While newspaper publishers are optimistic about the future and digital platforms, more than 40 percent see declining staffs as a serious threat, finds a survey from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, notes Grumpy Editor.
As the latest example of staff cuts, MU released survey results on the day U-T San Diego publisher Douglas F. Manchester finalized purchase of North County Times, Escondido, Calif., from Lee Enterprises and announced the layoff of 80 Times staffers --- one third of the payroll --- including two dozen from the newsroom.
In what is described as the largest survey of its kind, with in-depth interviews of publishers, presidents, senior vice presidents or other senior managers from more than 450 U.S. daily newspapers, optimism remains about the future of the newspaper business, finds Michael Jenner, the Houston Harte Endowed Chair at MU’s School of Journalism and Reynolds Journalism Institute at MU.
Nearly two-thirds of responding publishers express optimism for the future, while only four percent of respondents are negative about the industry, notes Jenner who joined the MU faculty two years ago from The Bakersfield Californian, which he joined in 1993 as managing editor and later became the daily’s top editor. Earlier, he was M.E. of the Hartford Courant.
Jenner’s survey also finds that despite declining print circulation numbers in recent years, more than 60 percent of publishers do not envision a time in the future when their publications will no longer issue print versions.
The survey also shows 90 percent of publishers expect revenue increases for their digital news renditions in the next year.
“Publishers are definitely feeling a sense of urgency to embrace digital platforms,” says Jenner. “Even though most publishers see a future in printed newspapers, most know that digital platforms, such as websites and mobile applications, are where the potential for increased revenue exists.”
Many newspapers have been "forced to implement large cuts to their staffs in recent years" stemming from the poor economy, adds Jenner. "This makes it very difficult for papers to innovate and develop new revenue models, particularly in the digital sphere. If newspapers want to survive in their current form, they are going to have to find ways to maintain enough resources to find new forms of revenue."
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