Publishers join forces for a united lobby voice

THE country's four major newspaper publishers have formed a new venture, the Newspaper Works, to give the industry a united voice on a range of issues from environmental sustainability to collecting readership data.

By InvestSMART · 10 Dec 2011

By InvestSMART ·
10 Dec 2011

Comments

Under the new banner, the publishers at Fairfax Media, News Ltd, Seven West Media and APN News & Media have the scope to discuss, comment and set collective policies to make the sector more efficient for advertisers and readers.

The Newspaper Works' chief executive is Tony Hale. Mark Hollands, the chief executive of the Newspaper Publishers Association, will be responsible for leading the new organisation in areas including advocacy and industry best practice.

Greg Hywood, the chief executive of Fairfax Media, publisher of The Sydney Morning Herald, is the chairman.

Announcing the new group, Mr Hywood said yesterday it would encompass all major issues including advocacy, marketing and advertising, government lobbying and regulation, the environment and professional excellence.

The Newspaper Works will be charged with aggressively promoting newspapers across all print and digital platforms to advertisers, consumers, governments and shareholders as well as to staff and industry partners.

The four major publishers will own The Newspaper Works but membership will be broadened to include other publishers and suppliers as associate members.

"We believe the industry will benefit from having a single voice," Mr Hywood said. "It is not about cost savings but about giving the newspaper and media industry focus and clarity."

Mr Hale said it was an important initiative in what is a very fragmented industry and that it was a world leader in its concept.

"It will enable us to put different skill sets together while also having a collective voice in a range off issues such as sport rights, freedom of information and copyright laws," Mr Hale said.

Go to Google News, then click "Follow" button to add us.

Share this article and show your support

Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…

What is Newspaper Works and why was it created?

Newspaper Works is a new industry venture formed by the country's four major newspaper publishers to give newspapers a united voice on issues from environmental sustainability to collecting readership data. It was created so publishers can discuss, comment and set collective policies to make the sector more efficient for advertisers and readers.

Which companies own Newspaper Works and who is running it?

The venture is owned by four major publishers: Fairfax Media, News Ltd, Seven West Media and APN News & Media. Tony Hale is the chief executive of Newspaper Works, Mark Hollands will lead advocacy and industry best practice, and Greg Hywood (Fairfax Media chief executive) is the chairman.

What are the main goals of Newspaper Works for advertisers and readers?

Newspaper Works aims to aggressively promote newspapers across print and digital platforms to advertisers, consumers, governments and shareholders. Its goals include improving marketing and advertising effectiveness and making the sector more efficient and focused for both advertisers and readers.

Will Newspaper Works help with collecting readership data and measurement?

Yes. Under the new banner the publishers have scope to discuss and set collective policies on issues including collecting readership data, so the industry can coordinate how audience measurement and related practices are handled.

Is the creation of Newspaper Works intended to cut costs for publishers?

No. According to Greg Hywood, the group is not about cost savings. He said the purpose is to give the newspaper and media industry focus and clarity rather than to reduce costs.

Can other publishers or suppliers join Newspaper Works?

Yes. While the four major publishers will own Newspaper Works, membership will be broadened to include other publishers and suppliers as associate members, allowing wider industry participation.

What policy and advocacy areas will Newspaper Works focus on?

Newspaper Works will address a wide range of industry issues including advocacy, marketing and advertising, government lobbying and regulation, the environment, professional excellence, sport rights, freedom of information and copyright laws.

What does Newspaper Works mean for investors in newspaper companies?

For investors, Newspaper Works represents a coordinated industry effort to promote newspapers to governments, advertisers, consumers and shareholders. The group aims to provide a single voice on regulation, marketing and industry standards, which could improve clarity and focus for the sector.