Comments on: Europe might have it right. http://lukemv.com/talk/2007/europe-might-have-it-right/ Thoughts from the New Media and Advertising world. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:33:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Adam http://lukemv.com/talk/2007/europe-might-have-it-right/#comment-38 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 13:30:56 +0000 http://lukemv.com/talk/2007/europe-might-have-it-right/#comment-38 Newspapers are struggling with their subscription base mostly because our generation is not reading. As much as I admire certain newspapers and simply do not take the time to sit down and read them. This has nothing to do with the way they are designed. Rather, more accessible and up-to-date sources are available (i.e. the Internet). Sure, having a well designed newspaper would be nice. But only for those that are already reading the newspaper. A new design is not going to prompt me (or other non-readers) to call up and subscribe. As JoeW mentioned above, newspapers need to utilize technology to integrate new media with their traditional content. This is how they will attract a generation that expects more from their news source. Newspapers are struggling with their subscription base mostly because our generation is not reading. As much as I admire certain newspapers and simply do not take the time to sit down and read them. This has nothing to do with the way they are designed. Rather, more accessible and up-to-date sources are available (i.e. the Internet).

Sure, having a well designed newspaper would be nice. But only for those that are already reading the newspaper. A new design is not going to prompt me (or other non-readers) to call up and subscribe.

As JoeW mentioned above, newspapers need to utilize technology to integrate new media with their traditional content. This is how they will attract a generation that expects more from their news source.

]]> by: JoeW http://lukemv.com/talk/2007/europe-might-have-it-right/#comment-37 Mon, 19 Mar 2007 04:30:55 +0000 http://lukemv.com/talk/2007/europe-might-have-it-right/#comment-37 I definitely agree with you regarding content and design. As the web houses torrents of unreliable information sources, newspapers have the ability to use their brand in building trust with users. I like to point to the New York Times as a great paper that has, in my NY-biased opinion, really done the best job in terms of evolving with the times. Their brand is known for its reliability, and their website is built to serve up content anyway requested. And by mixing their traditional articles with podcasts, videos, blogs entries, and collaborative sharing - they can justify their paid services. For the paper concerned with cutting costs, the same technology that they fear can be leveraged to make the paper much stronger. It's up to the managment to see that the right moves be made, and like in every other industry it's adapt-or-die. I definitely agree with you regarding content and design. As the web houses torrents of unreliable information sources, newspapers have the ability to use their brand in building trust with users. I like to point to the New York Times as a great paper that has, in my NY-biased opinion, really done the best job in terms of evolving with the times. Their brand is known for its reliability, and their website is built to serve up content anyway requested. And by mixing their traditional articles with podcasts, videos, blogs entries, and collaborative sharing - they can justify their paid services.

For the paper concerned with cutting costs, the same technology that they fear can be leveraged to make the paper much stronger. It’s up to the managment to see that the right moves be made, and like in every other industry it’s adapt-or-die.

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