News Corp is a cross-platform, vertically integrated multi-media company.
The impact of new and digtial media on News Corp:
- Online subscriptions/paywalls
- Price promotions for newspapers
- Impact on institution content and its appeal
- Paid subscriptions for TV content
- Quality of journalism
- User generated content
- Social media/online news providers (Huff Post, Ampp3d etc.)
Existing brands:
- The Sun
- The Times
- GQ Austrailia
- Sky News
- Fox Entertainment
Defunct brands:
- The Daily was the worlds first iPad-only news application in the USA and Australia (owned by News Corp. It was originally planned to launch in 2011, however, Rupert Murdoch said that as The Daily "could not find a large enough audience quickly enough to convince us business model was sustainable in the long" it didn't become a news phenomenon.
- The News of the World was a national "red top newspaper" published in the UK from 1843 to 2011. it was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world. However, it said goodbye after being accused of hacking into mobile phones of crime vitims, celebrities and politicians to sell stories.
2) Develop examples of the impact that new and digital media has had on News Corp’s brands (paywalls, readership figures, audience share etc.)
New and digital media has impacted News Corp, both positively and negatively. Firstly, through the Sun implementing paywalls as part of audience consumption on the internet, this maintains their revenues through the fact that audiences are forced to pay for the content in which they receive. Also, the Sun have successfully adapted to the new developments through their application that can be accessed on smartphones and tablets, ultimately enhancing the audience experience and maintaining their interest. However, new and digital technological developments has arguably negatively impacted News Corp, through the example of the phone hacking scandal associated with the late News of The World. Through the advanced technological developments that institutions can utilise, this has lead to the institution misusing their power.
3) Use what you have found out about News Corp to answer the following question:
Why and with what success are traditional media institutions adapting to the challenge posed by new/digital media?
It is fundamental for institutions to adapt to the ever changing technological developments that are arising to ensure that they maintain audience attraction and overall, their existence. News Corp are a prime example of the successes that can be drawn out of media institutions adapting, as well as as an example of highlighting the defects. Firstly, The Sun have maintained a huge cross section of the public within Britain, not only through their traditional medium source of print, but also through their more recent development of their online website and smartphone and tablet application. This not only allows the audience to have a more enjoyable and easily accessible consumption of the news, but it has also enhanced the revenues within The Sun. This is clear through the institution adding a paywall to their content, which forces audiences to pay for their news, as well as the excessive advertising that is joint with an audiences online experience. One could dispute this and argue that some audiences may be unwilling to pay for news when they can access it for free from sources such as The BBC, who provide free news on new media developments (application and online internet) as well as, the traditional medium of the television. However, a loyal mainstream audience that the Sun have managed to establish, may willingly pay for their news - which they have proven to do, leaving this to be a successful example of how a media institution has adapted to the new and digital technological development (through creating a website and application, to ultimately maintain the audience's interest), whilst additionally maintaining revenues through implementing a paywall strategy.
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