The Birmingham Post: time for change
Blogger and ex-Post journalist Paul Groves asks if the price of change here in Trinity Mirror Midlands will be worth it.
My response to that is to ask: "What is the price of doing nothing?"
The changes to the Post and the newsroom revolution we lauched today (See Jo Geary's round-up) are our responses to the seismic shocks that have changed the world for media businesses forever.
First, the internet has changed the way audiences interact with media brand sas well as the financial models that underpin our businesses.
Secondly, the near-recession we're now in has made the consequences of the above a challenge that simply has to be faced now.
We're doing that by building a model with the Post of a brand that will develop into a truly cross-media service, with its audience and revenues spanning print, online and mobile. We're doing it in the way we propose to train, equip and organise our staff to keep excellent journalism at the heart of the Post, the Mail, the Mercury and all our other titles.
I've already outlined the main changes to The Post here.
I'll be using this blog over the coming days and months to share news of how our plans are progressing - and sincerely hope anyone with a view will take the opportunity to help shape those plans by posting comments.
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Marc Reeves - Editor of The Birmingham Post
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Marc: I should clarify I'm certainly not advocating doing nothing. As I mentioned on my own blog, I worked for the Post for 5 years and every year there was talk of a radical relaunch. It never happened, much to my frustration.
Something major needed to happen and this is certainly a radical move.
My question regarding the price of change relates to a pool of journalistic talent which might (or might not) be lost as a result of the investment in new technology. As I've stated elsewhere, it would be good if some of the investment was spent on making sure new talent (and especially old talent) is able to make use of this new technology. You can teach old dogs new tricks, if they want to learn obviously.
Newspapers have been playing catch up for years, but arguably many are merely treading water. That is why I applaud the boldness of the move.
It has been a long time coming and I sincerely hope this gives the Post a solid foundation for the future.
I also wish everyone at the Post well in that future, as well as those who won't be part of the relaunch.
Paul: many thanks. Sorry: I didn't mean to imply you were advocating no change.
In fact you make some very perceptive points:, and I particularly agree with you that this kind of radical response in long overdue.
To respond to your point about investment, please don't take it that we are only investing in technology.
On the contrary, we're spending significant amounts of money on some pretty radical multi media training, and many journalists in the most changed roles will be paid more as a result.
Thanks Marc.
I'm looking forward to reading more details about how the new paper will look and fit together with the online stuff - never make rash promises about regular blog updates!
Change is never easy, but it badly needs to happen.
...Just how boring is this stuff! Journalists talking about their petty little lives and their little world. Will you please write about things we actually give a damn about??
Sam: fair cop, and I couldn't agree more.
Please bear with us and normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. Sorry scrub that: an improved service will be introduced as soon as possible.
It's all very well the Post deciding to go all out online etc...but when is the existing e-paper going to be sorted out?
As a regular subscriber the current offering still mis spells every or wit the letters 'fe' or 'fi' in it...and despite numerous attempts they still can't fix it!!
All I can say is that it doesn't bode well for the future.
Paul, Many thanks for this. I'm puzzled by the problems with the e-paper. Can you send me more details, either here, or direct to marc.reeves@birminghampost.net.