The CEO of Fairfax Media, one of two dominant print media groups in Australia (News Corporation being the other) spoke the unspeakable at a recent Investor Conference. He signaled an end to weekday print editions of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age (Melbourne) in the face of falling advertising revenue. He said these iconic papers, which have been in print since 1831 and 1854 respectively, would eventually become weekend-only print publications, as those editions generate 65% of advertising revenue. In a frank assessment the CEO acknowledged accusations of pessimism about print but suggested "it is more a case of being too honest. We prefer telling it like it is and preparing for it". This articulation comes as no surprise to anyone involved in the paper print or media space but until now neither of the two big media groups wanted to be the first to blink...
