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What will the #COVID2019 pandemic mean for the business of news? Many news executives will be grappling with this question in the next months.
Here's a thread with a selection of articles on this pressing topic.
Share if you find it useful and add suggestions at the end
Here's a thread with a selection of articles on this pressing topic. Share if you find it useful and add suggestions at the end
1. "Old forms of local media will suffer. As will precarious outlets serving disadvantaged communities. But that does not mean editorial idealists and commercial realists cannot work together to build a sustainable future," writes @rasmus_kleis here https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/risj-review/what-will-coronavirus-pandemic-mean-business-news
2. Online news sites have seen a surge in audience attention as people seek to understand the #COVID19 pandemic, writes @marcatracy.
"The number of readers visiting @voxdotcom increased 60% from the first week of March to the second" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/business/coronavirus-news-sites.html
"The number of readers visiting @voxdotcom increased 60% from the first week of March to the second" https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/business/coronavirus-news-sites.html
3. These figures are confirmed by @Chartbeat's latest research, as @tumbling_after explains here. She's hosting a webinar on April 2. Instructions on how to join in her tweet https://twitter.com/tumbling_after/status/1243221930284589058?s=20
4. Advertising revenues are taking a massive blow. Some local publishers say they are down by 50%, some national titles by 30%.
"One of
Ireland's biggest local newspaper groups is laying off dozens of workers due to the collapse of advertising income" https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0325/1126320-local-newspaper-job-losses/
"One of
Ireland's biggest local newspaper groups is laying off dozens of workers due to the collapse of advertising income" https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0325/1126320-local-newspaper-job-losses/
5. Online advertising revenues are further challenged by advertisers blacklisting coronavirus-related stories, as @adage explains here.
"At the heart of the issue are media buyers who are blacklisting coronavirus content in the name of brand safety" https://adage.com/article/media/publishers-complain-about-media-buyers-blacklisting-coronavirus-content/2245406
"At the heart of the issue are media buyers who are blacklisting coronavirus content in the name of brand safety" https://adage.com/article/media/publishers-complain-about-media-buyers-blacklisting-coronavirus-content/2245406
6. You can find more details on this issue in this piece by @BuzzFeedNews @CraigSilverman.
"New data reveals how a major company's #COVID19 ad keyword blocking starves the news media during a global pandemic" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/news-sites-need-ads-to-survive-the-coronavirus-more-than-35
"New data reveals how a major company's #COVID19 ad keyword blocking starves the news media during a global pandemic" https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/news-sites-need-ads-to-survive-the-coronavirus-more-than-35
7. Not every advertiser is abandoning local newspapers. This tweet from @yorkshirepost @JayMitchinson is a reminder that some local companies are helping local newspapers at this difficult time https://twitter.com/JayMitchinson/status/1243213907898118146?s=20
8. With everyone reminded of the importance of journalism, trusted brands should have an opportunity to engage new subscribers. But our research suggests digital subscriptions tend to be a winner-takes-most market, so not everyone will benefit from this http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/survey/2019/paying-for-news-and-the-limits-of-subscription/
9. Newspapers with paywalls face a tough dilemma. @nytimes @ft @TheAtlantic have made some of their coronavirus stories free to access to help inform the wider community. In 
Spain @elmundoes has kept its paywall in place. @el_pais have lifted it entirely https://elpais.com/sociedad/2020-03-15/a-los-lectores.html
Spain @elmundoes has kept its paywall in place. @el_pais have lifted it entirely https://elpais.com/sociedad/2020-03-15/a-los-lectores.html
10. This piece from @poynter explores the paywall dilemma with the help of ethicist @kellymcb
"By making all of your public health coronavirus reporting free, you tell your audience that your mission is bigger than your bottom line" https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2020/do-news-sites-have-an-ethical-duty-to-remove-paywalls-on-coronavirus-coverage/
"By making all of your public health coronavirus reporting free, you tell your audience that your mission is bigger than your bottom line" https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2020/do-news-sites-have-an-ethical-duty-to-remove-paywalls-on-coronavirus-coverage/
11. This article by @kaul_vivek at @newslaundry shows how the paywall dilemma is playing out in 
India
"If paid subscriptions take off in the days to come, newspapers don’t need to depend on corporates and governments for ads" https://www.newslaundry.com/amp/story/2020%2F03%2F25%2Fcan-newspapers-survive-the-coronavirus-fallout
India "If paid subscriptions take off in the days to come, newspapers don’t need to depend on corporates and governments for ads" https://www.newslaundry.com/amp/story/2020%2F03%2F25%2Fcan-newspapers-survive-the-coronavirus-fallout
12. Here's a good primer from @NewspaperWorld on how Indian newspapers are fighting plunging revenues during the crisis
“Our primary focus has been on ensuring we reach our subscribers safely and on time," says a spokesperson from @the_hindu
