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Australian publisher 'on a journey from print to digital' Australian publisher 'on a journey from print to digital'
(5 months later)
Greg Hywood, chief executive of the Australian newspaper publisher, Fairfax Media, believes his company could abandon newsprint in favour of digital "in three, five or 10 years."Greg Hywood, chief executive of the Australian newspaper publisher, Fairfax Media, believes his company could abandon newsprint in favour of digital "in three, five or 10 years."
In future, he predicts that printed newspapers will be "expensive, bespoke and narrowly distributed" (as do I, though I don't agree with his time scale).In future, he predicts that printed newspapers will be "expensive, bespoke and narrowly distributed" (as do I, though I don't agree with his time scale).
A week ago, Hywood told the annual conference of the International News Media Association (INMA) in New York that Fairfax was "on the journey from print to digital" in the face of fast-falling print revenues.A week ago, Hywood told the annual conference of the International News Media Association (INMA) in New York that Fairfax was "on the journey from print to digital" in the face of fast-falling print revenues.
Of course, he sees the problem from a business, as distinct from journalistic, perspective. So his approach to the problem created by the digital revolution involve taking ruthless commercial decisions.Of course, he sees the problem from a business, as distinct from journalistic, perspective. So his approach to the problem created by the digital revolution involve taking ruthless commercial decisions.
To that end, he is slashing fixed costs in a three-year restructuring that will result in the loss of about 1,900 jobs, amounting to a fifth of Fairfax's workforce.To that end, he is slashing fixed costs in a three-year restructuring that will result in the loss of about 1,900 jobs, amounting to a fifth of Fairfax's workforce.
Hywood also introduced an ugly piece of jargon to describe the process, saying that publishers needed to "variablise" costs. Individual newspaper titles had to remain profitable to avoid the print axe.Hywood also introduced an ugly piece of jargon to describe the process, saying that publishers needed to "variablise" costs. Individual newspaper titles had to remain profitable to avoid the print axe.
Meanwhile, cost savings were to be delivered by outsourcing functions - such as call centres and copy editing - and even an absence of offices.Meanwhile, cost savings were to be delivered by outsourcing functions - such as call centres and copy editing - and even an absence of offices.
Hywood explained: "If you work for Fairfax you get a smart phone, a laptop and we make a commitment to you that we measure you on outputs, not whether you show up. You work where you want to work. As long as you do the work successfully, you can work for us."Hywood explained: "If you work for Fairfax you get a smart phone, a laptop and we make a commitment to you that we measure you on outputs, not whether you show up. You work where you want to work. As long as you do the work successfully, you can work for us."
Sources: Poynter/The AustralianSources: Poynter/The Australian
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