There can be little doubt that NewsNow is a favourite of the on-line Celtic community and to most football fans.
NEWSNOW STATEMENT (a bit heavy going!)
Collecting news from various sources, with the sites vetted in advance, NewsNow Celtic brings rolling news 24/7 to supporters around the world. At home or at work we get upto date news on transfers, injuries and 101 other matters, relevant or not, to the hoops.
The NewsNow family covers a broad church giving independent supporter websites and blogs, such as this one, equal prominence alongside media giants like the BBC and SKY as well as newspapers and club sites.
Behind the scenes a bit of a stramash has been going on with a group of newspapers called the Newspaper Licensing Agency who wish to charge NewsNow to be linked to their precious titles.
As most folk are aware newspapers are facing a desperate battle for survival as they face competition from the online delivery of news and the migration of advertising budgets following readers online.
Newspapers are trying various schemes to monetise their online content but struggle with the concept that their copy can be read for free with no direct return. The prospect of extending their reach, and advertising opportunities, outwith their traditional circulation areas hasn’t been fully grasped.
Any opportunity to bring in revenue is being chased but the battle with NewsNow looks a certain loser… for the newspapers. No longer will those titles benefit from surfers visiting their websites, attracted by the headlines appearing on NewsNow.
Most of the major UK newspapers are members of the NLA but News International, publishers of The Sun and The Times aren’t which means that their stories will continue to appear on NewsNow.
On Celtic NewsNow I’d guess that newspapers feature in the top ten stories about 40% of the time, clearly there is an appetite and appeal for newspaper stories despite what the more hard-line supporters claim.
Just when they need as many visitors and numbers as possible the newspapers in the NLA are cutting themselves off from a great source of traffic, some supporters will still visit their site’s but the casual visitor won’t go near when their stories are no longer appearing on NewsNow.
This short sighted policy from the NLA will give further encouragement for new media to gain greater visitors and prominence.
In the decade just ending a number of names have emerged online to dominate their industry without any high street or physical presence, ebay and amazon being the most obvious.
Newspapers have a head start over others on the business of delivering news but due to attitudes from another age are unwilling to develop and grasp the online opportunity.
The delivery of news will continue to evolve, Wapping introduced new technology to the printed press and changed newspapers forever.
A fall out with NewsNow seems outdated and petty and likely to further detach newspapers from the emerging online generations that their advertisers want to connect with.
Feel free to add your comments below.
I have to say I think this is a bit rich and short-sighted coming from the publishers. Sites like News Now provide a valuable tool for fans and drive traffic to sites that we wouldn't normally visit.
It's the way of the world.
So far I've had no contact from any of the publishers about my little site at http://wwwfootballnewsnow.co.uk, which is similar in nature to News Now, but I'll be equally defiant when the time comes.
Bring it on Murdoch!