Chris Schroeder, the CEO and publisher of Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive, is the ultimate suit, and a deadly serious one at that. When he gave the keynote speech at the UK Association of Online Publishers’ Conference earlier this week, as a representative of OPA US, people expected him to be more open and honest, and not engage in hubris. Instead, he did just that, trumpeting OPA and WaPo as the next saviours of online journalism and media. I knew he was going to take potshots at the sites trying to develop premium revenue streams…WaPo militantly opposes that. “I wish the subscription people well…I hope they do well,” he said, in his barely concealed conceit.
Another thing he said in the Q&A seesion later, about digital editions: “Digital editions are like putting radio on TV. PDF sucks. The current products are completely unacceptable.”
It is as if Chris and my own columnist Robert Spears are at the opposite end of the spectrum…both of them are shrill voices in their own sphere…both of them end up alienating a lot of people…
Chris, some bit of unwanted advice: the big gun you keep pointing at everyone else…be careful with that, ’cause one day it might inadvertently be pointing towards your feet. Never, ever, say never ever.
My coverage of the conference is sponsored by M-Till, UK’s mobile micropayments company….
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