I’ve been following AllMediaScotland’s comparion of editorial v advertising this week (here and here).
One thing struck me quite quickly: for all people moan about the number of ads, newspapers are nowhere near the 60:40 rule of magazines (it’s often claimed that the most readers will tolerate in a publication is 40% of the page count as adverts with the other 60% being editorial. Hourlong US TV shows come in at around 70:30 just now).
I wonder then if it may well be that one thing which helps prolong the press is more ads (though I would drop paper quality first – it is a disposable product after all) – once the prices come down to reflect the recession.
I wonder how the readers will take it though…
First, I like the blog…I just stumbled upon it today and you’ve got some interesting points.
That said, if the Chicago Tribune is to be used as a sign of the times, they now have a 50/50 ad ratio (obviously 10% above the threshold). Readers have been complaining, but their recent tabloid edition apparently has tricked many to believe they have reduced the number of ads. So maybe the solution is simply the way we present the ads next to the content?
Just a thought.