Comments on: Kohler: Newspapers are the new vinyl http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:13:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kevin http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11911 Kevin Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11911 Alan Kohler just happens to write for an internet based Business News service "Business Spectator". Of course his leaning would be toward news from websites and not Newspapers. The Business Model for newspapers is changing, Rupert is buying more Newspapers because of the efficiencies that can be gained from having more newspapers on board in a world where this is a slow decline in newspaper readership. The content in papers is changing (and content is king!) to more local and more immediate, it has the ability to surprise and delight readers with information they were not expecting compared to a news website where you click on the story you want to know about (and what a clinical world that would be); not to mention that the distribution model has moved away from a Mums and dads business to professional, larger, logistic or transport or marketing companies taking the reigns (who are also investing a reasonable amount of dollars to improve that end of the supply chain). Newspapers Monday to Friday have declined, but weekends continue to grow because of the lifestyle advantages as Tim has stated. The newspaper industry is reacting to this shift in choice, but it is exactly that - a shift - and therefore can remain within the control of the industry to maximise readership whatever day of the week (business, TV, lifestyle, sport supplements and magazines are being included on weaker days). Alan's view appears to be a common one, but is not shared by those with an interest in the Newspaper industry. Video was suppose to have killed the radio star as well. Radio adapted to the introduction of TV, and in more recent times to website based radio stations and Podcast (yes, I am serious it is only a year or so ago there were those that believed Podcasts would overtake radio!) Newspapers are adapting in much the same way. Alan Kohler just happens to write for an internet based Business News service “Business Spectator”. Of course his leaning would be toward news from websites and not Newspapers. The Business Model for newspapers is changing, Rupert is buying more Newspapers because of the efficiencies that can be gained from having more newspapers on board in a world where this is a slow decline in newspaper readership. The content in papers is changing (and content is king!) to more local and more immediate, it has the ability to surprise and delight readers with information they were not expecting compared to a news website where you click on the story you want to know about (and what a clinical world that would be); not to mention that the distribution model has moved away from a Mums and dads business to professional, larger, logistic or transport or marketing companies taking the reigns (who are also investing a reasonable amount of dollars to improve that end of the supply chain). Newspapers Monday to Friday have declined, but weekends continue to grow because of the lifestyle advantages as Tim has stated. The newspaper industry is reacting to this shift in choice, but it is exactly that - a shift - and therefore can remain within the control of the industry to maximise readership whatever day of the week (business, TV, lifestyle, sport supplements and magazines are being included on weaker days). Alan’s view appears to be a common one, but is not shared by those with an interest in the Newspaper industry. Video was suppose to have killed the radio star as well. Radio adapted to the introduction of TV, and in more recent times to website based radio stations and Podcast (yes, I am serious it is only a year or so ago there were those that believed Podcasts would overtake radio!) Newspapers are adapting in much the same way.

]]> By: Richard McGuire http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11912 Richard McGuire Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11912 Can newspapers reinvent themselves? The harsh reality for newspapers is that most of what appears in their lead pages is no longer news. Television, radio, and internet sites have beaten them to the punch. Where newspapers can compete is in their perspectives/ feature articles, and opinion pieces, depending on their objectivity. Articles should also be sourced from contributors other than staff journos. Variety after all is the spice of life. People will buy newspapers for the quality of the information contained therein. They will not buy rags emaciated by cost cutting. Nor will they buy newspapers focussed on pushing narrow agendas. They will rarely by a newspaper to keep up to date with the news. Today people have a choice and are increasingly exercising it. Can newspapers reinvent themselves? The harsh reality for newspapers is that most of what appears in their lead pages is no longer news. Television, radio, and internet sites have beaten them to the punch. Where newspapers can compete is in their perspectives/ feature articles, and opinion pieces, depending on their objectivity. Articles should also be sourced from contributors other than staff journos. Variety after all is the spice of life. People will buy newspapers for the quality of the information contained therein. They will not buy rags emaciated by cost cutting. Nor will they buy newspapers focussed on pushing narrow agendas. They will rarely by a newspaper to keep up to date with the news. Today people have a choice and are increasingly exercising it.

