While tablets and smart-phones have become an important, dominant force in computing, it’s become apparent that they will not be the saviors of print media.
Digital subscription sales are well behind the penetration of the gadgets. The economic pressure on newspaper and magazines will continue unabated – unless there is a change. The solution is simple, but radical – possibly too radical for sluggish and timid “old media” to take on: Newspapers need to exert their mass.
Rather than maintaining the current subscription and advertising model, what if we abandon the latter part of that equation? What if we pass the disruption onto the advertising industry by removing the advertising agencies?
If we cut out all the advertising and just publish news, then we can help curtail the newsprint bill but, admittedly, the advertising revenue will leave an enormous hole.