If you need a feel-good news industry read, read the Newsroom Barometer.
The World Editors Forum gave news editors everywhere a positive shot in the arm this week, publishing its annual “Trends in Newsrooms” report, and concurrently releasing results of a survey with Zogby called the “Newsroom Barometer.” Despite some of the news about print circulation declines and a flat advertising market, the Newsroom Barometer survey revealed senior-level executives are mostly optimistic about the future of newspaper companies.
According to Newsroom Barometer introduction, “[Senior-level executives]accept competition from online sources and free papers, and in turn are making efforts to adapt to the 21st century readership. They know how to effectively transition towards online journalism without dismissing editorial quality. Fifteen years ago, selling newspapers was simply a matter of marketing. But editors-in-chief realize that content matters more than ever and cutting newsroom resources is not at all an effective solution: the redefinition of news will take place with journalists, not against them.”
A few statistics:
85% of senior news executives see a rosy future for their newspaper – even the majority of executives from newspapers whose circulation declined last year.
Half are convinced that the quality of journalism will improve (and another 16 percent said the quality of journalism would remain about the same as it is now).
Eight in ten respondents view online and new media as a welcome addition.
That’s a good attitude for us! Or, good for them...only nine percent of the respondents were from U.S. newspapers. Most -- 42 percent -- of the respondents were from Western Europe, 15 percent were from Africa and 14 percent were from Asia. But still, it’s nice to see positive attitudes about the future of the newspaper industry.
BuzzMachine blogger Jeff Jarvis wrote in response to the Barometer, “One of the biggest threats to the future of newspapers is not the internet, Craig’s List, or freesheets but, indeed, some editors themselves – those who have resisted change and missed so many of the opportunities technology provides to expand journalism.” He continued, “I now see signs of hope as editors embrace the imperative for change.”
The Barometer is a sign that the industry worldwide is moving forward with its head up and the sun shining. Like Jarvis wrote, “Embrace the imperative!”