The striking posties are getting an interesting treatment in the media. Time and time again I have heard it on the radio that they are striking for failing to modernise. That is surely a matter of debate rather than fact. While Royal Mail would argue it is about modernisation I am sure workers would argue that it is about changing working practices.
In reality it may be about modernisation but it is a word that should only be used if the report can demonstrate it surely? What is modernisation and how will it benefit the business?
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Press Release: price of the papers.
You know what. In this day and age of internet news for free the newspapers had better get real and cut the cost of their product.
The price war of the Daily Star and The Sun in the UK proves that in general we think we are paying too much for a daily newspaper in an age where you can pic up a Metro for free.
The 20p Daily Star has led to an astonishing 17% rise in sales over the last year, although that pace is running out of steam. The Sun registered a rise as it followed suit in slashing prices.
If newspapers can get the maths right and offer high quality independent journalism, not just rehashed PA, they may get back on track despite the internet. The Sunday Times manages to perform well at two quid a shout but you get a library full of supplements and words that can take you all week to read so you could argue its value for money.
Maybe newspapers do not have to follow the Metro and Evening Standard route and go free - just reduce the price and keep quality high. Not that easy in a recession of course!!!
The price war of the Daily Star and The Sun in the UK proves that in general we think we are paying too much for a daily newspaper in an age where you can pic up a Metro for free.
The 20p Daily Star has led to an astonishing 17% rise in sales over the last year, although that pace is running out of steam. The Sun registered a rise as it followed suit in slashing prices.
If newspapers can get the maths right and offer high quality independent journalism, not just rehashed PA, they may get back on track despite the internet. The Sunday Times manages to perform well at two quid a shout but you get a library full of supplements and words that can take you all week to read so you could argue its value for money.
Maybe newspapers do not have to follow the Metro and Evening Standard route and go free - just reduce the price and keep quality high. Not that easy in a recession of course!!!
PRESS RELEASE: national newspaper sales
More worrying signs about the slow death of newspapers. The latest UK sales figures make grim reading.
Comparing six month figures for 2008 April-to-September with those for 2009 April-to-September is enough to make editors weep.
The numbers show a 3.61% fall in the overall daily newspaper market and a 5.92% fall in the Sunday market over the latest six months and respective falls of 2.49% and 5.47% in 2008.
The Daily Mirror took a 6.61% whack last year and has just lodged a 9.37% drop. Ouch! The Independent looks doomed with a 4.32% drop hurtling to 16.53% fall.
These sort of figures are unsustainable in the long term with advertisers looking increasingly to other markets but bizarrely on-line ad revenues have stiffed. Where's the money going!!!!!
Comparing six month figures for 2008 April-to-September with those for 2009 April-to-September is enough to make editors weep.
The numbers show a 3.61% fall in the overall daily newspaper market and a 5.92% fall in the Sunday market over the latest six months and respective falls of 2.49% and 5.47% in 2008.
The Daily Mirror took a 6.61% whack last year and has just lodged a 9.37% drop. Ouch! The Independent looks doomed with a 4.32% drop hurtling to 16.53% fall.
These sort of figures are unsustainable in the long term with advertisers looking increasingly to other markets but bizarrely on-line ad revenues have stiffed. Where's the money going!!!!!
Friday, 16 October 2009
Press release: will newspapers die?
It's a fair question. They are certainly very sick. The way circulation and ad revenues are going they are heading for intensive care.
Once powerful regional newspapers are reduced to puppy dogs steering clear of stories that might upset a big advertiser. Journalists are being laid off. Hurrah you might say, but whose is going to expose the bad boys in future?
As newspapers wither we lose a bit of democracy. Yes we might have the all powerful web but newspapers wielded a power that could change policy and pull people into line.
Local newspapers that once sold 100,000 are slipping down towards 60,000. National newspapers that sold three million are now down to two and the graph is heading down. Rumours abounded that the worlds oldest Sunday newspaper The Observer was going to be closed down and recently the London Standard announced it was going free!
The internet is taking its toll. Younger readers don't care about holding a paper unlike oldies like me. As cost are cut quality goes down.
The market still does not know where its going. The web moves so fast. News International are threatening to start charging for their web services. If they do others may follow. But there is still too much free news - the BBC for example.
For the business looking to promote itself the strategy is simple. Create good news content and get it online as much as possible to point visitors to your website. The website needs to be up to speed but get them there.
The days of a nice press release in the local paper making ripples are numbered. It is still worthwhile at the moment but businesses need to have one eye on the future.
Once powerful regional newspapers are reduced to puppy dogs steering clear of stories that might upset a big advertiser. Journalists are being laid off. Hurrah you might say, but whose is going to expose the bad boys in future?
