Finally, the snow is melting and the ice is starting to thaw, but very soon we can expect another round of winter. While winters are rarely the same, the patterns are there to suggest what can be expected next.
Similarly, after dozens of years in the Newspaper business, we have seen the wax and wane of business when the economy tightens up. No recession is the same, but the general patterns are there to suggest what is likely to happen. Like most other industries, the Newspaper business continues to face challenges – among them heightened competition from new media forms as each medium vies for plain old dollars and cents.
There is no question that as the recession deepens the face of Newspapers will continue to change as well. The move to different formats, the outright cancellation of some publication days, and the implementation of niche products to soak up advertising revenue are all notions that we have seen before.
It seems to us that few ask the important question: are the proposed changes good for the Newspaper business overall? We would argue that part of the loss in circulation and advertising revenue can be attributed to doing less for more, rather than providing the greatest possible value for the least amount of money possible.
We’re a little old-fashioned in our business approach. That doesn’t mean we are opposed to change; simply any changes we make have to benefit our readers and advertisers. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Our new look this week is a result of many weeks tweaking the graphic elements to improve readability, access to colour plates for our advertisers and making for a cleaner read. We have also improved our website, where readers can look for additional News of interest, extra photos and a decent archive of recent months of News and articles of interest.
There is more to come. In the meantime, please take solace in the reprieve from winter and enjoy the new look of your Wellington Advertiser. Constructive comments are always appreciated.
