News Corp chief executive Robert Thomson has told staff of The Daily Telegraph during a newsroom meeting that print will continue to play a key role in the media giant’s multi-platform publishing strategy.
He also railed against much of the content on the internet, calling it ‘a cauldron of crap’.
During the discussion with staff Thomson took aim at rival Fairfax Media by emphasising the importance of the printed newspaper at a time when ‘lesser media companies are contemplating’ a move away from weekday print.
Thomson took the opportunity to slam digital content, arguing it is no match for traditional journalism produced by quality publishers like News Ltd.
“We have to confidently exert the values of all our platforms and our people. There is a vast cauldron of crap content out there. It is ladled out liberally by distributors and recyclists who are not environmentally sound but are the news equivalent of strip miners,” he says.
“This is why we have to work so hard to protect our intellectual property and assert our values and the primacy of acts of creation.”
Thomson went on to say print media with authoritative analysis and expert commentary has never been more important to readers, given the current landscape of global economic recovery and political instability.
He added, “The rapid pace at which the contemporary world is turning with attendant economic and social upheaval has put a premium on premium content.”
Thomson’s sentiments were echoed by figures released today by Enhanced Media Metrics Australia which revealed 13.7 million people, or 76 per cent of the population, read a newspaper in the past month.
Fairfax’s Sydney Morning Herald took out the top spot for readership once again, with 6.06 million readers in June, this was followed by The Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun which garnered 4.6 million and 4.2 million readers respectively.
Commenting on the results, CEO of industry body NewsMediaWorks, Mark Hollands chose to spruik the value of digital.
“Digital news media is an ideal and important platform for reaching metro commuters on their way to and from work each day at a time when they are looking to be entertained and informed,” he says.
“The stability of news media readership further demonstrates that our audience is loyal and engaged with quality, influential and trusted journalism.”
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