It often has been predicted that traditional newspapers would die as readers
got used to reading their news on the Web. But there's an alternative:
developing the traditional newspaper to fill other needs.
The Danish newspaper
Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten has decided to relaunch eight of its daily sections in a new tabloid magazine style at the end of the year. The
main newspaper will still cover domestic, international, and business news.
But the second/third sections which cover areas such as lifestyle, sports,
travel, and home will be printed on better paper, in magazine layout -- and
with articles that focus on meeting readers' needs. (
Read more in
Danish.)
Editors from
Jyllands-Posten explain that readers often have very little
time to read the paper in the morning, and when they return in the
afternoon, they need a really good reason to pick up the old paper again.
Sounds obvious. In the afternoon, the contents of the morning paper are close
to 24 hours old, and readers meanwhile have been bombarded with updated news
on TV, radio, and the Web.
There's no doubt that we're in the middle of a huge media evolution where
those who adapt stand a better chance of survival. Newspapers have for the
past 10-20 years moved toward providing more analysis and lifestyle
and less "instant" news. Who knows, it may be that newspapers survive --
without the news.
Though it brings somewhat relief to see facts in words...
