Publishing group Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey is infuriated by "dinosaur-like media commentators" who predict the death of newspapers. At the same time, Trinity Mirror is developing its digital operations and reported strong online revenue growth in 2007.

Bailey said there is still "a market for well-targeted print launches" and that the company is "better positioned than ever."

However, it's on the digital side that Trinity Mirror seems to be faring most healthily. The company is set to hire 100 digital staffers this year - mostly in sales though.

Last year, Trinity Mirror launched a flurry of companion websites to several regional print titles, as well as microsites for local communities. Regional digital revenues rose 33.3% compared to 2006.

"We've devised what we believe is an attractive low cost digital publishing model," she said. "Our goal is to substantially increase digital revenues in the next two years."

The company has also led a multimedia newsroom pilot in Wales, which could be rolled out at other titles. "Our journalists are working for the first time not by title but by content subject matter."

Digital revenues now represent 3.7% of total revenues of Trinity Mirror, and 6.7% of ad revenues for retained businesses.

"If you listen to the industry's armchair critics and dinosaur-like media commentators, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's all over for newspapers," said Bailey. "But it's been an encouraging year which demonstrates the power and possibilities of print."

And online.

Source: Press Gazette - Brand Republic