]]> By: kme http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11913 kme Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11913 Alan, re the "ink on paper is easier on the eye than screens" comment (and all your other commenters talking about the portability of electronic content), you need to check out one of the numerous commerical ebook readers based on "e-ink" displays. In Australia, Dymocks sell a few online - you can get a demo at the George St store in Sydney.<br /><br />They solve the battery life, readability (they're just as easy to read as ink-on-paper, even in direct sunlight) and portability problems. Alan, re the “ink on paper is easier on the eye than screens” comment (and all your other commenters talking about the portability of electronic content), you need to check out one of the numerous commerical ebook readers based on “e-ink” displays. In Australia, Dymocks sell a few online - you can get a demo at the George St store in Sydney.

They solve the battery life, readability (they’re just as easy to read as ink-on-paper, even in direct sunlight) and portability problems.

]]> By: Nate http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11914 Nate Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11914 Alan is one of the smartest editors I have met.<br /><br />But he clearly has a perspective informed by his fiscal interest and that is the legitimate one of pursuing his business online. Would the CEO of Ford tell you to buy a GM? Would the marketing VP of Coke serve Pepsi at a BBQ? Does Jobs run Windows?<br /><br />I don't think so.<br /><br />The bigger issue that Alan glossed over was one of mobility. A desktop PC with its big box and screen is immovable. Even a notebook has serious limitations about when and where it is used. The issue is increasingly one of portability. And it's not just the devices - it's the interactive interfaces they render.<br /><br />Try reading Business Spectator or Crikey on an iPhone, for instance. Very. Bloody. Painful. (As I write this, BS server is down).<br /><br />Rip your eyes out and dash the phone against the floor excruciating. Tiny screen. Limited colour palette. Minuscule characters and fonts. Few pictures. Little to no context between stories. Short battery life (why do they light up every pixel?) It's like viewing the Mona Lisa through a keyhole.<br /><br />Try accessing (ie reading) a newspaper. Multi-touch interface, Full colour, widescreen, hi-def, random access display that titillates the eyes and senses. And the battery won't die in the middle of that 2000-word piece, just when you get to the meaty stuff.<br /><br />Most sites on portable devices are lo-def alternatives. They're stuck in a 1997 view of the online world (MS Windows, IE, 800x600 display).<br /><br />As to the analogy about vinyl and CD -- vinyl is still around. In fact, pressings are growing. It will never again be mainstream because people went for convenience over sound quality (MP3s sound worse again but they are even more convenient than CDs) but it will be with us for a bit longer yet. CDs were released in 1983 -- and 25 years later you can buy vinyl.<br /><br />It's incumbent on online operators if they want to assume papers' mantle to look seriously at the flaws in their own models and fix them before calling out the opposition. Alan is one of the smartest editors I have met.

But he clearly has a perspective informed by his fiscal interest and that is the legitimate one of pursuing his business online. Would the CEO of Ford tell you to buy a GM? Would the marketing VP of Coke serve Pepsi at a BBQ? Does Jobs run Windows?

I don’t think so.

The bigger issue that Alan glossed over was one of mobility. A desktop PC with its big box and screen is immovable. Even a notebook has serious limitations about when and where it is used. The issue is increasingly one of portability. And it’s not just the devices - it’s the interactive interfaces they render.

Try reading Business Spectator or Crikey on an iPhone, for instance. Very. Bloody. Painful. (As I write this, BS server is down).

Rip your eyes out and dash the phone against the floor excruciating. Tiny screen. Limited colour palette. Minuscule characters and fonts. Few pictures. Little to no context between stories. Short battery life (why do they light up every pixel?) It’s like viewing the Mona Lisa through a keyhole.

Try accessing (ie reading) a newspaper. Multi-touch interface, Full colour, widescreen, hi-def, random access display that titillates the eyes and senses. And the battery won’t die in the middle of that 2000-word piece, just when you get to the meaty stuff.

Most sites on portable devices are lo-def alternatives. They’re stuck in a 1997 view of the online world (MS Windows, IE, 800x600 display).

