Ruffled Feathers

Andrew Gowers is a 22-year veteran of the Financial Times and I think it's safe to say that the ride there is over. Since February 2002, he has been responsible for running the FT's global print and online editorial operations. Gowers just recently left the FT over "strategic differences" and since his departure he has made some very strong comments about where, in his opinion, the publishing industry is today:

"Working in print, pure and simple, is the early 21st century equivalent of running a record company specialising in vinyl"” Mr Gowers wrote.

"The future lies with the internet, and those newspapers that survive will be those that produce truly original content and learn fastest how to translate it into the all-encompassing, all-singing, all-dancing new medium of the Web."

Mr Gowers, who had a 22-year history at the FT including his four-year post as editor, said he would not be returning to the world of newspapers.

"I am focused on what comes next. And I have already all but decided that, whatever it is, it will not involve ink printed on dead trees."

"It is of course, quite unlikely that anyone would be foolish enough to ask me to edit a newspaper again. But if they did, the answer would be no."”

Tell us how you really feel Andrew. Please, don't leave anything back.

Of course Andrew isn't saying anything new, what makes these statements significant is the source - a senior executive of one of the most influential newspapers in the world. We are in the midst of a tremendously exciting time as major media companies are going to be forced to 'dance' like start-ups over the next several years or risk inhalationtion. That dance is going to have to include a shift in business model, technology, distribution, marketing, infrastructure and most importantly - culture. That's a lot of parts to move in coordination. As an industry watcher - this should be good. Hat tip - freelanceUK