https://blog.wan-ifra.org/2020/03/24/covid-19-how-indian-publishers-are-fighting-plunging-revenues?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
“Our primary focus has been on ensuring we reach our subscribers safely and on time," says a spokesperson from @the_hindu
https://blog.wan-ifra.org/2020/03/24/covid-19-how-indian-publishers-are-fighting-plunging-revenues?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
13. Local newspapers are launching membership drives. A great example is @onthewight in the 
UK
“Thanks for the service you’ve continued to provide during this crisis. There’s something reassuring about knowing you’re there for us," says a loyal reader https://onthewight.com/a-call-to-arms-for-all-islanders-trusted-news-from-onthewight-needs-your-support/
UK“Thanks for the service you’ve continued to provide during this crisis. There’s something reassuring about knowing you’re there for us," says a loyal reader https://onthewight.com/a-call-to-arms-for-all-islanders-trusted-news-from-onthewight-needs-your-support/
14. Spanish newspaper @eldiarioes has gained 5,000+ new paying members in the last two weeks after raising its annual fee. Thousands of members have raised their annual contributions even further after editor @iescolar asked them for help https://www.eldiario.es/escolar/plan-emergencia-garantizar-supervivencia-eldiarioes_6_1009359090.html
Spanish newspaper @eldiarioes has gained 5,000+ new paying members in the last two weeks after raising its annual fee. Thousands of members have raised their annual contributions even further after editor @iescolar asked them for help https://www.eldiario.es/escolar/plan-emergencia-garantizar-supervivencia-eldiarioes_6_1009359090.html
15. Here's a good primer on @eldiarioes strategy by @mariaramirezNY at @NiemanReports
"We often say we are a public service. I've always liked that definition of our mission, but I have never fully seen it in such a crude, direct way as I do today" https://niemanreports.org/articles/in-spain-eldiario-es-uses-public-service-journalism-to-fight-the-coronavirus/
"We often say we are a public service. I've always liked that definition of our mission, but I have never fully seen it in such a crude, direct way as I do today" https://niemanreports.org/articles/in-spain-eldiario-es-uses-public-service-journalism-to-fight-the-coronavirus/
16. The outbreak has also shown the true value of public service news in a public health crisis.
In theUK @BBCNews has suspended plans to cut 450 jobs. The job losses, announced in January, were part of a plan to make ÂŁ80m savings by 2022 https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52035875
In the
UK @BBCNews has suspended plans to cut 450 jobs. The job losses, announced in January, were part of a plan to make ÂŁ80m savings by 2022 https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52035875
17. Should governments come to the rescue? @VWPickard argues they should in this @HarvardBiz piece
"Lack of taxpayer support forces public broadcasting to rely more on wealthy donors and corporate underwriters, making it less responsive to public needs" https://hbr.org/2020/03/journalisms-market-failure-is-a-crisis-for-democracy
"Lack of taxpayer support forces public broadcasting to rely more on wealthy donors and corporate underwriters, making it less responsive to public needs" https://hbr.org/2020/03/journalisms-market-failure-is-a-crisis-for-democracy
18. There are a number of things 
European policymakers could do to create a more enabling environment for independent news media.
You can find some in this report we published in November https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/risj-review/what-can-be-done-digital-media-policy-options-europe-and-beyond
European policymakers could do to create a more enabling environment for independent news media. You can find some in this report we published in November https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/risj-review/what-can-be-done-digital-media-policy-options-europe-and-beyond
19. In this letter, published this week by @EURACTIV, media stakeholders, experts and politicians asked European Commission President @vonderleyen to help sustain the news media at this difficult time https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/opinion/health-trust-and-journalism-a-coronavirus-plan-for-the-media/
20. The road ahead won't be easy. As @rasmus_kleis writes, "the pandemic has super-charged the destructive the creative destruction rippling through the news industry. That only makes it so more important we work together to deliver on the creative part" https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/risj-review/what-will-coronavirus-pandemic-mean-business-news
If you want to receive our weekly newsletter, join our mailing list in this link #journalism #COVID2019 #COVID19 https://politics.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=60081b78294f9bbf995e9bcf8&id=0a8e38824f
...And 21. A pretty bleak account from @GreensladeR and @jimwaterson on the situation in the UK
"Industry sources suggested sales of print outlets briefly rose in the run-up to the lockdown but have collapsed since people were asked to stay at home.” https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/mar/27/uk-national-newspaper-sales-plummet-under-covid-19-lockdown?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
"Industry sources suggested sales of print outlets briefly rose in the run-up to the lockdown but have collapsed since people were asked to stay at home.” https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/mar/27/uk-national-newspaper-sales-plummet-under-covid-19-lockdown?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
