Confidence in print medium shown by spending—I.N.L.

Press, 1 August 1989, Page 7

Confidence in print medium shown by spending—I.N.L.

By

PAM MORTON

The millions of dollars being spent on new technology by newspaper companies represented confidence in the future of the print medium in New Zealand, the manag-

ing director of Independent Newspapers, Ltd, Mr Mike Robson, told a gathering, of media and advertising representatives yesterday. Speaking at the Newspaper Advertising Bureau’s conference in Christchurch, Mr Robson said the I.N.L. group had

spent just under $5O million last year on production equipment and buildings. A similar amount was expected to be spent on new technology this year. “At the end of this programme we will have new production systems which will allow direct editorial input on-line at

all seven of our daily newspapers, our three Sundays and the weekly, ‘Truth’. We will also have full colour printing capacity in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Invercargill, Palmerston North and New Plymouth.

“This represents not only I.N.L.’s commitment to quality but also its confidence in the future of the print medium in New Zealand.” Newspapers in New Zealand made major changes in 1977 when they moved away from hot metal production

methods to computergenerated cold type, Mr Robson said. “In the last two years, I.N.L. has taken matters a stage further with the transfer of many production functions to the originators of the copy which appears in your daily newspaper, the editorial and advertising depart-

ments. “Taking advantage of the very latest overseas technology, we have sidestepped the double-keying of copy to feed material directly from either the journalist or the advertiser directly into the

computers which control the production of type and generation of pages.” The changes to the system would mean more flexibility for those in the industry, Mr Robson said. Changes in technology would enable the industry

to offer new and unique services. Newspapers will have to become more flexible in the future, according to the advertising and promotions manager for Wilson and Horton, Ltd, Mr John Law. The industry would need to be more flexible in terms of what it

offered the customer in news and advertising. Mr Law baid the flagship of the company the “New Zealand Herald” was undergoing extensive changes and about $4O million was being poured into the paper.

The changes would enable the paper to produce colour of a high quality, spot colour and include insertions on the end of the press line. Changes are already under way and they are expected to be completed by the middle of next year, Mr Law said.

Mr Law said newspapers were facing one of their biggest challenges with the fragmentation of the communications industry. The advent of TV3, satellite television and new radio stations would see the various sectors of the industry fighting for advertising revenue.