The end of the broadsheet newspaper?

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www.theaustralian.com.au/...

As I'm sure some of you may have noticed, Fairfax has announced a major restructuring.

Lots of people will be losing their jobs at The Age and Sydney Morning Herald printing sites. The company's broadsheets will also be going "tabloid" (of The Herald Sun variety).

There will also be a paywall going up, similar to the Digital Pass we already see for a few News Ltd newspapers.

It's actually a very sad time as it's the end of the broadsheet. Hopefully it will still have a "hipster" presence with some indie publications using the format.

Only The Australian (a News Ltd publication) remains broadsheet.

What are everyone's thoughts?

19/06/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

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iSR

It's too hard to use. You shouldn't need a ten meter radius to read the newspaper, or a degree in folding. :P

19/06/2012

Perth, WA |

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Tano

iSR said: It's too hard to use. You shouldn't need a ten meter radius to read the newspaper, or a degree in folding.

I don't think that's hurt it though. It's readership is strong considering, and probably met expectations, but a newspaper like The Age makes money from advertising, which has dropped.

A reader of a newspaper costs like $1 to an advertiser, but online, a reader is worth like 1/10th of a cent, so obviously that hurts advertising revenue.

It was just a really crappy business model. I went to The Age for an interview about 2 months back (I didn't get the job because I'm studying full-time, but I got good feedback :D ) and the recruiter told me they were holding back on a digital pass and more online implementation because they wanted to see how The Herald Sun was doing.

I thought, "really? You're waiting?"

It's taken far too long to do this.

19/06/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 26,034

BBking

I think online subscription isn't such a bad idea. Hopefully that means less ads online for them, I'm just thinking about how much they're going to charge? They should do packages, like a business, sport or local one.

This is definitely the wrong way to do it though. It has taken too long and they should have progessively implimented online. Offered online subscription years ago, see how it went and if managed properly, they could have had online and paper distributed together.

I also thought that it wasn't going all tabloid style, but the sizing and format (pics and text) was just tabloid style. I can't imagine The Australian Finacial Review going all Herald Pun. [Facepalm]

I've also heard of people worrying about the integrity of journalists, but I don't think it's going to be that bad, but because it's mostly online. Integrity will differ, just like it does now, but it won't get worse.

I also think Gina has something to do with this. She can own as much as she wants but her getting on the BoD and controlling media will happen, I just hope it's not as "bad" as some are saying.

19/06/2012

Sydney, NSW. Hills District

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Guyver

Times are changing this is inevitable, I don't mind flicking though the occasional newspaper for something different but usually I get all my news online.

iSR said: It's too hard to use. You shouldn't need a ten meter radius to read the newspaper, or a degree in folding.

I used to hate guys on the train that used to try and read those papers.

19/06/2012

I'm a level 5 Laser Lotus

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Leasha

Zomg logged onto the Herald sun the other day and now it requires membership...

*Takes the two months for free offer and then never returns*

19/06/2012

In your house stealing your stuff..

Kudos: 10,518

LMA0

Newspapers has so many uses than just reading them like put into loose shoes to tighten, wiping up liquids, making hats, making fires, using them as weapons and collecting bird poop in under cages.

19/06/2012

Outer West Sydney aka The Ghetto

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Leasha

Making hats! *_* (love)

19/06/2012

In your house stealing your stuff..

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Pilkingbod

I'm hoping the content will remain the same, at least...

The Age is, by far, the most rational print available in Melbourne, and I would like it to stay that way.

19/06/2012

Melting pot of friendship

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Guyver

I got one guy work that buys the paper every day without fall. He's three kind of person that wouldn't like reading his news on a monitor our tablet. I think we'll always need a printed media but it is a slowly dying format. There will be less and less newspapers and magazines as time passes.

19/06/2012

I'm a level 5 Laser Lotus

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whaling

Beta said:
iSR said: It's too hard to use. You shouldn't need a ten meter radius to read the newspaper, or a degree in folding.

I don't think that's hurt it though.

