ABC web presence unwelcome
The Australian’s media section today examined the issue of taxpayers subsidising development of the ABC’s regional websites.
I had missed the budget announcement of $15.3 million being allocated to the ABC to “create virtual town squares for communities” in regional and rural Australia.
APN and Fairfax have expressed concerns.
The Australian quotes APN Online chief executive Warren Lee saying that while regional internet revenues are still developing, advertisers are attracted to regional websites because their audiences often ignore national portals.
“You’re not dealing with markets that are massive or that have millions of dollars,” he said. “The danger is that it sucks the oxygen out of the marketplace for private investors.”
Accuracy sacrified for speed
Competition among news outlets to publish first on the web has compromised standards and eroded traditions in the Australian media.
Accuracy has been sacrificed for speed.
Journalists have always worked under the pressure of deadlines, of course, but the urgency is now immediate.
The latest example of poor publishing practice was The Herald Sun incorrectly reporting online yesterday that Richmond AFL coach Terry Wallace had been sacked.
This provoked a scramble among all media and denials from Richmond, leading the Herald Sun to change its web headline to Wallace being “on the brink”. Read more
Papermotion
The Herald Sun online today enticed me to pay $1.80 for a newspaper to experience Papermotion.
The article proclaims a “newspaper revolution” where “readers will be given the chance to enter an interactive digital world”.
The technology requires a webcam, Windows or Macintosh and some additional software called D’Fusion, which took me a couple of minutes to download with a standard ADSL connection.
I then had to visit the Papermotion website, which currently forwards to a promotion for Night at the Museum 2, a new movie released in Australia on May 17. Read more
The background of journalists
Does a journalist’s background matter? Not for the individual it doesn’t, but a newspaper benefits from having a diverse group of people.
A paper that has a staff full of lesbian communists will inevitably lean to the feminist left.
A paper with a staff full of alcoholic male punters will inevitably reflect that in its overall tone.
As an editor I like to employ people from different backgrounds. Read more
The man in the street
There’s an increasing trend in tabloid newspapers to quote the common man.
As an editor I support the principle. The common man reads newspapers and we give him a voice.
The practice has been taken too far in some cases, however.
I endorse it for a breakout or picture story. I’m more hesitant when it comes to leads. Read more
Dodgy paper sales
I question the veracity of newspaper sales when the papers are given away inclusive of another sale.
I encountered this example at the Melbourne Zoo on Wednesday.
Copies of the Herald Sun were available inside the entrance free with the price of admission.
The tiny disclaimer read: “Available while stocks last. Limit one per customer.” Read more
The public has a right to know
The Royal Commission into the Victorian bushfires should hold all its sessions in public.
It’s unheard of that such an important inquiry will hear submissions behind closed doors.
That’s the decision of Justice Bernard Teague, who says the community consultation sessions beginning on Wednesday in Myrtleford are not formal.
“The purpose of the community consultation sessions is to gather information and identify key issues for further research and investigation by the royal commission,” Justice Teague said in a statement. Read more
Idle speculation on Fairfax
According to a report in The Australian today, the market capitalisation of News Ltd rival Fairfax Media has slipped to $1.5 billion while the company has debts of $2.3 billion.
You’ve got to love the way News Ltd reports on Fairfax.
Anyhow, it doesn’t take a Rhodes scholar to know that everything is not hunky dory in Spencer Street (The Age) or wherever the Fairfax management bunker is located these days.
Analysts expect Fairfax to raise capital from shareholders and/or possibly sell its radio assets to reduce debt. Read more
Protect newsagents
Newsagents are the lifeblood of a newspaper. If they struggle we struggle.
I have no objection to distributing newspapers at convenience outlets, eg petrol stations and supermarkets, however a line has to be drawn.
According to this article on the Australian Newsagency Blog, newsagents are losing sales at more than double the reported audit numbers, three times in some cases.
One commenter on the post said: “I cannot afford to pay anything more than lip service to newspapers. To be honest, it is not a huge problem to me even if I didn’t have them any more.” Read more
Advertiser needs more SA news
The Adelaide Advertiser recorded the biggest circulation fall among Australian metropolitan newspapers in the December quarter.
Monday to Friday sales were down 4.4 percent and Saturday circulation dropped 3.1 percent.
The Sunday Mail shed 5.2 percent of sales.
I’ve commented before about increased syndication of national and world content into The Advertiser.
The circulation figures must be ringing alarm bells for News executives. Read more