A tweet thread on #newspapers #news #industry. When the history of newspapers will be written they will talk about the biggest lost opportunity during #Covid_19. When readers were looking for #authentic, readable, #visual authentic #information from #newspapers on #mobiles.

The #newsrooms #editors were busy designing pages and creating unreadable #PDFs. When the demand for news was the highest #newspapers failed to deliver. Failed in providing #hourly #updates. When the fear was pervasive and authentic data was crucial #newspapers could not #pivot

They could not #pivot to consumer as their revenues were tied up with printing #advertisement, their leadership hierarchy was based on #distribution and #printing. The inertia of the past didn't allow them to grab the future, even when printing is wasteful, distribution is forced

They kept flogging the system, the same product when the world that was changing gradually, changed overnight. Their response was based on protecting the past. Demand is digital supply is physical. @rajeshmahapatra @sugataghoshET @RajrishiSinghal

Which newspaper group do you think has pivoted to recognize the new digital reality? @TOIIndiaNews @htTweets @gsvasu_TNIE @xpresstn @NewIndianXpress @IndianExpress @the_hindu @madversity @gurbir110 @e4mtweets

Why are PDFs of newspapers and website addresses still being shared on mobile phones? Which newspaper has built a dedicated @WhatsApp @tiktok_us @instagram model for news? When the consumer young and old and has moved to digital has dissemination moved online? @hchawlah

How many #newsrooms have shifted to a 24/7 news collection and dissemination models? Even TV news channels continue with their idiotic Saas Bahu fillers during the afternoon. At a time when viewers are seeking new updates every second. @awasthis @abpnewshindi

How many #newsrooms are hiring more journalists and building a network across the country or world ? As this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get the best talent and build a monopoly @rahulkanwal @18RahulJoshi @avikaul

The opportunity is not local or national it is also global. Who will build a global news network emerging out of the crisis? @facebookai @Google @republic @anileshmahajan @anilwanvari isn't this the time to strengthen India's position in global news narrative?

If everybody is running scared and #fearful, it is the time to invest, this is true of business and trading. It has never been more true for the #news #industry than ever. Example, @reliancejio has raised equity during tumultuous times

Who will emerge as players in the #news industry 18-24 months and beyond? Will be decided by what will they do now. Will promoters cut #news collection costs or old hierarchies? Every decision made in fear now will erode competitiveness forever? to be continued.

To be continued

While there are several subscription based model, they will not fill the void that will be left by #newspapers #news, these are nice to read platforms not need to read. The difference is huge: analysis, opinion, text, length, and long form cannot replace #news

But it seems #newsrooms #editors #news #companies #news #managers have lost not only the ability to pivot but also the confidence about their role and need in the life of a #consumer @AshokAkaybee

The #subscription #models do a good job of analysis they are too small to take the role of #newspapers some #grassroot #news companies need to be #created @neeleshmisra

If #incumbents do not respond to the needs of the digital news consumers, new #players will emerge, foresee a consolidation, loss of incumbent influence on the narrative