THE EVER-EGREGIOUS Google has been putting its oar into the newspaper business, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
Yeah, while all around us newspapers fall – yeah unto the IT Examiner and The News – CEO Eric Schmidt has been advising suits from newspapers how to do their business better.
Schmidt, according to the Journal, told the Newspaper Association of America that publishers need to create a new format for online journalism.
That, Schmidt reckons, means creating personalised content readers want to read.
It’s readers that newspapers should always keep in mind, of course, and experienced journalists will produce copy and headlines that catch the eye, and taste good too.
Unfortunately, too many publishers think of their journalists as data gatherers, which is why so many journalists are being laid off all around the world, in a bid to reduce costs.
Online journalism is like any other journalism, Mr Schmidt. The overheads are much smaller than those of print journalism, but readers want hard hitting stuff, not regurgitated pap and crap. The Journal article is here – you will need a subscription. ♦
