American Press Institute Selects Innovation Ideas at Six Newspaper Companies

RESTON, VA-- The American Press Institute's "Newspaper Next" project has selected six newspaper companies to participate in its Disruptive Innovation Advisory Program. Each newspaper in the program will receive individualized guidance to maximize the potential of its innovative idea.

The following newspapers and concepts were selected:

The Boston Globe plans to create new mechanisms and business models to deliver profitable leads and sales to businesses too small to use the traditional solutions of a sizable newspaper.

The Dallas Morning News wants to develop a one-stop resource where busy mothers can find trusted recommendations and other high-value information to help them master their biggest challenge: parenting.

Gannett Inc. will select a mid-sized property for development of an organization structure able to drive and sustain innovation, adaptable to other newspaper units of larger or smaller size.

Media General Inc. in Richmond, Va., will experiment with novel research techniques to gain unique insights into the pressing problems Richmond businesses can't solve adequately with today's advertising solutions.

North Jersey Media Group/The Record in Hackensack, N.J., is rethinking its online efforts from scratch to meet key information and community-engagement needs for a wider range of users, including those with little interest in the news.

The Oregonian in Portland, Ore., is working with a newsroom team on strategies to increase readership in a fast-growing suburban area.

"It's a great group of projects," said Stephen Gray, N² managing director. "They range in focus from audiences to advertisers to building organizational capabilities. These will provide living laboratories to demonstrate the innovation potential that exists among newspaper companies."

API received 18 applications for the program. The six papers selected will receive advice and consultation from the N2 project team, including full participation from Innosight LLC, a renowned innovation consulting firm. The engagements will span a four-month period, including two daylong sessions and weekly conference calls to review progress.

The projects will serve as practical demonstrations of the innovation tools and processes under development in the yearlong Newspaper Next project, and will be included in the N²'s final report and recommendations this fall.

Media Contact:
Lisa Rabasca
American Press Institute
11690 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20191-1498
(703) 715-3322
lrabasca@americanpressinstitute.org