Viva Lewes Issue #134 November 2017

ON THIS MONTH: TALK
Is print journalism dying?
Times deputy editor Emma Tucker
Is it fair to say the newspaper industry is in
crisis in the UK? Yes - although some papers
are worse affected than others. The crisis is most
acute in the local press where many titles have
disappeared. We've also seen the first national
title - the Independent - go digital only and it's
safe to say others will follow.
How much is this down to the internet?
Almost entirely - digital technology has totally
disrupted the old print business model that
sustained newspapers for the last 200 years and
introduced intense competition for readers
and advertisers. The way we consume news has
changed completely - I meet plenty of young
people who have never picked up a paper in
their lives. People increasingly consume news via
social media. Meanwhile, Google and Facebook
are expected to take half of all digital revenue
worldwide this year leaving not very much for
traditional media to fight over. As print advertising
sales fall off a cliff, newspapers are unable to
make up the shortfall via digital advertising.
It wasn't the Sun wot won it... Is it fair to say
that newspapers' influence over the outcome
of elections is fading? I think it's questionable
as to how far newspapers influenced the outcome
of the last general election. The competition
from digital outlets and social media is now intense.
The Labour Party in particular used social
media to great effect in the last election - which
definitely helped to galvanise young people to
vote for Corbyn.
Is there more ‘false news’ around than before?
Yes. It's a huge problem and we're only just
uncovering the extent to which it is manipulating
public discourse. Every day we learn more about
how Putin uses social media to disrupt western
democracies and influence elections - not just in
the US, but during the French and German elections
and the recent referendum in Catalonia.
The Times and other publications from the
Times group aside, which is your favourite
newspaper? Probably the Financial Times - my
old newspaper - mainly because it has such solid
reporting values and is very trustworthy. It also
has great columnists. Otherwise, when I lived in
Lewes I was a devotee of the Sussex Express - I
still am!
What’s the first section you turn to? I don't
turn to anything. I swipe. I read the Times on my
phone or tablet every morning starting with the
top news stories and then the comment section.
As Deputy Editor of the Times, how much do
you come into personal contact with Rupert
Murdoch. What’s he like? I see him from time
to time when he is in town. He absolutely loves
newspapers and news and always wants to know
what's going on. He's old fashioned and courteous
and not at all the ogre that everyone thinks
he is. Interview by Alex Leith
Emma Tucker, who was brought up in Lewes, is
talking at the Lewes Literary Society, All Saints,
14th November, 8pm, £11
lewesliterarysociety.co.uk
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