaidContentUK, Journalism.co.uk
]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/wsj_and_times_online_to_further_integrat.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/wsj_and_times_online_to_further_integrat.php Newspaper business Fri, 09 May 2008 10:12:05 +0000 own take on the findings.

You can now view the results to more questions regarding areas of investment according to editors, as well as what they view as the biggest threats to their newspapers, by reading Part 6.

If you haven't taken a look at the main findings (namely editors' massive acceptation of the integrated newsroom model, as well as about half of them believing news will be free in the future and that online will be the most common platform for news), you can read more below:

Read Part 1: Presentation - main results, the integrated newsroom will be the norm
Read Part 2: Multimedia, multi-skilled and integrated
Read Part 3: The future of the press
Read Part 4: Who participated in the survey?
Read Part 5: Comments by John Zogby and WEF President George Brock
Read Part 6: Threats to newspapers, areas of investment, more results ]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/newsroom_barometer_more_results_about_th.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/newsroom_barometer_more_results_about_th.php Newspaper Newsroom Barometer survey Wed, 07 May 2008 15:22:53 +0000 Sakaal Media Group has launched The Sakaal Times, an English-language 24-page daily with almost 80% outsourced content.  

The Times, which launches in Pune a month after the debut of the morning compact daily The Pune Mirror, replaces the older English-language Sakaal-owned paper The Maharashtra Herald.

Starting with an initial print run of 1,000,000 copies, The Sakaal Times enters a saturated market that includes new entrants Daily News and Analysis and The Mirror as well as established papers such as The Times of India and The Indian Express.

Sakaal Media has made agreements with Dehli-based Asia-Pacific Communication Associates and other news agencies to provide the editorial content.

The Times was designed by newspaper designer Mario Garcia, who recently worked on the design of Thailand's first-ever free sheet.

Sources: Business Standard through IFRA Executive News Service, Exchange4Media.com

]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/india_sakaal_media_launches_daily_into_p.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/india_sakaal_media_launches_daily_into_p.php Newspaper asia launch Wed, 07 May 2008 13:14:31 +0000 In this short interview with Gianni Valenti, deputy editor of Gazzetta dello Sport, the world's largest 'sports' newspaper and leading daily in Italy, he explains how the paper has balanced its focus on sports with coverage of the protests against China and the Olympic Games in general.

Should sports sections concentrate on the actual events, and leave the rest to the politics desk? Can they really get away without putting sports into context?

As a newspaper focused on sports, Gazzetta dello Sport evidently has vested interest in the upcoming Olympic Games. How have you balanced coverage of sports and of the protests?

Gazzetta dello Sport isn't only a sports newspaper anymore. It's a sports newspaper that includes a general news section. The paper naturally is in favor of the Olympic Games, but it has dedicated entire news pages to the events that took place in Paris when the Olympic torch went through.

For the last six months, many pages have gone to coverage of social, political and environmental issues in China. In preparation for the future, a team of reporters will be dedicated to covering social issues. But the Gazzetta will not make a distinction between sports and social issues and reporters from both desks will collaborate.

Was the Gazzetta's coverage of the protests factual or did the newspaper take a stance?

The paper has special correspondents covering the International Olympic Committee and China. Its coverage remained factual on those aspects and the exactions in Tibet. Regarding the Olympic Torch, the Gazzetta took position, to an extent, arguing that the torch should pursue its route throughout the world. In practice, the Gazzetta did 'equidistant journalism' about the protests, recapping both the pros and cons.

After the events in Paris and London, there was lots of debate online. The Gazzetta created forums to host these discussions, but it didn't advocate a particular political stance for Italy - this was at the time of general elections in Italy.

However, now that the government is in place, and when a real debate will be engaged about whether Berlusconi should go to the Olympic Games or boycott them, then the newspaper will take a side - which is yet to be determined. But I predict that most political leaders will end up going.

How substantial will be Gazzetta Dello Sport's coverage of the Olympic Games?

We will have 23 journalists who will travel there. It will be the biggest coverage the paper has ever given to the Olympic Games, and it will involve collaboration between both print and online.

Source: Gianni Valenti, deputy editor Gazzetta dello Sport
]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/how_should_sports_media_cover_the_olympi.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/how_should_sports_media_cover_the_olympi.php Newspaper Italy sports Wed, 07 May 2008 09:32:37 +0000 The Liberal Light and The Times, which cut back from daily to three times a week in January.

Defying the current economic slump in the U.S. newspaper market, the new High Plains Daily Leader is printing 7,000 copies daily of the 14-page broadsheet. A free Spanish-language weekly will be published on Thursdays, catering to Liberal's large Hispanic population, many of whom work in the local meatpacking industry.

