Good news from London:
The Newspaper Publishers Association (NPA) and the Newspaper Society (NS) announced today that they have agreed that their two organizations will both operate from St Andrew’s House from 1 February 2007 under the joint directorship of David Newell, who is the current director of the Newspaper Society.
In a joint statement Murdoch MacLennan, chairman of the NPA, and Paul Davidson, president of the NS said:
“There are significant public policy and external challenges which national and regional newspaper businesses face in common. It is increasingly important that the NS and NPA – representing the regional and national press – build on their work for the entire industry.
“We are delighted that discussions between us over the last few months have led to a formal agreement between the NPA and the NS Councils which will enable the two organizations to share offices and services at St Andrew’s House.
Each organization will retain its autonomy, identity and independence.
But bringing our two staffs together in the same building, under the skilled directorship of David Newell, will allow us to develop an already close working relationship and achieve a stronger, more effective voice for UK newspapers.”
Well this is a very smart move, but what our media industry needs is the consolidation of national and international mono-media trade associations in new multi-media groups.
Today, any media company is represented in several groups.
Many of them are very inefficient.
All of them will benefit if they start to work together.
Newspapers publish magazines, have radio and television, and operate online.
If this is the future, why there is not a serious effort to integrate all these groups.
It will be more powerful, more efficient, less expensive and will deliver quite better services to the hole industry.
Now more than ever, the time has come.
One voice representing nationally and internationally the new multi-media news industry.
What a great opportunity, what a necessary service of their members!
