Wednesday, March 23, 2011
New launch shows the basics and innovation can work
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/mar/23/local-newspapers-downturn
It’s good to see that Paul Holden’s gamble on starting the Worthing Journal seems to be paying off.
Sticking to the basics of creating a good local newspaper is working for him.
But he’s also reaping rewards from innovating in ways the big boys wouldn’t. Would they look to sell in carpet shops? I very much doubt it. Especially as so many have outsourced distribution. Do you see WH Smith or John Menzies pushing to develop new retail outlets like that? No, me neither.
Of course he’s also got the advantage of not being weighed down by the standard corporate overheads like a pension scheme, shareholder dividend to produce or corporate debt to pay off.
Perhaps there lies the solution for smaller titles nearing the end with corporate owners — sell them to small-time locals who can run them on a sustainable basis because they have lesser overheads to meet. They may not like the small margins they can get from them, but guys like Paul might.
Labels: innovation, local newspapers
