TAKEAWAY: As readers of this blog know, we have been involved for the past year with a very special project: to help the Philadelphia newspapers as they reorganize to emerge from bankruptcy and get back on their feet. A new publisher has arrived and here are some of his thoughts.
A more local newspaper orientation
Greg Osberg, the new publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Daily News, was interviewed recently on public radio.
Osberg presented his vision for the company and we offer you highlights of the interview:
Local, local: Make the papers more and more local (“hyperlocal”), but the website should have a broader reach.
Partnerships: Form partnerships with other organizations (including other media companies) for syndicated content, particularly national and international news and hyperlocal information on the Philly suburbs. Make Philly.com into a regional portal.
Platform synergies: Integrate the various platforms, particularly in regard to advertising. Tailor content for each platform—don’t shovel print articles onto mobile devices, for example.
Technical innovation: Emphasize innovation, particularly technological. Citing recent experiment with 3-D advertising as example of things to do.
Quality journalism: Keep focus on investigative, unique journalism. Ensure that all journalists can produce content for all different devices and styles of reporting.
Focus on two people: the consumer and the advertiser.
Brand distinctions: Differentiate the Inquirer and Daily News brands.
From print to digital: Link online and print, with an eye toward bundling online subscriptions with print subscriptions. Note: The work that Garcia Media has done recently on DN prototypes is particularly strong in bringing the online content into the print edition.]
Mobile devices: Coming from a mobile company background, Osberg has a particular interest in mobile devices. Although he mentions iPad as something to look into, but doesn’t seem to be his focus at the moment.
Previous blogs about The Philadelphia Story
The new front page is here: Philadelphia Daily News
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/philad
A very special project for me: The Philadelphia Story
https://garciamedia.com/blog/articles/a_very_special_project_for_me_the_philadelphia_story
The Philadelphia Story: Discussing the Non-Project Project
https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/the_philadelphia_story_entry_2_discussing_the_non_project_project
The Philadelphia Story (Entries 3-4-5):I recognize this conference room
https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/the_philadelphia_story_entry_3_i_recognize_this_conference_room
The Philadelphia Story (Entry #6): We present; positive reactions
https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/the_philadelphia_story_entry_6_we_present_positive_reactions/
In Philadelphia: moving philly.com to the top of the page
https://www.garciamedia.com/blog/articles/in_philadelphia_moving_philly.com_to_the_top_of_the_page/
TheMarioBlog post #566