Editorial and content production now make up a third of news organisations’ costs, according to WAN-IFRA’s recently published World Press Trends Outlook report.
The costs of the news business have shifted during recent years as publishers have been adopting digital transformation as a core strategy.
A third of costs now coming from editorial
Twenty or even 10 years ago, nearly 50% of publishers’ costs came from print production, (particularly with newsprint), and distribution. This has since dropped to 21.4%.
Instead, editorial and content production now make up a third of total costs. And while editorial making up the majority of investment is encouraging to see, the figure is actually lower than what typically accounted for the costs of producing news 10 or 20 years ago when it stood at around 35%.
International Women’s Day presented an opportunity for us to think about gender equality and the long and often frustrating march toward societies that are truly equal.
As media, we are uniquely placed to drive forward this reflection and discussion. But while focusing on the challenges of gender in society, we owe it to our staff and the communities we serve to also take a hard look at the obstacles within our own organisations.
I’m talking specifically about the scourge of sexual harassment. It’s likely to have happened in your newsroom. It has likely happened to a member of your team. It happens to all genders but is disproportionately directed at women. It happens in every industry, regardless of country, culture or context. This is because sexual harassment is driven by power, not sex. Wherever you have imbalances in power, you have individuals who are at risk of sexual harassment, and those who abuse this power.
According to the World Editors Outlook Survey, 80% of respondents expect their newsrooms to become smaller in 2021
A World Editors Outlook Survey, conducted in the last quarter of 2020, points to further newsroom cutbacks – and some rethinking about what to cover editorially and how to cover it.
The poll of some 50 news media professionals found almost 80% expect their newsroom to be smaller, staff-wise, in 2021 than at the start of 2020. A third said the change would be significant, a third moderate. Against the trend, around 5% were hoping to be able to increase staff.
There will be some shifts in editorial priorities
– there will be greater focus on health, science, and climate coverage while sport and entertainment could come under pressure.