Amid heightened competition, news media companies must find new business models if they want to thrive without neglecting their responsibilities as the press.
mid heightened competition, news media companies must find new business models if they want to thrive without neglecting their responsibilities as the press, a Press Council member has said.
The idea was conveyed by Press Council member Imam Wahyudi during a panel discussion held to commemorate World Press Freedom Day -- which falls on May 3 -- in Jakarta on Friday.
"This is not only a challenge for news media companies themselves, but also for the academics to help find new business models so the press can survive," Imam said.
He argued that news media companies had to start cutting operational costs and think of new revenue sources instead of relying solely on subscriptions and advertisements, which have forced them to use headings to garner page views.
"For example, media companies can start monetizing their libraries, archives and data as new sources of revenue, just as foreign companies have started doing," he told reporters on the sidelines of the event.
Imam said that amid the apparent shift toward digital media, companies were still adopting the same old business models without realizing the endless possibilities offered by the digital era.
This overreliance on advertisements had pushed media companies to cross ethical borders, he said, adding that companies had gone as far as overworking their reporters.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.