Trends In Newsroom 2010

Looking to find out what editors-in-chief of the world’s newspapers think about the rapidly changing media landscape? Best practices in integrating your paper’s print and online operations? How about involving your readers in the news process? What about this social media phenomenon on which younger generations seem fixated? And what do actual editors think of their newspaper in this time of rapid change (see Newsroom Barometer)?

The answer to these and many more questions can be found in Trends in Newsrooms 2007, the third annual report from the World Editors Forum. Trends in Newsrooms is the world’s only complete, analytical guide to the monumental transformations taking place in the newspaper industry. From free papers to e-papers, citizen journalism to social media and integrated newsrooms to Internet aggregators, it has everything you need to know to direct your paper towards a multimedia future.

To begin with, Trends in Newsrooms includes the Newsroom Barometer, the first annual survey of newspaper editors from around the world organized by The World Editors Forum, Zogby and Reuters. 435 editors responded to questions about how new media is affecting journalism and how their newsrooms are adapting.

Newsrooms evolve incredibly quickly so the World Editors Forum has found expertise from all corners of the world about what is changing, why and how. The 150-page report (print and PDF versions) is based on the best articles from the Editors Weblog (www.editorsweblog.org), an online publication of the World Editors Forum that tracks and analyzes the major stories affecting newsrooms around the world.

When we decided to launch Trends in Newsrooms in 2005, there was no report dedicated to, but it was impossible to. This is exactly the goal of this World Editors Forum annual report.

In addition to the articles taken from the Weblog, Trends in Newsrooms 2006 includes essays, articles and commentary from media experts:

- In the report's introduction, author of “The Vanishing Newspaper”, Philip Meyer, and Daily Telegraph columnist, Roy Greenslade, square off in a debate about the uncertain future of newspapers. Will print still exist in 10 years?

- In his article, Columbia University professor Eli Noam argues that newspapers will transform into “news aggregators” on the Internet, but emphasizes that there will be a lot of competition.

- For the chapter “Will all news be free,” free newspaper specialist and University of Amsterdam, Piet Bakker, compares how free Internet news and freesheets are affecting the newspaper industry.

- As more newspapers invite readers to participate in the news process, citizen journalism pioneer, Dan Gillmor, summarizes the movement’s brief history and gives ideas to newsrooms looking to integrate their public.

- French journalist and media consultant, Jean-Pierre Tailleur, provides case studies of three local papers in Western Europe that have increased their circulations by reconnecting with their communities.

- Reuter’s managing director Monique Villa protects the right of news outlets to freely cover sporting events in light of the dispute between FIFA and news organizations in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup.

- CEO and co-founder of the local news aggregator Topix.net, Rich Skrenta discusses online strategies such as adding RSS feeds and making content easily searchable for newspapers looking to boost website traffic.

- For newsrooms struggling with multimedia integration, newspaper design guru and new media consultant Robb Montgomery has some innovative answers and examples of best practices;

- Editor of elmundo.es, Gumersindo Lafuente discusses the dilemma that editors and journalists face when struggling between the pressures of corporate profits and service to their readers.

- Not only is new media transforming the newsroom, but also the job of editors. New media columnist and blogger for PBS, Mark Glaser explains what editors need to do to thrive during the transition of news to the Internet.

- In the report’s conclusion, Editor of The Times (UK), Robert Thomson asks “What Now?” for newsrooms and describes how content is changing in the digital age.

Trends in Newsrooms 2006 is available in print and PDF versions at a cost of €139 for non-members of the World Editors Forum. To purchase, please click here.

Members receive the 150-page report automatically as soon as it is published. For more on the benefits of joining the World Editors Forum, click here.