Blogging since 1868 PA

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Blogging since 1868 PA the changing media
landscape Chris Condron, Head of Digital
Strategy - 16 April 2009
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Past, present and future

• Brief history of the Press Association
• Why digital is different
• Challenge or opportunity?
• So where are we going? a few examples

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Conceived in the back of a cab...

• Founded in 1868
• Handwritten copy taken to Post Office by
  messengers
• Set up by regional newspaper owners
• Fast, fair and accurate

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The Wire

• Written for journalists, in short drafts
• Newsflashes read out on TV are PA Snaps
• Reliable single source
• Improving links between text, pics and video

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At the heart of the UK media

• Setting the UKs news agenda, in every newsroom
  in the country
• 150,000 words per day...300 pictures, 30 videos
  in News...
• Plus Sport, TV, Listings, Features, Motoring,
  Puzzles, Page production...
• Regional offices, Howden, India

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And then along came the Internet...
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At first, the future was bright...

• PA launched Ananova the worlds first virtual
  newsreader
• And then sold her to Orange in June 2000...for
  95m.
• Innovative text-to-speech technology

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Dotcom crash...hard slog begins

• Old media didnt really get it
• Some of them still dont
• It is disruptive old medias main challenge is
  not cyclical downturn
• It is primarily a communication, not a content,
  medium
• The best ideas are simple...but the devils in
  the detail
• It turns pounds of profit into pennies
• It is a tool - it is neither democratic nor
  repressive in itself
• The old lines between producer and consumer are
  breaking down

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Change is now a constant. The pace of change
will only increase flexibility is key to
success. The future is already here...its
just not evenly distributed
William Gibson, Neuromancer 1984
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A new language, a new approachIterate, beta
test, user-centric...
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Change, test, measure, review...
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The best sites are getting richer

• Content is richer and deeper
• Great SEO
• One stop-shop for user
• Interaction built into content
• Sticky content includes
• News feeds
• Interactive timeline
• Robert Peston Blog
• Live market data
• Analysis
• Community
• Backgrounders, QAs, Graphics

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Which is both challenge and opportunity

• Customers under increasing financial pressure
• Fewer journalists, less time
• Increasing technical complexity
• Everyone wants more, richer...and faster content
• Increased outsourcing opportunities

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How are we responding?

• Another Ananova would be nice, but
• Remember our core values fast, fair and
  accurate
• Technology and innovation are key to success
• Getting closer to our customers
• Move quickly trial, test and review
• Its not all Twitter boring but important is
  still key

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Some examples of change

• Changing culture is key
• Hosted and managed services
• Building a video agency
• Multi-platform authoring
• Product Development
• The KTP project

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Changing culture is key

• Bringing data to the newsdesk
• New roles, eg Prod Dev
• Working with technologists
• Open invite Biscuit Sessions
• SEO v Journalism
• Good web design is invisible
• Lies, damned lies and web stats
• Twitter ye not
• Google the journalists tool
• Newsgaming
• Demystify, dont alienate

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Hosted managed services

• Financial pressures mean fewer journalists
• Digital outsourcing enables customers to
  concentrate on what makes them special
• PA taking a much more active role than previously
• Digital Production Unit
• Examples across News, TV, Video, Listings,
  Puzzles...

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Building a video agency

• Internet is increasingly a video medium
• Explosion of new outlets beyond broadcast
• But digital distribution cant support broadcast
  prices
• 3 years into an ongoing plan
• Team blend skills from broadcast, web and new
  generation
• Flexibility is key
• Training multi-skilled journalists
• Flexible business models
• Getting closer to customers partner v supplier
• Constant review of content and delivery

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MPA Doing more with the same
Content managementsystem(Journalists write
incharacter limited fields)
H Headline
H headlines news tickers
S Snap
S Snaps, teletext rollover, SMS
B1 First 3 Pars
HB1 teletext, mobile internet
B2 Pars 4 - 10
HB1B2 digital package, web
B3 No limit
HB1B2B3 wire
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Putting journalists closer to users
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Product Development

• Stakeholder relationships
• Resource is tight - prioritisation is key
• Product Development process Dragons Den
• Look for innovation through partnership
• Flexible business models new customers
• New products rolling out

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The KTP Project

• 3 academics embedded for 2 years
• Journalism
• Technology
• Media Futures
• Spread learning deliver innovative new
  products
• Metadata and semantic web
• Visualisation and digital storytelling
• Newsgaming
• Proposals scoped and in business planning

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Thank youPlease feel free to contact me
atchris.condron_at_pressassociation.com