Not just The Times, but The Scotsman, The Press & Journal and The Courier.
Newspapers everywhere are under greater pressure than ever before to come up with the answer to how they can survive in 2012 and beyond. As they face a blitz attack of competing communications channels from Twitter to Facebook, the position of traditional newspapers is under threat, so it is not a light-hearted matter – far from it – and is one which has an impact upon everyone in business.
This January alone we witnessed different tactics being adopted by three of Scotland’s main dailies. The Scotsman announced it is making a full digital version of the newspaper available via its newly launched iPad app while both the Courier and the P&J have shifted from broadsheet format to compact in a bid to revitalise the product.
The reason for such moves is an attempt to maintain income flows and/or arrest the decline in circulation figures which have been steadily spiralling downwards, in the main due to the numbers of people turning to the proliferation of new online sources to get their information.
Those who see this as ‘market forces’ may believe it is a natural progression or ‘survival of the fittest’, and that the digital revolution will simply see new and different means of us getting our daily information fix. Quicker, cheaper, easier. Mobile info, when I want it.
This is to miss a key point; content is the key and it must be allied to a quality, reliable source. Digital delivery does have several benefits but the proliferation of self-appointed blogging experts (and I do see the irony of using this means to express my views) cannot replace the trustworthiness gained over decades which is inherent in our principal newspapers.
It may seem odd to say that at a time when the phone hacking scandals are still having severe repercussions (and rightly so) but I believe that the publications serving Scotland’s business community have, overall, a tremendous record of delivering good quality information. Scotland’s business journalists are informed, they are integrated into the business community and they have built up justifiable reputations as good analysts who write coherently and effectively on a wide range of topics.
My concern is that we have entered an era where anyone with a PC or smart phone can become ‘an instant expert’. Bloggers, tweeters, posters all have the power to deliver their views to a wide audience, but lack the accountability (and, mostly, the experience) that mark out the Scottish media as a vital cog in the nation’s business infrastructure. Quality information from reliable sources is what we need.
Worryingly, there is a real risk that some of these important publications could disappear – to me, this is an appalling prospect. Too many people are being seduced by the belief that, somehow, the means to Tweet one’s thoughts in 140 characters is the 21st century equivalent of the Gutenberg printing press.
I do not want to know what “Jim from Arbroath” or “Susie from Kilwinning” thinks (BBC Breakfast – take note). I want to read the reporting – and views – of someone who has, through their ability and hard work, achieved a position on a business desk and who, through continuing effort and acquired knowledge, delivers quality copy on a regular basis within a system of editorial checks and balances.
Scottish businesses need quality journalism and we must support it however we can – we risk losing it at our peril.
Monty does it again – who is teaching this guy good PR habits (and how long will it last)?
Faced with an impossible task of picking three wild cards for the European Ryder Cup team that will satisfy all observers of golf’s greatest gladiatorial challenge, he suddenly becomes Mr Europe – the diplomat ‘par excellence’.
Edoardo Molinari’s triumph at Gleneagles in the Johnny Walker Championship was of great assistance to Monty as it meant that he can field a double act of Italian Titans with the Molinari brothers teaming up to reprise their World Cup triumph. He had a similar outstanding ‘last ditch’ performance from Peter Hanson in winning the Czech Open to force his way into the team.
So why did he choose to omit Rose and Casey? Could it be because they are two Englishmen too many – surely not?
Well, he opted for Padraig Harrington whose Ryder Cup performances are pretty poor – but he is Irish. Tick another European country box.
We now have England (Westwood, Poulter, Donald and Fisher); Northern Ireland (McDowell and McIlroy); Germany (Kaymer); Italy (the Molinaris); Sweden (Hanson); Spain (Jimenez) and Ireland (Harrington). Sticking with this, add the fact that he has vice captains who are from Northern Ireland (Clarke), Ireland (McGinley) and Denmark (Bjorn) and then he asks Sergio Garcia of Spain to become the fourth such office holder. And just to complete his set of UK countries he adds Rhys Davies of Wales as his personal driver for the Celtic Manor tournament – and Monty is Scots ……House!
It is hard not to think that someone bought him a European Atlas for his birthday, or that he has aspirations to create a new League of Nations. Whatever the reason, he has created a real trans-European set up.
The acid test is, of course, to see if they can beat our Transatlantic cousins, and it will be every interesting to see how Monty reacts, whether in adversity or triumph.
Acumen takes its collective hat off to the the PR/media advisers working with Colin Montgomerie in his role as Ryder Cup Captain. And we doff our golf hat to the man himself.
Sometimes seen as a Teddy Bear with Toothache or the butt of various Mrs Doubtfire jibes, Colin Montgomerie produced a terrific performance at the Press Conference to announce his choice of three Ryder Cup Vice-Captains. His focus on “This team of captains”, as opposed to himself, was in stark contrast to his predecessor. By choosing Darren Clarke, someone who he has not always seen eye to eye with, he demonstrated in one action that he is all about putting the European team first. His choice of words where he constantly referred to the team, and the respect, passion and commitment of his Vice-Captains (and himself) kept the focus superbly on the collective that is the team and avoided any accusation of ‘self interest’.
It will be interesting to see how he maintains this approach, but it has certainly been a great start and a good lesson in how to pitch a sporting message at a major press event.
Backtracking has never been FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s forte. However, whilst other sports – tennis and rugby union are two that spring to mind – have embraced modern technology to help referees judge whether points are won or lost, football has stuck rigidly to the time-honoured method of relying on the decision making of a referee or a linesman.
Ahead of the World Cup any talk of goal line technology being introduced was firmly rejected, but Frank Lampard’s ‘goal that never was’ for England in the match against Germany appears to have now softened Blatter’s stance.
It’s a major climb down, of course. Blatter painted himself into a corner by refusing any further talk of technology being introduced, but then, following a global public outcry, he has had put the issue back on the agenda for discussion at the next FIFA meeting.
Doubtless the PR machine at FIFA HQ will be working overtime on turning a negative into a positive, but even with their best efforts it’s hard to conclude that Mr Blatter did anything other than score a very obvious PR own-goal! In the words of that famous Number 7 (well, okay 007), “Never shay, Never”.
….and keeping in the sporting vein
