Do what you do
Watching tonight's So What Do You Do All Day? which featured Independent editor Simon Kelner, a couple of thoughts occurred to me.
First, I suggested a couple of weeks ago that the Independent might consider a price-cutting strategy when (and, like most, I think it's when, not if) it switches fully to a tabloid edition. However, Kelner made tonight, and I've seen it made before, a good case for the argument that newspapers are already underpriced for what they provide. As he said, most people don't really consider just how much work goes into producing a daily newspaper and compared to books, for example, 60p for the amount of information you get in a newspaper is relatively cheap. (Before I get the lectures on economics in the comments, I know that this ignores the case for the market determining the price etc) I think he has an aversion to getting into battles on price - not least because his rivals have deeper pockets to fight a price war with - and would rather make the case for reading the Independent on quality rather than cost.
So, while I still think it would make sense for the paper to go for a price cut as a statement of intent when it moves to being fully tabloid, I don't think it's going to happen. It'll be interesting to see, though, what (if any) moves the Mail and Express make when it happens and whether they consider the Independent as a threat in their section of the market.
On a lighter note, having seen Johann Hari on screen tonight and a couple of weeks ago on Dinner With Portillo, he really needs to ask Simon Kelner for a new picture to go with his byline. The picture he currently has makes him look far more like a rather intense young fogey than he seems to be in person (and in his postings at Harry's) and a new picture might help him escape his reputation.
First, I suggested a couple of weeks ago that the Independent might consider a price-cutting strategy when (and, like most, I think it's when, not if) it switches fully to a tabloid edition. However, Kelner made tonight, and I've seen it made before, a good case for the argument that newspapers are already underpriced for what they provide. As he said, most people don't really consider just how much work goes into producing a daily newspaper and compared to books, for example, 60p for the amount of information you get in a newspaper is relatively cheap. (Before I get the lectures on economics in the comments, I know that this ignores the case for the market determining the price etc) I think he has an aversion to getting into battles on price - not least because his rivals have deeper pockets to fight a price war with - and would rather make the case for reading the Independent on quality rather than cost.
So, while I still think it would make sense for the paper to go for a price cut as a statement of intent when it moves to being fully tabloid, I don't think it's going to happen. It'll be interesting to see, though, what (if any) moves the Mail and Express make when it happens and whether they consider the Independent as a threat in their section of the market.
On a lighter note, having seen Johann Hari on screen tonight and a couple of weeks ago on Dinner With Portillo, he really needs to ask Simon Kelner for a new picture to go with his byline. The picture he currently has makes him look far more like a rather intense young fogey than he seems to be in person (and in his postings at Harry's) and a new picture might help him escape his reputation.
Nick got away with this at 8:31 PM
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