Viewing by month: May 2009
Daily Telegraph (UK) Reaps Circulation Windfall from MP Expenses Scandal
The UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper has been reaping a circulation windfall after first publishing details of the expenses rorts of British Members of Parliament (MPs) on 8 May 2009. This article in the Gurdian's media section details how the Telegraph's sales have been boosted an average of 60,000 copies per day (7% of their April 2009 average daily circulation of 817,692), as the embarrasing details of MP's expense claims have been laid bare day by day. The Daily Telegraph's scoop has prompted a raft of similar parliamentary expenses probes by newspapers around the world, no doubt in search of their own circulation bump - not that the fourth estate shouldn't be rewarded for "keeping them honest". Although the Telegraph's scoop came courtesy of a whistleblower (most likely paid), it's nice to know that a big, public interest story can still cause a rush on news stands - editors of struggling papers take note ...
Can the New Amazon Kindle DX Save Newspapers?
Is today's announcement by Amazon of the release of its new "big screen" (9.7", RRP $489) Kindle DX e-book reader a digital lifeline for the ailing newspaper industry? The fact that Amazon's launch partner event for the new DX was the New York Times certainly indicates a degree of optimism by newspaper publishers. The new, larger screen should definitely be better at displaying content rich e-papers than the more diminutive original Kindle. PC World magazine is more skeptical however - "Why Kindle DX Won't Save Newspapers". What do you think?