Perhaps I'm just fickle, but that always put me off reading broadsheets.

19/06/2012

On a vessel.

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Snix

Personally, I've always preferred tabloids. Not because of the content (although I am content with what's in it) but the sizing. I've got nothing bad to say about papers like The Age, but damn they're hard to hold.

20/06/2012

"The most hypocritical, power abusive mod on this site." ~ Rivalz

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Milky

Leasha said: Zomg logged onto the Herald sun the other day and now it requires membership...
*Takes the two months for free offer and then never returns*

I know, how shit is that. Why would they make you pay for something you can get elsewhere for free [Facepalm]

20/06/2012

come on, i only want a cuddle!

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Tano

Pilkingbod said: I'm hoping the content will remain the same, at least...
The Age is, by far, the most rational print available in Melbourne, and I would like it to stay that way.

Define "rational" :P

20/06/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

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BBking

Who reckons Gina Rinehart should be on the board of directors for Fairfax?

20/06/2012

Sydney, NSW. Hills District

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Tano

BBking said: Who reckons Gina Rinehart should be on the board of directors for Fairfax?

What are you really asking? :P

She has a right, don't you think? She's going to save that company. Left-wing commentators like my journalism teacher have all gone into a shell now, because they know it's going to be the profiteer that saves arguably two of Australia's most prolific outlets of democracy.

Oh, and Wayne Swan probably needs a good hard lesson as to the definition of "democracy": he says her intentions (an assumption of his) "undermines democracy". So what are you asking, Wayne? That we...block her power? Or FORCE her to sign something she doesn't want to? How democratic...

He's a class war-raging grub.

20/06/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

Kudos: 88,203

Pilkingbod

Beta said:
Pilkingbod said: I'm hoping the content will remain the same, at least...
The Age is, by far, the most rational print available in Melbourne, and I would like it to stay that way.

Define "rational"

For the most part, impartial.

Herald Sun, and all other News Corp publications, has a clear political agenda. It's distasteful.

20/06/2012

Melting pot of friendship

Kudos: 297,579

Tano

Pilkingbod said:
Beta said:
Pilkingbod said: I'm hoping the content will remain the same, at least...
The Age is, by far, the most rational print available in Melbourne, and I would like it to stay that way.

Define "rational"

For the most part, impartial.
Herald Sun, and all other News Corp publications, has a clear political agenda. It's distasteful.

Only the ABC is truly impartial, and it has an obligation to be seeing as though it's the public's broadcaster.

Any outlet outside of that responsibility has a democratic right to shape content relative to its readership.

Coalition voters, for example, are more likely to read the Herald Sun, watching channel 9, channel 7, than a Labor voter. They are also less likely to be swayed AWAY from their beliefs and opinions, and so therefore have most likely already formed an opinion BEFORE they read what paper's like the Herald Sun have had to say. This sort of research is detailed in the recent media inquiry.

Also, the Herald Sun, when asked why it didn't wish to increase funding to the current self-regulatory body to ensure high journalistic standards, said that it's content was shaped around its readership, which is decisively "pro-business". Therefore, in a free market, it has a DEMOCRATIC RIGHT, to shape content relevant to that demographic. That carbon tax, for example, CAN be considered "anti" business considering its DETERRENT (not incentive) for company's to lower greenhouse omissions, which can compromise the productivity, efficiency, and fairness of a company's pricing of its products. It is therefore in the Herald Sun's obligatory right to scrutinise the tax.

You do realise that calls for "fairness" are political opportunism at its finest, right? See Bob Brown's attack on News Ltd, and the timing of the media inquiry.

20/06/2012

"Niko! Cousin!"

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M@ndyz

I just don't see them COMPLETELY going digital cause at my work the old people loooooove the herald sun.. We sell more then the age. I like looking at the pictures in the tea room before work if they disappeared then I'd ave to talk to someone and what then? :'(

20/06/2012

Add me on steam........... bootie [mmgn] Or raptr.......... bootie101 Or wiiu. actually don't add me on wiiu im never on it :p

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Pilkingbod

Beta said: . It is therefore in the Herald Sun's obligatory right to scrutinise the tax.
.

