RIND FebruarySurvey 2019 | Volume 40| Issue 2| Rs 50 www.pressinstitute.in A Journal of the Press Institute of India - Research Institute for Newspaper Development ENJOYING WORK AND PERFORMING IT WELL This is a picture from Druckhaus Mainfranken in Marktheidenfeld near Wurzberg, a city in Germany’s Bavaria Region, where a Rapida 106 with eight printing units and perfecting for 4-over-4 production has been in operation at Flyeralarm for almost a year now. The high-speed press reaches printing speeds of up to 18000 sheets an hour and is tailored to the needs of the printing service provider in terms of print spectrum and plate formats. All eight printing plates on the Rapida 106 are changed simultaneously in less than 40 seconds, and washing of impression cylinders, blankets and rollers is done simultaneously. Working at a printing press needn’t be boring; it can be enjoyable as is reflected by the smiling face of Sofie Hetzer (Karl- Josef Christ is seen in the background) here, loading the eight plate-loading cartridges with the printing plates for the next job. See page 26 for more. 1 FROM THE EDITOR While paper scores on sustainability, print scores on trust n October 2017, the World Printers Forum of the need for journalists to establish credibility being IWAN-IFRA decided to produce a report on the paramount, Kapoor said it was more difficult to sustainability of the printed newspaper. Partnering the ensure people were consuming accurate information; Forum was Two Sides, an international organisation he spoke about elevating and strengthening quality that promotes the sustainability of the graphic journalism. Readers were concerned about the communications supply chain and dispels common authenticity of the news they accessed online – 57 per environmental misconceptions. An article in WAN- cent were worried about authenticity of online news IFRA Technology Guide & Directory 2018 – Helping and 70 per cent were concerned about the rise of fake Publishers Connect with Today’s Innovators says the jointly news – he said, adding that the challenge was to find developed report shows that newspaper printing is a a way for platforms and newsrooms to strengthen sustainable production method, that the important quality journalism and fight misinformation. Susan key data is developing in the right direction, but Philip’s article in this issue mentions how Google also that newspaper printers and publishers should is addressing the challenge and trying to elevate do even more to develop their sustainable future quality journalism and how it is collaborating with prospects. newsrooms to produce accurate information. Contrary to what many people think or believe, the ***************** newspaper industry’s primary raw material, paper, has been found to be a sustainable raw material. In fact, Ranjit Wijewardene, who heads Wijeya Newspapers buoyed by more awareness about the necessity to in Sri Lanka, believes that today’s young generation can protect the environment and our fragile ecology, the be attracted by good quality investigative and feature/ paper industry, also aware that it is dependent on forests, long form content, with infographics and videos to has been promoting sustainable forest management to boot. In an interview with WAN-IFRA South Asia’s ensure there is a reliable supply of wood fibre, the key Neha Gupta, Wijewardene says that editors must raw material for its products. According to the report, focus on content that is shareable on social media, the around 70 per cent of paper consumed in developed best way to attract young readers and keeping them countries is recovered, making it one of the most engaged. Wijeya Newspapers is not only doing that recycled of all materials. Indeed, much of the recycled but also training its editorial team to “keep improving, paper is utilised again within the paper industry where innovating and experimenting with content production it is an essential raw material, particularly for packaging and presentation” to cater better to young readers. and newsprint. The report says that recycling paper is Wijewardene does not see a steep decline in print the most eco-efficient waste management option. anytime soon; he says print will now be a platform for However, the report points out that there appears premium advertising clients and branding opportunities. to be limited commitment to effectively measure He feels the need to keep print relevant and profitable. environmental impacts and progress towards reducing We all do, don’t we? The article in WAN-IFRA Technology them, and that this has been hampering the industry’s Guide & Directory 2018 – Helping Publishers Connect ability to credibly promote its green credentials. You with Today’s Innovators cited earlier here says a recent can read more about the report on page 12. international survey of more than 10700 consumers revealed that consumers trust, enjoy and more deeply ***************** understand