Newspaper & Mailroom
Just Published: “New Revenue Models for Newspaper Companies”
Wednesday 21. April 2010 - For many newspaper companies, increasing digital media revenues have failed to replace declining print advertising and circulation revenues. To offset the difference, newspaper companies are exploring a wide array of new business opportunities and new sources of income.
Those opportunities are examined in “New Revenue Models for Newspaper Companies,” the latest report from the Shaping the Future of the Newspaper project of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
The report examines the viability of paid-for online content and a host of other approaches: endowments, memberships and syndication, foundation grants, government subsidies and tax breaks, mobile subscriptions, not-for-profit entities and hyperlocal web sites.
But the heart of the issue is the “paid versus free” debate, and the opportunities for newspaper companies to charge for their valuable content on-line. Though the report documents the publics general unwillingness to pay for content, it also shows that about 10 percent of loyal readers are willing to do so. Developing the appropriate payment plan can result in significant revenues from these most loyal users, while creating more opportunities in the newsroom to provide them with the quality content they demand.
The report explores several paid content models, including micropayments, and examines the strategies of newspapers that are developing them, including The New York Times, News Corp. publications, and many others. It also cites researchers, entrepreneurs, academics and critics who evaluate paid contents potential, and are helping to develop the new business models.
“New Revenue Models for Newspaper Companies” is available exclusively to members of WAN-IFRA, although the reports executive summary, and a chapter on “The Paid vs. Free Content Debate”, are available to members and non-members alike. The summary and chapter can be downloaded, free of charge, at www.wan-press.org/article18438.html.
WAN-IFRA members can download the report, and other members-only Strategy Reports on a variety of subjects, from www.futureofthenewspaper.com.