Earl Watt, publisher of the Daily Leader, had been publisher of the Times but resigned that position last week. Around 70 percent of the Times' employees also left last week to work with Watt, he said.

For most cities, launching a third paper into the market would be economic suicide. However, Liberal's isolated location in the far southwest corner of Kansas may make it possible to sustain all three.

"As you get more isolated, and your market draws more shoppers from a larger area, you tend to have more potential to keep your daily," said Doug Anstaett, executive director of the Kansas Press Association.

Source: Editor & Publisher


]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_against_the_odds_new_daily_launches_i.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_against_the_odds_new_daily_launches_i.php Newspaper launch US Tue, 06 May 2008 09:33:53 +0000 Washington Post Co. declined 39%, hit by a one-time charge at Newsweek magazine and the continuing struggles of its newspaper division.

The newspaper division, whose flagship title is the Washington Post, reported $1.2 million in operating income, down 92% year over year. Revenue was $206.1 million, down 6% from $219.2 million last year. Print ad revenue dropped 11% over the same period, mostly due to the decline in classified advertising.

"We had a disappointing first quarter as a result of several factors: steep losses in classified revenues driven by local economic factors, continued migration of revenue to the Internet and general softness as advertisers affected by the tough economy pull back on spending," said Katharine Weymouth, chief executive of Washington Post Media.

Source: Washington Post - Business Spectator through IFRA Executive News Service

]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_washington_post_co_q1_profits_drop_39.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_washington_post_co_q1_profits_drop_39.php Newspaper business Washington Post Mon, 05 May 2008 14:08:14 +0000
Under the law in 2002, journalists could be jailed for insulting the king, insulting Islam, undermining the security of the state or calling for a change of regime.

The new law "totally abrogates prison terms for journalists," reported the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), which is run by the state.

According to BNA, the new draft law calls on the removal of censorship on local publications but maintains it for foreign press coming into the country.

Source: AFP Mail

]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/bahrain_draft_law_ends_jail_terms_for_jo.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/bahrain_draft_law_ends_jail_terms_for_jo.php Newspaper Bahrain press freedom Mon, 05 May 2008 13:35:30 +0000 Hyperlocal new media site Baristanet.com and traditional newspaper The Star Ledger are to launch a print publication, Explore Montclaire, the Ultimate Insider's Guide, which results from the association of both outlets.

Both the newspaper and website are sharing content and ad revenues. The Star Ledger is responsible for distribution.

Explore Montclair has 36 pages and will go out to 70,000 readers on May 15.

According to new media guru Jeff Jarvis, who initially suggested the idea of a partnership between both outlets, "The Ledger has the power of its infrastructure -- printing, distribution, ad sales -- and its reporters and archives as well as its brand and reputation. To compete would be silly and destructive. To cooperate, they can build something together they couldn't build as well apart."

"Last week, Baristanet founder Debbie Galant and Star Ledger editor in chief Jim Willse spoke about the partnership to a group of newspaper and web editors from all over the world," wrote Galant in a blog post.

That group of editors were participants to the World Editors Forum US study tour.

Source: Buzzmachine - The Exploding Newsroom through Journerdism

]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_baristanet_and_the_star_ledger_launch.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/us_baristanet_and_the_star_ledger_launch.php Newspaper hyperlocal launch partnerships print US tour Mon, 05 May 2008 11:26:12 +0000 XFMedia, a leading media group in China, launched the Investor Journal this week, targeting the large and growing Chinese retail investor market.

The Chinese language newspaper, modeled on weekly financial publications like Barrons, is aimed at the top end of China's 96 million active brokerage accounts, those with over one million RMB in liquid assets, reports Asia Media Journal.

The paper has a staff of 60, including 12 financial analysts, and is distributed nationally. Its editors intend to fill an identified gap in the financial reporting market.  
 
"Currently, we believe there is no newspaper in China which delivers to investors truly trustworthy financial market information emphasizing in-depth analysis, reliable data combined with an international perspective," said Zhao Li, chief editor of Investor Journal.

Sources: Asia Media Journal through IFRA Executive News Service, Marketing-Interactive (picture)   ]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/china_finance_weekly_launches_with_finan.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/05/china_finance_weekly_launches_with_finan.php Newspaper asia launch Fri, 02 May 2008 11:39:57 +0000 Northcliffe-owned daily newspapers in the East Midlands are pooling together resources to publish a new regional business website, thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk.

