Content is making a comeback in online media - but it's time for readers to pay up, says former Observer news editor Chris Boffey
Content is making a comeback as the dust begins to settle in the world of online media - but publications should be striving to make it paid-for, according to former Observer news editor Chris Boffey.
Digital journalism: Chris Boffey spoke ahead of the OMAs
Speaking ahead of the Online Media Awards judging, Boffey – who is a judge for the second time at this year’s event – spoke of his hope that good content would result in the willingness of readers to pay for it.
“As a journalist I believe our work should be paid for,” he told The Drum. “You wouldn’t have a plumber and not pay him – paid-for journalism is something we should all be striving for. But whether the Rusbridgers of the world will agree with that I don’t think so. It’s obviously not the model they’re going for.”
He added that the existence of the BBC meant it would always pose as opposition to the paywall concept and serve as the default free news service in Britain thanks to its “massive resources”.
Boffey - who also worked as news editor of the Sunday Telegraph and the Mirror during his career, as well as a stint as a special adviser to the Labour government - wrote about the successes at the Financial Times in a recent column for The Drum, which from behind its paywall has managed to drive the FT Group to a 17 per cent rise in profits through pushing its digital offering.
According to Boffey, there are no new trends as such in the online journalism profession, but rather journalists and media outlets are beginning to settle more comfortably into their strategies.
“The field is getting better,” he went on. “People are getting more and more used to the medium and how to write for it. Rather than thinking about delivery, they’re actually concentrating on content more, and content is the crucial element of everything.
“I was working on the Observer/Guardian when everyone was thinking about how to deliver this stuff, how to get it out there, rather than actually concentrating on the content, which is most important.”
However, for Boffey, the way ahead for the online media industry is to allow journalists to get back to their roots and away from office desks to source solid news and content for their publications.
“I think the hardest thing for a journalist today is to actually get out of the office and talk to people and get stories,” he said. “The easy option is to sit in front of your screen and scour around looking for stuff on Twitter and other social media sites.
“I get really annoyed when I see, for instance, today with the death of Tony Benn, journalists simply quoting people from Twitter - some MP saying Tony Benn was a great man for example, when actually they should be ringing them up, asking for more, getting anecdotes, finding the good in-depth stuff.
“I actually think it’s laziness to pick up on stuff on social media rather than speak to someone. It may be quicker, but actually it gives you a less informed piece,” he added.
Deadline for entries for the Online Media Awards, sponsored by iomart and Unanimis, is 14 March. For more information visit the dedicated website.