Are Newspapers Dead Yet?

I love to read the newspaper, even if I am travelling I will read the local newspaper and try to see what is happening. I could read online as well but I like a hard-copy.

With my favorite Canadian newspaper announcing a paywall coming soon I am starting to wonder what will a newspaper look like in 5 years – never mind a decade.

[quote]The Washington Post Company’s newspaper division has lost money in 13 of the last 15 quarters. Total loss over that period: $412m. The latest quarterly figures reveal a $23m loss and a 7% drop in revenue. Indeed, revenue has now slithered down in 20 of the last 22 quarterly returns.

Last year’s annual figures show it at $314m, a third less than in 2006. Print advertising has shrivelled by 53% in that period. As for digital ad revenue, and supposed salvation, that’s down too – by 8% in the new returns. Amazingly, it too has slipped back over the past five years.[/quote]

In a way to generate revenue differently,  the Washington Post has pushed up its print cover price by 76% in the last five years, losing nearly 30% of its circulation in the process.

I believe that the newspaper should not alienate either audience.

What I don’t like about the newspaper business is that no audience profile is done – when a transaction is done on a purchase the newspaper has no clue about the reader!