Five minutes with: Richard Bogie, Managing Director, News Ireland
What drew you to the news publishing business?
When I was very young I wanted to be a Hollywood film producer due to my love of cinema. When I was 12 though I became a paper boy and this gave me my first exposure to big breaking stories that I would read every day as i delivered the papers – often late due to me sitting on a doorstep and reading the day’s paper cover to cover. From there, I developed a love for a wide range of topics and the immediacy with which news is delivered to a mass audience. When I got into the industry it was a huge thrill to see the ideas and projects, that I had been a part of, coming to fruition and going out to our readers and clients.
What’s the most exciting thing happening in news publishing internationally right now?
Without a doubt, it’s the way in which our various channels and platforms work together to bring news and information to increasing audiences. We’re seeing the convergence of mass media, leading to industry professionals developing a set of multi-platform skills that were unthinkable a few years ago.
The growth of paid for subscription models and direct to consumer services is also changing our revenue model at a rapid rate.
And finally there is a growing international consensus about the value of news content to the tech platforms, which is leading to efforts to get those tech giants to pay for that content. The transposition of the EU Copyright Directive in Ireland and elsewhere will be an important intervention because it creates a new Publishers Right enabling publishers to neogitate licensing agreement with the platforms for the use of their content. In France, where the Publishers Right has already been introduced, Google has been forced to enter into good faith negotiations with publishers upon notification, following a ruling of the French Competition Authority in April. There are lessons to be learnt from other approaches, such as those taken in the US and in Australia too.
Current challenges facing news publishers?
Covid-19 has thrown everything up in the air and has catapulted us forward two or three years. The market has changed radically within three months and how brands respond to this new world will be crucial. With little visibility of what the new normal will look like or the lasting effects on the global economic infrastructure, we are figuring out how we play our part and set ourselves up accordingly.
What is your most memorable or favourite news moment/story in the past year?
The most memorable moment in the past year is undoubtedly when News Ireland scooped nine awards at the NewsBrands Ireland Journalism Awards. In terms of my favourite news moment, it would have to be the scandal surrounding John Delaney and the FAI which The Sunday Times broke.
What’s next for your publication/ Any exciting news you’d like to share?
We’ve seen steady increases in print sales throughout this period, after the initial drop off post schools closure in mid-March, with weekends and Sundays performing particularly well. The Sunday Times has had a great run of sales figures and is ahead of pre-Covid levels as are our digital subscriptions. We look forward to a time when we can accelerate our audience growth and Covid stories are supported by the return of sport, cultural events, a gradual easing of travel and a more mobile society.
