Meeting 1 (1/5/07)

paper --> web movement issue
- cannibalization issue
newspapers are getting thicker
blogger concept in paper medium?
donnelly customized newspaper
bloggers in web versions of newspapers
blog vs newspaper
- = unedited vs edited
- = unvetted vs vetted
bring hyper-democratic concepts from web world into paper world
- influenced by identity of the paper's brand
can editors vet blogs?
increase in blogs and links to blogs in
breaking stories
"trusted aggregator"
how to bring content together
what type of newspapers are we talking about?

agreed to do:

Assignment

For your chosen industry/organisation, start to develop a basic view of assets, product and market segmentation

large reader base
reporting staff
access to government, corporations and other exclusive organizations
physical media distribution
Long term relationships with other news companies (AP & Reuters)
reputation for fairness and accuracy -- Perhaps the single most important source of value for newspapers and the primary source of competitive advantage in the future.
brand equity -- The strongest newspaper brands will prevail
extensive archives -- primary source for historical research
relationships with advertisers and other third parties that allow monetization

physical media
information gathering and pruning
Real product is credibility (http://www.asne.org/index.cfm?ID=2189) - reason people read a particular paper is because they perceive it to be a reliable source of information
Insight, context and commentary on the major issues of the day

developing world
new media consumers
"out of range" consumers==Are there any potential audiences, currently unserved?==
Standard Demographics (age, income, gender, political views etc)
potentially different segments will value different types of reporting - for example younger people may prefer news blogs, people with less time may prefer very concise summaries with links to futher information etc.
also consider different methods of delivery of information - not just via website but to blackberrys, pdas etc.

reporters --> editors --> printing --> delivery/POS --> customer
reporters --> editors --> syndication --> customer
value is in reporting and editing
Value from a P&L/Shareholder point of view is advertising revenues. In some cases it may be the sales cost of each paper
As basic news reporting is now a commodity, value lies in leveraging exclusive content and in providing context and interpretation of the issues of the day.