View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
May 27, 2009

David Montgomery: Journalists need to be managers

By nikkiwicks

Mecom boss and former Mirror Group chief executive David Montgomery has said that journalists need to become better managers if they want to have a successful future in the industry.

In an interview in the Telegraph today, Montgomery also said: “The industry has to understand that cost-cutting is here to stay.”

He said: “There is a view among journalists that if managers were any good they’d be journalists.

“What I’m trying to encourage journalists to be is managers themselves – to manage their content.

“If journalists want to go on and have a successful future, then they have got to be commercial.

“They’ve got to be managers. They’ve got the skills and the potential to do that, so why are they embarrassed about that?”

Despite the pressure to cut costs, and what he calls a “bankrupt” and “unviable” business model functioning in the industry, Montgomery does remain confident.

He said: “I have had some anxiety, but the fact of the matter is that newspapers are not going to go out of business.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network