I used to read NST for more than 18 years when growing up. Now I’ve switched to another leading paper, and NST readership has dropped drastically according to latest surveys. I can’t really pin-point the reasons it has become unpopular, but I can suggest some ways reach out to a wider target audience.
- Publish newspaper in 4 different sizes – extra large (for those with eyesight problems), large, small and A4-size (for reading in LRT).
- Publish daily-continuing soap-opera stories ala Dallas or Dynasty to keep people coming back everyday.
- More Lat comics.
- Give free Perodua Myvi with every yearly subscription.
- Have more niche-market pullouts – for example: Bonsai planting, spotlight on Telenovela Latin Amerika, weekly features on weird bloggers, etc.
- Scrap those un-funny and pathetic cartoons like Super Arang Man and Tok Guru.
- Free daily coupons to get 20 sen off the Star.
- Page Three Girls.
- Thought-provoking, free thinking, hard-hitting journalism not conforming to any unwritten rules that stifle freedom of speech. (No wait, that would be asking too much...)
- And finally, (strictly for MJ fans) Page Four Boys.
7 Comments
Ivan
“Free daily coupons to get 20 sen off the Star.”
that might just work.. hahaha.. I noticed the headlines for NST has shifted towards those of malay mail. i hope they don’t turn into a tabloid.
Fahruddin Najumudeen
i guess NST is doomed till the end of its days. Its just not attractive as the Star lah…
Simon
ivan – nst is going down fast if they dun do sumthin drastic. btw, did you know you look like that darth vader guy? 😮
fahruddin – yep. soon it’ll be a free paper like Sun! btw, haven’t seen you here for awhile, nice to hear from you!
Fahruddin Najumudeen
heheh, likewise man. Oh by the way, hope you don’t mind I link you in my blog, I like your stuff.
Simon
no problem, fahruddin… 🙂
Ivan
Simon: me look like that vader fella? where got? hehehe
Simon
ivan – there you see the avatar? look like vader la!