NSA_Randy

Huffington Challenges Newspaper Peers

So we grow our business on the backs of unpaid "contributors" and by making money off people who actually created something of value without compensation. Given her political views, you'd think everyone is at least being paid a "living wage." Oh, that rule only applies to the big bad "for profits." Typical leftist drivel.

Newspapers: Three Nails, One Coffin

Most newspapers have less than 20% circulation in the suburbs??? Where do you get your facts... the internet? I am in the media buying business and despite the slight erosion, newspapers still dominate other forms of media. Get your facts straight before you write the obit.

And Jarvis... Valassis may have said they are moving away from newspapers in 3 markets due to circ declines, but that is just an excuse. Valassis is a competitor to newspapers and is happy to steal business away whenever they can.


On Aug 25 10:11 PM Relayer10 wrote:

> The move by Valassis and movies are even more insidious...
>
> When I was in the biz, many newspapers took the Valassis insert package
> for FREE. I knew of some that paid Valassis to get them! The reason
> was readership. Same with movies. Without the coupon package on the
> weekend, a very significant number of people will stop subscribing...which
> will increase the death spiral.
>
> Moving to direct mail is more a function distribution control. Advertisers
> want high propensity geography, with minimal waste. Most newspapers
> now have less than 50% circulation in the core area, and less than
> 20% in the suburbs. Too much missed opportunity at too high a price.
> Right now, that works due to the ability of carrier route distribution.
> As the USPS becomes less viable, the government will be forced to
> increase prices dramatically- which will drive these advertisers
> online....and harm Valassis. It's not a matter of "if"....but actually
> "when".

Print Ad Losses to the Internet: It Ain't Over Yet

They are trying, but have found that nothing drives sales like FSIs. It is way too early to write off printed FSIs or newspapers for that matter. Email and SEO may be cheaper, but they drive a lot less footsteps to the store.


On Jul 14 09:01 PM Relayer10 wrote:

> Regarding FSI's....they are under extinction watch as well. Right
> now, traditional pre-print advertisers are aggressively looking for
> more effective and less expensive methods. Supermarkets entice by
> using membershop cards- and opt in email delivery of their flier.
> The real beauty- it's not a far leap to tailor that message to exactly
> the customers most likely to buy specific products. High end products
> to high end customers with a buying history for example (Wegmans
> already does this),
>
> I get both Target and Best Buy in similar fashion. It is not very
> hard to merge that knowledge with SEM...and look out insert marketers.
>
>
> Thank Al Gore again for giving the retailer a huge tax penalty (Cap
> & Trade) for using carbon to print and then truck the insert
> across the country. The cost of printing and trucking alone is in
> the billions annually. Even without Cap & Trade, the incentive
> to stop printing and trucking is HUGE!
>
> What fraction of the savings will it cost to convert to opt in email,
> and search engine marketing to fund the conversion- especially if
> Cap & Trade passes? How many unemployed tech types are working
> on this right now? How many newpapers execs would not listen 5 years
> ago when the idea was brought to them?

Print Ad Losses to the Internet: It Ain't Over Yet

To your point about delivery of FSIs, the industry is working towards opt-in delivery of ad packages to non-subscribers to take advantage of infrastructure already in place. Gannett is doing this and others are following. FSI advertisers are taking notice so don't write off this area so soon because News Corp still needs someone to deliver the FSI - either USPS or newspaper carrier. The internet will never replace the printed FSI's ability to drive $sales.

Marketers: Old Media Is Losing the Advertising Budget Battle

jbofen... you stole my thunder! Traditional media drive a ton of business and CMOs are being victimized by all of the negative headlines, especially from Wall St. analysts who hold a huge bias since most would make money off the industry's demise. In addition, most ad agencies are driving their clients to new media because it is "cool." But guess what, it doesn't drive sales. New media/Social Media, etc are nice, but should not dominate any marketers budget. The audience is fickle and frankly views marketing as a negative. CMOs, would be silly to give up on newspapers, OOH etc. There is no better time to get great pricing and valuable audiences.


On Jul 08 11:08 AM jbofen wrote:

> print, tv and radio are the one's that deliver the best results for
> advertisers. (This next from a 24/7 Wall. article - "Marketeers fooling
> around with Myspace & Facebook - so far with little success.
> They'll turn to twitter because growth rate will hit 100%. But how
> does a marketeer reach people who do nothing but type 140 character
> messages and send them into cyberspace? Trying to put a square peg
> into twitter won't work, but alot of capital will be wasted proving
> that. Twitter will be a bad fit for advertising. No reason to recommend
> it as a way to reach people to sell product or services. The roadside
> billboard is about to make a comeback."

Small Newspapers Are Faring Better than Their Big Brothers

I take issue with your assessment that the death of newspapers is imminent. It is certainly struggling, but as one who monitors the industry very closely, too much negative is reported and not enough positive (by Wall St. analysts especially.) You may see some additional bankruptcies due to lingering debt, but most will emerge in a much better place. Mark my words.

Gannett, McClatchy Face Stubborn Bondholders: A Creative Solution

other newspaper companies face similar debt loads... will CDSs also impact others?