Smart, large distribution newspapers will find ways to artificially limit traditional printing and widespread distribution. Bankruptcy may be a driver. (Interesting question: Would the Constitution prevent a government bailout of the 'press?'
The business model is difficult and the cultural barriers enormous, too, but the end game is clear...to me at least. The time will come sooner rather than later when news organizations will not print papers for distribution. Instead, our subscription will include only electronic delivery, whether downloaded to a device or read online at websites as millions do today.
It would seem that businesses like Reuters stand to gain immensely from this shift to reading devices because they may have the option of bypassing the traditional newspaper business.
"Newspapers and blogs are also important, though Freed wouldn't say whether he bought into the notion that some newspapers would be wise to stop home delivery and instead pass out Kindles to subscribers.
'I'll leave it to others to figure out what the economic model will be for newspapers,' he said. 'Our newspaper customers have been happy working with us. It's a new source of revenue for them.'
Amazon, he said, would certainly be happy to talk to newspapers interested in trying something more radical. 'We'd certainly be open to working with any newspapers.'"
4 comments:
Opposite publishers struggling to shift to digital media distribution, we have individuals who are saying, "I would NEVER use an e-reader because I like how books and magazines feel in my hands."
How quaint! My Kindle feels just fine in my hands. And I can't wait to see how the Plastic Logic e-reader feels in 2010.
Regardless, it's the text itself, not how the cover feels, that matters most.
So, to those who cop this attitude, the old saying still applies: "Don't judge a book by it's cover." Don't turn your nose up at something you haven't even tried! It might just "feel" good to you.
Actually, I've never tried a Kindle or any other reading device, so I can't make a personal comparison between them and books/magazines/newspapers. Books, however have a deep cultural and personal value for some. They also are 'collectible' and can be put on display to show others how erudite one is.
But for newspapers, certainly, printing makes little business, cultural or 'collectibles' sense.
I also am anxiously waiting to see Plastic Logic's device
It would be strange (and undesirable) to see a world without books. Vinyl music records are still around and sought after.... for collectors and cutting edge DJs. But magazines and newspapers? Maybe they'll sooner go the way of the 8-track cassette.
Another advantage with digital though we can't collect them and display them as prized possessions, it may be easier to keep track of them anyway, via search tools like Google (assuming they release the issues after a spell).
Two of my web clients run magazines and at least one of them is mulling over how to make the dive. The other one will probably just end because they don't seem to be thinking in this direction at all, just struggling to make the current model work -- because they don't seem to care so much about technology.
The biggest reality for me is that online it's easier to build a community around your subject area. Yet, it can fall out of your control as well because often the rank community members know more about a topic than the ring leader.
http://www.pcworld.com/article/160403/article.html?tk=nl_dnxnws
Here's another story about Hearst Publishing's foray into electronic distribution and readers. It IS going to happen big time...no question in my mind for newspapres, certainly, and, more gradually, perhaps, for magazines and periodicals.
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