Around World, Newspaper Editors Are Cockeyed Optimists

By: E&P Staff What, me worry? That appears to be the mood of the vast majority of newspaper editors around the globe, according to the second annual "Newsroom Barometer" survey released Tuesday.

In exactly the same numbers as last year, fully 85% of editors declared themselves "very optimistic" or "somewhat optimistic" about the future of their newspapers. The survey of 704 senior editors was conducted by Zogby International for the World Editors Forum, a part of the World Association of Newspapers, and Reuters.

For all their optimism, the editors expect changes at their papers.

Overwhelmingly, they believe the paper will not be print-only. Some 44% think online will be the most common newspaper platform, up from 41% last year. The percentage who expect print to be dominant declined to 31% from 35%. Twelve percent expect mobile to be the premier platform, and 7% think it will be e-paper.

And for the first time, a majority of editors -- 56% -- believe news in the future will be free. That's up from 48% in last year's survey.

Only one-third of those polled believe news content will remain paid.

Two-thirds of the responding editors think that despite an expected uproar from the newsroom, some editorial functions will be outsourced.

"The survey shows that editors-in-chief are already multi-media minded, and that they have the capacity to carry out the transition from print-only to print and online," Bertrand Pecquerie, director of the World Editors Forum, said in a statement.

A solid majority -- 58% -- believe the decline in readership among young people is the biggest threat faced by the newspaper business.

Th full survey results can found here.