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- Chapter 3 - Will new devices really change the news?
Introduction
2009 and early 2010 have seen major developments in terms of new ways to access the news. Multiple new e-readers have been launched to rival Amazon's Kindle, Android operated phones have hit the market to add to the multitude of smartphones available, and the highly anticipated Apple tablet computer was finally released in January 2010. The implications that all of these new devices have for news outlets are explored in detail in this chapter.
In depth
Criticism from newspapers as BBC rolls out mobile apps : The BBC confirmed in February 2010 that it was planning the launch three iPhone apps in April and May: the news apps offer correspondent blogs and audio and video content as well as news articles. The BBC's announcement was immediately met with protest from representative body the Newspaper Publishers Association, which claimed that the BBC was trampling on its rivals in the mobile market. The NPA's Director David Newell said: "The impact of the BBC'S existing online presence is well known. However, this is a very different and particular case. The market for iPhone news apps is a unique and narrow commercial space, which means that the potential for market distortion by the BBC is much greater. This is not, as the BBC argues an extension if its existing online service, but an intrusion into a very tightly defined, separate market." The BBC insists that its online service license, granted by the BBC trust, allows it to repurpose its online content for consumption on mobile devices. Global Trends A digital newsstand for E-editions
: News Corp has joined Conde Nast, Hearst, Meredith and Time in putting its publications up for sale in a variety of digital formats for various platforms on an online newsstand for both both magazines and newspapers. The publishers are reportedly teaming up to create a new company to run the digital newsstand. News Corp's decision to get on board can be seen as part of its overall charge towards paid online content, which has so far focused on its much-publicised plans to set up its own system of paywalls, subscriptions and micro-payments for its publications. At this relatively early stage of the e-reader and tablet content market, early involvement on the part of powerful publishers could give them the opportunity to shape the market, by giving up a degree of freedom and power in exchange for long-term stability and influence.
Interview
Innovation Media Consulting's Juan Seņor on mobile strategies for newspapers : Seņor offers his thoughts on how newspapers today should be looking at addressing the mobile challenge.
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