BIA/Kelsey ILM West 2011

Paton: Time To 'Step Forward' In New Media

Digital First CEO John Paton told attendees at the ILM West conference that it was time for newspapers to "step forward with the new digital market." Fellow newspaperman, Deseret CEO Clark Gilbert, added that focusing on communities is the key to newspapers' success in new media.
By
NetNewsCheck,

SAN FRANCISCO — Traditional newspapers are taking steps to fix the industry’s “broken” model by changing the way they relate to their communities, two forward-thinking newspapermen said Monday at the BIA/Kelsey’s ILM West conference here.

Digital First Media CEO John Paton and Deseret Media CEO Clark Gilbert agreed in separate presentations that the business environment was improving now that newspaper companies were finally adapting to the new media market.

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"I'm the newspaper guy that people get a kick out of because I say, 'newspapers are broken,'” Paton said. "The newspaper model is irretrievably broken."

Digital First has recently taken on the revamping the Web presence of MediaNews Group's 56 daily newspapers across the country, as well as those of the Journal Register Co.

"It's time to step forward with the new digital market," Paton said. "We're getting closer to the Holy Grail of value alignment with our communities."

Paton also announced that Digital First has created a new venture capital company that will invest in startup companies specializing in content, advertising and building audiences. Digital First Ventures will launch in the first quarter of 2012.

"We're merging our considerable scale with startup innovation," Paton said.

Paton said newspaper companies had made a strategic mistake by trying to offer something for everybody instead of concentrating on excellence.

"We're trying to be average at everything instead of being great at some things," he said. "Average loses every time on the Web; it can survive in print, but it loses every time on the Web."

Gilbert said newspapers had erred in focusing on what was important to their employees instead of what was important to their communities.

Salt Lake City-based Deseret, owned by the Church of Latter Day Saints, includes in its content items on family, education and faith in the community.

"There's a huge faith gap in newsrooms," he said. "Faith and family is not a niche."

Gilbert also said one of his company's innovations, a Family Media Guide that advised readers about movies and programs suitable for families, had grown in popularity and was beginning to be licensed to other media companies.

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Bjarne Ruebel posted 5 months ago
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I take issue with Mr. Gilbert's assertion that "newspapers ... erred in focusing on what was important to their employees ... ." That's like blaming a grounded ship on the crew doing the rowing. The blame rightly belongs on the bridge with the captains (of industry) who lacked the vision and leadership to steer a course toward the future. I agree there is a "huge faith gap in newsrooms" where reporters and editors have no faith in their managers to allow them to provide for their families. Remember, Deseret's newspaper recently shed nearly 100 employees. So much for faith and family.

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