[ecrea] International Conference: Press, Digital Transition and Small Markets

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: PRESS, DIGITAL TRANSITION AND SMALL MARKETS: 
Looking for a new socioeconomic model

Everywhere, the future of the written press is today uncertain. Its 
socio-economic model is questioned. Based on an "all free" system, the 
digital revolution has challenged traditional models. Of course, if one 
adds the audience of digital to the audience of the printed press, 
newspaper readership is sky high. But newspaper publishers fail to 
monetize their digital audiences.

SPECIFIC CHALLENGES OF SMALL MARKETS

The solutions found by the printed press companies involved In large 
areas and addressing large audiences are difficult to implement in small 
countries or small regions. The population is there less important and 
the market is narrow, both in terms of sales and advertising revenues. 
The costs of the newspaper industry, mostly fixed costs, are similar 
whatever the market. But, in smaller markets, they are spread over a 
restricted readership. And export appears not always to be a solution, 
due to the link between the media, the language and the local culture. 
In short, producing original news contents in a small market is complicated.

A EUROPEAN RESEARCH SUBJECT

How, in this case, can the printed press imagine survive and protect its 
freedom?
This is the main research question raised by the Research Observatory on 
Media and journalism (ORM) of the Catholic University of Louvain, 
located in the heart of French-speaking Belgium.
This Observatory intends to study socioeconomics of the press from the 
point of view of small markets, especially in Europe countries and 
regions. To launch this research project, the Observatory organizes an 
International Conference on Tuesday March 22th, in Louvain-la-Neuve.

Scientists, researchers and academics from various small countries and 
European regions are invited to meet there to compare experiences in 
their different markets.

Presentations will be made about the cases of Belgium, Switzerland, 
Scotland, Danemark, Autonomous regions of Spain, Balt Countries, 
Portugal and Quebec (see the program below).

Following this event, the ORM intends to lay the foundations of a 
European researchers network on the issue.

The Conference will take place in Louvain-la-Neuve from 9.30 to 17.30.
Communications will be made in English or in French (with powerpoint 
translation). Free entrance but advance registration required: 
https://presse-et-petits-marches.eventbrite.fr

Morning sessions in room Montesquieu 01, afternoon session in room More 53.
Morning:
-       General introduction: Printed Press In Transition In The 
International Context, by Prof. João Paulo de Jesus Faustino (University 
of Porto, Media Communication School of Lisbon and in the School of 
Education and Social Sciences of Leiria).
-       Printed Press in transition: The Belgian Case, by Profs. 
Frédéric Antoine (Université de Louvain) and Karin Raeymaeckers (U. Gent).
-       Printed Press In Transition In Multilingual European Countries 
or Regions: Swiss and Spanish cases, by Profs. Patrick Badillo 
(Université de Genève), Dominique Bourgeois (Université de Fribourg) and 
Iñaki Zabaleta (University of Bilbao).
Afternoon:
- Printed Press In Transition In Unilingual European Countries or 
Regions: Scottish, Danish and Baltic cases, by Profs Marina Dekavalla 
(University of Stirling), Aske Kammer (University of Southern Denemark) 
and Kristina Juraite (Vytautas Magnus University).
- Printed Press In Transition In A Multilingual Country Outside Europe: 
Quebec, by Prof. Renaud Carbasse (Université Laval).
- Conclusion: In Search Of A New Socioeconomic Model: Elements For 
Starting An International Project, by Profs Frédéric Antoine and Gerard 
Derèze (ORM, Université de Louvain).

More information:  (frederic.antoine /at/ uclouvain.be), 
(sandrine.puissant /at/ uclouvain.be)



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