Absolutely. I have no issue with their right to shape their content in any light they wish.

My main concern is that I'm able to pick holes in moral panics conjured up by the Herald sun, that a lot of its readers are not willing to do, and, furthermore, choose to ignore. The facade of branding anything as "political correctness gone mad" in the face of anything controversial being a major one.

I am getting off-topic, but my main point is that I don't like the Herald Sun :P. But seriously, I would prefer Fairfax publications to remain as they are, however, the inevitability of digital media monopolising the current formats deems my wishes nothing more than false hopes. I can only hope that the current format is largely unchanged through this transition.

Seems mad to think the size of the print would dictate content, but who knows?

20/06/2012

Melting pot of friendship

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Skarteh

Pilkingbod said:
Seems mad to think the size of the print would dictate content, but who knows?

Actually I think it would be mad to assume it won't. It won't be immediate but I can all but assure you, you will see changes over time. The identity and perception of the paper will be greatly changed, as will the accessibility. Both of these things will likely affect the readership immensely and you'll probably see changes to cater for the new readers. At the moment the age is read by those who are willing to put up with the broadsheet for the quality of journalism, take that point of inaccessibility away and the average reader will change over time. Once market research picks up on the new trend you'll probably see the changes being made. This will likely alienate more of the existing readers and bring in more of the new, so the paper has a very different audience to cater for.

Could be totally wrong of course but if you think about it the above is very possible.

21/06/2012

Melbourne, Victoria | Walk with me in hell

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BBking

Beta said:
BBking said: Who reckons Gina Rinehart should be on the board of directors for Fairfax?

What are you really asking?

Just that. :)

I think she has a right, absolutely. But even the current board don't exactly want it to happen, or at least restrict her powers. It's just that, I'm not very sure that the content will be "as ballanced". She wants 3 seats?!?! That's a joke. We've just seen it's loosing money, so it's clear she hasn't bought just under 20% of the company to invest. She wants control of the media.

I don't think it's her that will save the company. It would have needed to be managed properly, even if she didn't buy 20% of it. It's managment that will save it.

And I totally disagree with Swan. That it's a threat to democracy, that's a joke.

Skarteh said:
Pilkingbod said:
Seems mad to think the size of the print would dictate content, but who knows?

Actually I think it would be mad to assume it won't.

I'm with Derms here. The Financial Review is in a smaller format. Less pics, more text though but still. I'm guessing The Sun is similar to the Daily Telegraph? That's the same size as the AFR but in tabloid style. And not worth reading.

I still think the way this has been implemented has been a joke. Online subscriptions should have been available years ago...

21/06/2012

Sydney, NSW. Hills District

Kudos: 73,646

winga26

M@ndyz said: I just don't see them COMPLETELY going digital cause at my work the old people loooooove the herald sun.. We sell more then the age. I like looking at the pictures in the tea room before work if they disappeared then I'd ave to talk to someone and what then?

I think it would be very tough on a lot of people if it went completely digital, I worked in the printing industry for a short time (not printing news papers) and between change over on the machines most people read the paper, if that was digital they couldn't do that as there's no way they'd want to touch electronics with filthy hands and have it in that environment where it gets all sorts of spills.

21/06/2012

GET YOUR BLOOD PUMPING - GO SWANS!

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Pilkingbod

Skarteh said:
Could be totally wrong of course but if you think about it the above is very possible.

Good points you raise. In fact, I'm now with you. Scary thought, but we'll see where it goes.

21/06/2012

Melting pot of friendship

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SevenII

BBking said: ... She wants 3 seats?!?! That's a joke. ...

Maybe it's for comfortability. She is a big lady. :P

We used to carve out stuff on stone tablets, way back in the day. This to me is just the next evolution in recording human text. I don't really get the controversy.

I am actually kinda surprised paper has kept it's popularity this far, with all the reasons we now have not to use it.

22/06/2012

Far side of the world... (Sydney)

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