Online-Only for the PI

Posted: March 17th, 2009 | By: Steve Mullen | Filed under: Media News | No Comments

Today marks the final print edition of one of the top newspapers in the United States, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. The newspaper, which dates back to 1863, will be online-only starting tomorrow.

In my view, it will bear watching whether a major newspaper can begin a successful new life as an online publication. Newspapers across the country have been struggling with how to repurpose their print content online and make that content something that people want to consume. For the most part online content from newspapers has been like the proverbial falling tree in the forest that no one notices. Not only have print publications generally not done an outstanding job with their web strategy, there’s just too much competition online for them to make a dent.

What I’m hoping, for the sake of publications that make this move in the future (and there WILL be others) is that the new focus solely on the online product will mark an improvement in strategy. I can only hope that they have hired or otherwise secured online consultants to help them with the transition. Historically, print experts have not shown themselves as experts in what makes a good online publication.

The positive news (pardon the pun) is that organizations like the P-I have great news-gatherers … in most cases much better than their new online-only competition. That does still matter. Good luck to them.

*Image courtesy of the Associated Press

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