Lecture - Steve Scott

Today, we received a lecture from Steve Scott from Mortons Media Group. Although it didn't have much to do with illustration or my own work directly, it was really interesting and sad to hear about a print medium that has been around for so long, and the way the current digital age is morphing it and as a result having a arguably negative effect.
I have included some notes from the lecture below.

• Mortons of Horncastle began publishing local newspapers.
• They moved from single sheet letterpress to web offset method.
• In 2000 they sold their local newspaper accounts to Johnston Press but kept two monthly newspapers which were Old Bike Mart and Wrights Farming.
• They then acquired 22 magazine contracts for classic and heritage magazines.
• 3 years ago they began running focus groups to stay in touch with readers and found that promotion and distribution is a massive element to find their target audiences.
• Subject matter is very important - constantly ask "What do people want?"
• Printed word is diminishing and so the company has began moving to events and trade shows.
• Within 12 months they acquired 13 new events which revolve around the subjects of the magazines they are contracted to.
• In 2012 Ian Fisher became CEO of the Mortons Media Group and moved all divisions back together to create a multi-media company which aligned them with 21st Century needs.
• Today, they are the largest independent contract printers in the UK.
• Steve believed that " investment is vital if you care about the medium" which is a good lesson to take in any career path.
• He also strongly believed that print still has a future. They currently have 120 titles running each week, with the personal slogan "product mix is our uniqueness and our strength".
• Designers and photographers need to ensure their work is correctly edited for the publication that it will be used in.
• They also offer a digital printing service and are capable of printing up to SRA3 of single sheets to booklets.
• Letterpress moved to web offset which allowed publications to produce better quality prints in a  much faster way.
• Now, machines can produce up to 86000 copies per hour.
• Recession, the internet, and a change in reading habits have harmed print media.
• However, in Steve's opinion, newspaper will be around for many more years but in a reduced format.
• Local communities will use micro publishing.
• There will be more products but more controlled target circulation and distribution.
• Digital printing, which will give the reader the opportunity to choose what they want.