ABC MD Mark Scott: Take away Fairfax’s print presence and what are you left with?
Fairfax Media risks its websites losing relevance if the publishing company drops its print editions, the boss of the ABC has warned.
In an interview with Mumbrella’s sister title Encore, ABC managing editor Mark Scott – a former editorial director and editor-in-chief at Fairfax – said that wide newspaper distribution contributed to the company’s influence.
Fairfax Media has said that it will relaunch its Sydney and Melbourne broadsheets The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age as tabloids on March 4. But Fairfax is closing print works and CEO Greg Hywood also signalled that the company is preparing for the day when it is no longer in the print business.
Asked about the outlook for the newspaper industry, Scott said: “I think it’s really challenged. What I wonder a little bit about – if you take away the print presence how much harder it is to exist in a world that’s only online.
You’re left with thousands of women who read DAILY LIFE every day!
Mark Scott, Eric Beecher, Andrew Jaspan, Greg Hywood….the number of extraordinary news media talents that have brought Fairfax to where it is today. Perhaps Julia will hire them as a job lot, to join the Nova Peris brigade of political talent?
Imagine where those Fairfax newspapers would be if those great men had not been around to keep them going. Surely Graeme Wood will get the Ruddster to bring them together for a summit? Or perhaps just put his money into a trust like the Guardian and let them run it?
easy to comment when the tax payer pays your bills Mark…
The SMH website is almost totally dependent on the newspaper. Without it the website is just another distraction on the net.
In more breaking news: take away Coca-Cola selling drinks and what are you left with? Also: if Ford stopped making cars, what would the brand stand for?
You’re left with only the TV and Radio public relations arms of the Australian Labor Party, the ABC.
God forbid the ALP should lose Fairfax, its print arm!
Now that we have an 8 month election campaign, that’s a long time for Mark Scott & Co to prance about in their Gillard cheerleader outfits. God help us all.
Mark Scott has never revealed what great ideas he had when he was still at Fairfax. Nor why he left.