We know regional newspaper publishers, making about a third less money than last year, are in trouble. But the stones under which Trinity Mirror is suggesting they look for new money show just how convinced it is that conventional news content can any longer be a money-spinner by itself…
Here’s what the editorial director of Trinity Mirror regionals, Neil Benson, told today’s Society of Editors conference (via Press Gazette and J.co.uk)…
• Become a PR agency: “People who work in the regional press know what it takes to hit the spot in terms of press releases. So why shouldn’t all regional publishers think about launching arm’s-length PR agencies or a full-service agency?”
• Do marketing for clients: “Benson suggested that regional newspaper publishers could also use their skills in search engine optimisation to help commercial paying clients,” PG reports, adding that Benson says papers should “work with advertisers on campaigns which include creating dedicated websites and including editorial content”. Trinity already made £3m last year from advertorial supplements, he said.
• Turn government into a customer: Trinity’s north-east paper The Journal is making six-figure annual revenue from helping Northumberland County Council communicate via a hyperlocal website. Benson wants to follow Bob Geldof’s Ten Alps, which is doig a good job of convincing local councils to cough up for regional web TV sites.
• Make video for advertisers: “Benson also suggested that local papers could hire out their video-making expertise to local businesses and said that they need to come up with technology to make it easier to sell photos online.” Again, straight out of Ten Alps’s playbook.
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