As newspapers wither we lose a bit of democracy. Yes we might have the all powerful web but newspapers wielded a power that could change policy and pull people into line.
Local newspapers that once sold 100,000 are slipping down towards 60,000. National newspapers that sold three million are now down to two and the graph is heading down. Rumours abounded that the worlds oldest Sunday newspaper The Observer was going to be closed down and recently the London Standard announced it was going free!
The internet is taking its toll. Younger readers don't care about holding a paper unlike oldies like me. As cost are cut quality goes down.
The market still does not know where its going. The web moves so fast. News International are threatening to start charging for their web services. If they do others may follow. But there is still too much free news - the BBC for example.
For the business looking to promote itself the strategy is simple. Create good news content and get it online as much as possible to point visitors to your website. The website needs to be up to speed but get them there.
The days of a nice press release in the local paper making ripples are numbered. It is still worthwhile at the moment but businesses need to have one eye on the future.
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Press Release: Showbiz Sun
Interesting to see that The Sun are sticking with the 20p cover price offer. I wonder how many readers from the likes of the Daily Mail are taking a punt and seeing what the old red top has to offer. The Daily Mail has done well over the last few years to pull in a young-ish 30 something professional femail readership but I bet some have been tempted to dabble in The Sun for 20p compared to 50p.
With this in mind I think The Sun are making a mistake in not upping their serious news content. Not too serious but just a bit more of the news to water down the showbiz overkill. It seems the tabloids are no longer in competition with other newspapers but in competition with the showbiz mags. Even the Mail, which tries to keep itself composed, slips into showbizzy tabloid coverage. Far too often there's the pic of the actress with no make up and a rather weak story on Robbie Williams dodgy or not so dodgy (depending on your view) live return on X Factor.
More news please!
With this in mind I think The Sun are making a mistake in not upping their serious news content. Not too serious but just a bit more of the news to water down the showbiz overkill. It seems the tabloids are no longer in competition with other newspapers but in competition with the showbiz mags. Even the Mail, which tries to keep itself composed, slips into showbizzy tabloid coverage. Far too often there's the pic of the actress with no make up and a rather weak story on Robbie Williams dodgy or not so dodgy (depending on your view) live return on X Factor.
More news please!
Friday, 9 October 2009
Magazines feeling the pinch
Until recently glossy magazines were riding high despite the creep of the internet. While newspapers wilted under pressure mags remained bouyant.
The party is now over it seems with the news that Conde Nast is set to lose out on a billion dollars in ad revenue this year - a billion dollars! Immediate surgery will see four titles close plus surviving titles will have to make big cuts.
That's a big hit that will send shock waves through the glossy market. It seems the only way forward is for niche magazines ran on a skeleton staff.
Specialist websites and blogs thrive in users but still online revenues are relatively small - surely this has to change.
The party is now over it seems with the news that Conde Nast is set to lose out on a billion dollars in ad revenue this year - a billion dollars! Immediate surgery will see four titles close plus surviving titles will have to make big cuts.
That's a big hit that will send shock waves through the glossy market. It seems the only way forward is for niche magazines ran on a skeleton staff.
Specialist websites and blogs thrive in users but still online revenues are relatively small - surely this has to change.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Tories and the press
Cameron and Georgie have taken a massive gamble. Their strategy of saying nothing was paying off! Now they have said something and said something fairly unpopular. Refreshing in many ways that they have actually told it how it is. The press however are going to have fun with this - on both sides. Labour will be pressed to show its hand now but equally the first move by the Tories has them labelled as salary freezing killjoys.
The Daily Mail were fairly soft on him although the word austerity was written huge on the front page! It will be interesting to see how the right wing press play it as the week rolls out.
The Sun meanwhile used the gamble word but will go soft on him as they have just pledged their support to the Tories.
Suddenly politics got mildly interesting. Suddenly in a world of consensus politics we have a choice! The next election could get interesting.
The Daily Mail were fairly soft on him although the word austerity was written huge on the front page! It will be interesting to see how the right wing press play it as the week rolls out.
The Sun meanwhile used the gamble word but will go soft on him as they have just pledged their support to the Tories.
Suddenly politics got mildly interesting. Suddenly in a world of consensus politics we have a choice! The next election could get interesting.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Film Review
Over the course of the last few days I have read three reviews of Ricky Gervais's new film and guess what? They were all exactly the same.
That's because the reviews are supplied by the Press Association. There was a day when local newspapers had their own reviewer who would give you a trusted view.
More dosh for PA but less choice for the rest of us!
That's because the reviews are supplied by the Press Association. There was a day when local newspapers had their own reviewer who would give you a trusted view.
More dosh for PA but less choice for the rest of us!
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