As to the analogy about vinyl and CD — vinyl is still around. In fact, pressings are growing. It will never again be mainstream because people went for convenience over sound quality (MP3s sound worse again but they are even more convenient than CDs) but it will be with us for a bit longer yet. CDs were released in 1983 — and 25 years later you can buy vinyl.

It’s incumbent on online operators if they want to assume papers’ mantle to look seriously at the flaws in their own models and fix them before calling out the opposition.

]]> By: Jimmy from Manly http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11915 Jimmy from Manly Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11915 Alan, you can't wipe your b*m with vinyl....and that's about as tenuous as your comparison between vinyl records and newspapers...I'm not going to waste time pointing out the rest.<br /><br />You internet blokes can't stand the fact the newspapers are still doing okay in this country, maybe we're bucking the trend, maybe readers with half a brain realise that the internet is not fact cheked and doesn't have any real responsibilty to anyone, maybe people find comfort in something tactile, whatever the reason...you and I will be well retired before the trusty newspaper disappears in this country. Alan, you can’t wipe your b*m with vinyl….and that’s about as tenuous as your comparison between vinyl records and newspapers…I’m not going to waste time pointing out the rest.

You internet blokes can’t stand the fact the newspapers are still doing okay in this country, maybe we’re bucking the trend, maybe readers with half a brain realise that the internet is not fact cheked and doesn’t have any real responsibilty to anyone, maybe people find comfort in something tactile, whatever the reason…you and I will be well retired before the trusty newspaper disappears in this country.

]]> By: pete from Sydney http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11916 pete from Sydney Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11916 bollocks..... bollocks…..

]]> By: eveylyn98 http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11917 eveylyn98 Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11917 Banal. Who's making money with Alan's model? No one. Except, maybe wsj.com and HuffPost (which pays no one). Who's making money with newspapers? Lots and lots of people. Lots of it. Sure they're generally making less than they used to. And they have to change a lot of their cost if they're used to classifieds. But it's a bullshit argument. And as for the superior "dsitribution" - that really only works if - like Alan - you assume that everyone wants to sit on their arse at a desk to read. For Chrissakes can we please stop this drivel? Banal. Who’s making money with Alan’s model? No one. Except, maybe wsj.com and HuffPost (which pays no one). Who’s making money with newspapers? Lots and lots of people. Lots of it. Sure they’re generally making less than they used to. And they have to change a lot of their cost if they’re used to classifieds. But it’s a bullshit argument. And as for the superior “dsitribution” - that really only works if - like Alan - you assume that everyone wants to sit on their arse at a desk to read. For Chrissakes can we please stop this drivel?

]]> By: Tim http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/10/08/kohler-newspapers-are-the-new-vinyl/#comment-11918 Tim Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-11918 Dunno Alan. I only get the newspaper (The Age) on the weekend, purely because I like sitting in the sun with a cup of tea for an hour. Tis a bit difficult to do that with a computer, even a laptop. <br /><br />On a related issue, I think that there is a certain funding level at which point commercial journalism becomes utter tripe. Over the last few years we've seen all of the reputable commercial journalism collapse, to the point where only the ABC and SBS do the serious political stuff on TV, and Fairfax and News Ltd for print. It might make commercial sense to cut out all serious political reporting because it isn't profitable enough, but it is obviously to the detriment of society. <br /><br />We'll end up with the majority of the population unable to name politicians other than the PM or maybe the Premier (if we're not already there!). Dunno Alan. I only get the newspaper (The Age) on the weekend, purely because I like sitting in the sun with a cup of tea for an hour. Tis a bit difficult to do that with a computer, even a laptop.

On a related issue, I think that there is a certain funding level at which point commercial journalism becomes utter tripe. Over the last few years we’ve seen all of the reputable commercial journalism collapse, to the point where only the ABC and SBS do the serious political stuff on TV, and Fairfax and News Ltd for print. It might make commercial sense to cut out all serious political reporting because it isn’t profitable enough, but it is obviously to the detriment of society.

We’ll end up with the majority of the population unable to name politicians other than the PM or maybe the Premier (if we’re not already there!).

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