KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 — Media conglomerate New Straits Time Press Bhd (NSTP) is transforming and strengthening itself from a newspaper-based company to a multi-platform real time content provider.
Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid said the move is in tune with the changing landscape, where technology-savvy people, are demanding news and information instantly, anywhere and anytime.
“It is very critical that we transform the NSTP from being a pure newspaper company to a content provider, putting out fast, reliable and accurate news to the people.
“So, we are now shifting the whole delivery platform to additional platforms and print will remain one of it. But it is going to be digital first, print later,” he said, adding, the NSTP is also leveraging on the accessibility and efficiency of social media, including youtube and Facebook to deliver the news.
Abdul Jalil took over the NSTP leadership from Datuk Mohammad Azlan Abdullah in March this year, while overseeing operations of three newspapers, The New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Malay language tabloid, Harian Metro.
The group is also currently having three online news websites, news apps, e-papers and five e-magazines.
He said while expanding the content delivery platform, the company is also focused on growing revenue from the digital sources by monetising content via subscriptions, sponsorship and advertisements.
“We are going to revolutionise the whole thing. By going digital, we are looking at not losing so much revenue from advertising and circulation (of the newspapers).
He said the digital platform had contributed significantly to total company revenue last year.
“It is growing very fast, and more than what we had forecast in terms of value and percentage. We want to continue growing it,” he added.
Abdul Jalil, whose career of over 30 years in journalism and communications started at Bernama, said this in an interview in conjunction with the national news agency’s Golden Jubilee Celebration . — Bernama