Participating papers The Evening Telegraph in Derby, Leicester Mercury, Lincolnshire Echo, Nottingham Evening Post and The Sentinel in Stoke will all provide business stories to the site in an effort to give readers a complete picture of the business events across the region.
 
The main focus is local, allowing users to search stories by region and providing access to a special commercial property section. The site, however, plans to balance out frequent updates on East Midland business news with a dose of national and international news, which is in line with the recent caution by a Washington Post business columnist that too much local news can be unsophisticated.

Source: HoldtheFrontPage
]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/uk_local_northcliffe_titles_working_toge.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/uk_local_northcliffe_titles_working_toge.php Newspaper business news online news UK Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:32:09 +0000 Koran Jakarta will be available at newsstands with a target of selling 80,000 copies.

The paper is published by PT Berita Nusantara and will have a special economics section.

"We're not head to head with any other newspapers because ours is unique. It is a morning newspaper with more news on the economy," said chief editor Marthen Selamet Susanto.

According to Selamet, 40% of the paper will focus on business.

"We have a concept and we offered it to businessmen. There are at least 10 businessmen providing us with capital, but they don't determine our editorial," he said. Instead, Selamet says the paper belongs to its reporters.

The newspaper's readership would be people "with salaries above Rp 1 million with at least a high school education," according to Selamet.

The newspaper will be available in Greater Jakarta, South Sumatra's Palembang, and West Java's Bandung.

Source: JakartaPost.com through IFRA Executive News Service

]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/indonesia_business_paper_to_hit_newsstan.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/indonesia_business_paper_to_hit_newsstan.php Newspaper business news Indonesia launch Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:47:41 +0000 During the week, Florida's St. Petersburg Times will drop its stand alone business section but will combine its Sunday business section with the paper's metro section.

The paper will have a full page for business news, but will cut its stock listings and use three-quarters of a page for market data, modeled after the Associated Press. The bottom of the market data page will be used for jumps and briefs.

The St. Petersburg Times will also cut its Floridian features section during the week and combine it with the metro section.

The changes is expected to occur with the May 19 paper.

Source: Talking Biz News through LA Times News Alert

]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/us_st_petersburg_times_dropping_standalo.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/us_st_petersburg_times_dropping_standalo.php Newspaper US Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:03:04 +0000 Audit Bureau of Circulations show a 3.6% drop in U.S. newspaper circulation over a six-month period from October 2007 to March 2008, reports Reuters.

Reflecting the readers' move to online news, most of the top 25 American papers experienced circulation reduction, although Gannett Co. and the Wall Street Journal reported gains of less than one percent. 

According to blogger Alan Mutter, the figure represents sales of around 50 million, the lowest level since 1949 when newspapers moved 50.9 million copies. The latest report also shows that Sunday papers, which have thus far been fairly resistant to circulation drops, were more affected than weekday papers, experiencing a decline of 4.5%. 

Why the circulation fall? In addition to online migration, the lower figure is also partially the fault of newspapers, who have tried to cut costs by no longer shipping to far away locations.

Mutter also brings up PR-related issue: "Will the tailspin in circulation and ad sales be accelerated by the growing accumulation of bad press about the press?" It is a legitimate concern given the publication of doom and gloom stories like Advertising Age's latest cover story, "The Newspaper Death Watch."

Sources: Reuters, Reflections of a Newsosaur
]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/us_newspaper_circulation_drops_36.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/us_newspaper_circulation_drops_36.php Newspaper circulation Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:31:39 +0000 The Local Media Group has published eight issues of the Burton Local News, a new monthly free newspaper in Staffordshire, and is planning on launching more editions due to the paper's success.

The exact locations for the new papers is unknown, but Doug Price, who co-owns Local Media Group with Kevin Curtis, revealed that "the five-year business plan could see a total of ten new monthly titles."

The title had an initial print run of 33,000 copies, but it has now increased by 2,000 copies because of its popularity. Readers are also able to download an electronic version of the paper on Burton Local News' website.

Price and Curtis began the Local Media Group last year when they decided to combine their experiences at local newspapers for a new business venture. The Burton Local News is produced by a team of ten in Derby, but receives its content from local councils, the police, freelancers, and volunteer photographers and writers in the town.

"It's all voluntary and freelance which keeps cost down," says Price. "But we would never carry any overtly political stuff or spin - and we're not trying to rival the Burton Mail or Burton Trader."

Source: Hold the Front Page




]]> http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/uk_success_of_local_paper_causes_plans_f.php http://www.editorsweblog.org/newspaper/2008/04/uk_success_of_local_paper_causes_plans_f.php Newspaper circulation UK Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:13:22 +0000