Extra, extra: Newspapers aren't dead yet

[Commentary] A new business model for newspapers is taking shape. Oblivion is not necessarily part of the equation.

The core question for newspapers in recent years has been, where is the money going to come from? The Internet blew up their lucrative advertising monopolies. Craigslist took their classifieds. And while newspaper websites significantly increased the size of their audiences, digital advertising, once seen as the holy grail, has been profoundly disappointing.

There are two major elements in the emerging survival strategy:

• Circulation revenue is increasing. The key: Charging for digital content. Newspapers are now making money from digital-only subscriptions and, more important, bundled subscriptions that give readers access to information in a multitude of ways.
• Newspapers are leveraging their skills to bring in revenue from activities other than journalism. Most significant is providing marketing services to local businesses trying to figure out how to flourish in a transforming environment. But newspapers are also earning money through e-commerce and hosting events.