Times are changing for media industry
Aug 21 2009 By Andrew Hebden, The Journal
IT has been described as a perfect storm. The onset of the recession – with its impact on advertising revenues in particular – has hit the media sector hard, just as it was coming to terms with the digital revolution.
Newspaper businesses today are significantly different from just two or three years ago. The all-encompassing power of the internet has forced a complete rethink about the way news is delivered – and that is just as true at a local level as it is nationally.
The Journal owner Trinity Mirror in the North East, for example, was one of the pioneers of so-called hyper-local websites – first in Teesside and subsequently in Northumberland.
It is a model that has won national acclaim, providing an additional way to interact with the communities the newspapers serve, complementing the existing printed brands. In February, the BBC’s ambitions to develop its own network of hyper-local sites were rejected by the BBC Trust because of the impact it would have on commercial competitors.
In the face of tough economic conditions, there have been restructuring programmes at all the major regional newspaper groups – including Trinity, Johnston Press and Newsquest in the North East. All have shed jobs and there have also been many office and title closures. At The Journal’s parent company ncjMedia, April saw the departure of managing director Steve Brown, who has been replaced by former commercial director David Simms.
The changes have not been restricted to the newspaper publishers. In May, Graeme Thompson announced he was standing down as managing director of Tyne Tees Television. He had been with ITV since 1989 and was news editor and director of broadcasting before taking over as managing director.
His final year in charge was a turbulent one for the organisation as it finally merged with Border Television in Carlisle, a move that saw a wave of redundancies across the business, including the departure of some high-profile presenters.
Back at the BBC, Peter Salmon was unveiled as the new supremo of the North of England. Mr Salmon, who it emerged is one of 27 BBC executives who earn more than the Prime Minister, has promised to revitalise television production in the North East in the face of growing concern about the region’s vanishing TV profile.
Mr Salmon, who will be based at the new BBC complex at Salford Quays, visited Newcastle to announce that a new series of children’s show Tracey Beaker would be made in the region.
Mr Salmon said: "The North East has been neglected for a number of reasons, mainly because network programmes sometimes feel remote and that they operate from hundreds of miles away."
Changes have also been taking place in the radio sector, with the disappearance of the long-established Century Radio name. Owner Guardian Media group rebranded the station Real Radio earlier this year, in line with its other stations around the UK.