information read in print; online, signs of Rahul Kapoor, head of Large Partnerships, digital fatigue and concern for security and privacy are Google India, speaking at the 26th WAN-IFRA evident. Fifty-five per cent prefer a printed newspaper, India Conference in Hyderabad last year, said that and trust in newspapers is twice as high as trust in social it was “a unique and challenging moment for quality media. Music to our ears. journalism”. Echoing what we had mentioned in our edit piece in the previous issue, about facing the Sashi Nair challenges posed by fake news not being easy and [email protected] February 2019 RIND Survey 3 RIND Survey February 2019 | Volume 40 | Issue 2 A changing media landscape — how Google lends a hand 6 Keeping print profitable, with a focus on digital 8 Newspapers — a sustainable industry, but room found for improvement 12 Where does investigation end and snooping begin? 16 In the vanguard of social and political reform — a history of Marathi journalism 18 Industry Updates 26 General News 34 Events Calendar 36 Cover page image: Courtesy, Koenig & Bauer AG C o n t e s 4 RIND Survey February 2019 A changing media landscape — how Google lends a hand Rahul Kapoor, head of Large Partnerships, Google India, speaking at the 26th WAN- IFRA India Conference in Hyderabad last year, enumerated the various initiatives taken by Google to partner with journalism and achieve growth in tandem. Susan Philip reports ews matters to us as a company… put informed; 74 pc feel it’s important to stay informed simply, our futures are tied,” Rahul on specific topics; 73 pc read news as a matter of “NKapoor told the audience at the World habit, and an equal number read it in case the topics Editors Forum South Asia Summit held as part of come up in conversation. the Conference. Similarly, giving an insight into how news is accessed “We’re in a unique and challenging moment for quality across age-groups, he revealed that 18-30-year-olds journalism,” he said. Listing the challenges facing the get their news from social media (73 pc), messaging news industry, Kapoor said now “it's more difficult to apps (68 pc), news provider websites (61 pc), news ensure people are consuming accurate information.” provider apps (60 pc), and app notifications from Google technology helps fight misinformation, and a news provider (58 pc). Those in the 31-45 age features like Google Search, Google Ad Manager, group use messaging apps (74 pc), social media YouTube, Google Play and Google News Lab, had (68 pc), news providers apps (61 pc), news provider proved to be specially helpful to news journalism. websites (60 pc), and online portals (58 pc) to access In his presentation, Kapoor shared with his news. Those in the 46-60-year bracket turn to social audience statistics on various aspects of the news media (71 pc), messaging apps (68 pc), news provider industry. On reader attitudes to news in India, he said websites (67 pc), news provider apps (62 pc), and app it was found that 79 per cent feel it’s important to stay notifications from a news provider (51 pc). Asserting that definitions of news remain the same despite the changes in preferred format that have happened over the years, Kapoor said “news is a media which provides us information about every aspect and event in our day-to-day life.” Elaborating on Google’s efforts to build a stronger future for journalism, he dealt with the issue of elevating and strengthening quality journalism. Readers are concerned about the authenticity of the news they access online – 57 pc are worried about authenticity of online news and 70 pc are concerned about the rise of fake news, he said. (Online news Photo: WAN-IFRA readers are more likely to define ‘fake Rahul Kapoor providing insights while talking about the Google experience. news’ as something that happens by 6 RIND Survey February 2019 mistake rather than a deliberate attempt to deceive, Another challenge relates to the news-advertisement he noted.) relationship. “Digital ad revenue isn't growing fast The challenge is to fi nd a way for platforms enough to offset decreases in print ad revenue. It's and newsrooms to strengthen quality journalism challenging for news organisations to keep pace with and fi ght misinformation. Google addresses the technological innovation. This is as true in India as it challenge in three ways. It builds products to elevate is anywhere else in the world,” he told participants at quality journalism – for example, Google Search the workshop. and YouTube. It collaborates with newsrooms to Quoting statistics, he said 59 pc of online news throw up accurate information, Kapoor said, citing readers are willing to accept ads provided the news the Credibility Coalition and The Trust Project. And content is free; 58 pc feel ads are inappropriate near thirdly, it has worked with the industry to develop serious news content while 36 pc don’t read news signals for quality journalism.