"...You should know better than anyone else. With the impact of new online media, the circulation of posts has declined almost every year, and profits have also declined year by year. The average daily circulation in the first quarter of this year fell by 8.3% compared with the fourth quarter of last year, and the average daily circulation is only 573,000 copies. Three years ago, this figure was 678,482 copies. In terms of profit, the decline in the first quarter of this year compared with the fourth quarter of last year was as high as 83%. I have to consider the future."

Standing in front of the main entrance of the Washington Post building, looking at Andy Smith, who was invited to visit the Post, on the departure convoy, Donald Graham's eyes were a little lost. After he quickly returned to the Qingming Festival, he lowered his voice indifferently, saying something that only his niece, Catherine Wemoth, who was standing beside him, could hear.

But Katherine Weimos, who has already served as publisher and CEO, has a bad face, frowns and looks deep at her uncle Donald Graham.

Catherine was very convinced about her uncle. You should know that Donald Graham, who inherited his mother's legacy, was not an ordinary rich child. He went to the battlefield, worked as a policeman, and started from the grassroots level, trying to create his own glory. On the day he took over the Post, Donald made a speech saying, "From today on, I will follow the rules set by my mother." Facts show that Donald not only did the mother's rules and the son follow him, but also because of his understanding of Washington, he even had more information sources than the Post's reporters.

After entering the digital age, Donald Graham even made many attempts on the Internet with The Washington Post, and was respected as a mentor by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Because of this, Donald did not have a Facebook stock, but he has been firmly on the Facebook board. This shows his ability.

However, the decline of traditional print media is the general trend of the times, and this is not a problem that anyone can solve by relying on their abilities. However, Catherine, who just took over the Washington Post, doesn't seem to want to just watch the newspaper being sold in her hands.

"Ankao, I want to try again!"

Donald Graham looked back at his niece, a smile appeared on his somewhat indifferent face, with relief and loving feelings. He turned around and reached out to pat her back, and laughed in a low voice as he walked into the building, "I understand how you feel, and I know that every member of our family was frightened when he thought about being sold. To be honest, I am the same myself, but when Andy Smith walked into my sight, my thoughts and feelings changed.

In the foreseeable future, I believe that the Post can survive without changing everyone and maintain a certain profit, but we cannot think about just surviving. Of course, I do not mean that the sale will inevitably guarantee success, but the chances of success will obviously be greater.

I also know that many people may be a little scared if they learn that our family is interested in selling. When a family owns a newspaper for decades, when the family has a belief in both good times and difficult times, while taking into account principles, when the family becomes the helm of excellent values, and when the work they do is so good, worrying about change is the only natural reaction.

However, since you want to try it, then you should try it boldly. If you can restore the decline, the Graham family will naturally not sell our family logo, and Andy Smith is our last option. After all, what I give Andy Smith is only a clear intention and signal, not a promise."

"Spare tire?"

Mercedes-Benz in the convoy on Washington Road, Andy squinted his eyes slightly, tapped his fingers on the leather armrests on the aviation seats, and murmured softly.

Andy was not surprised by the intention to sell Donald Graham. Before that, he had already guessed this possibility. The operation of the Washington Post is getting worse and worse. It is almost impossible to restore the decline of traditional print media. The Graham family's idea of ​​selling the Post is within common sense.

However, Andy did not like the Graham family's procrastination of choosing the next house. They obviously wanted to exchange for money with the old and faded crown, but they still regarded it as treasures and refused to show it to others easily. The ridiculous and sad self-esteem was like how much others were eager...

Well, I have to say that Andy is indeed very excited and interested in being able to acquire the Washington Post, although he is very unhappy with being treated as a "spare tire".

Looking at the 100-year-old changes in the Washington Post, it is far more complicated than the news ideals and heroes in the familiar stories. The news ideals seem to have been hanging high above our heads, but the many factors in politics and business have made the world of news and media less black or white like in movies.

Even though the Washington Post has declined, it is still known as the three most influential newspapers in the United States today, along with the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times. When contacting the Ox Suzberg family who sticks to the New York Times and selling the Pulitzer family of Le Monde, it is not difficult to see from this that in the world of journalism, there is no hereditary, only learning, inheritance and subversion.

To put it bluntly, the acquisition of such a prestigious newspaper is because the media is an important force in maintaining social fairness and justice. From one's own considerations, it is also to consolidate the media power and public opinion right to speak.

Journalism plays a very critical role in a free society. As a local newspaper in the US capital, the Post is particularly important. In particular, the brand value of the Washington Post and its core values,

The first is the courage to say the courage to wait. The Post has always implemented the news confidence before it can be published. There cannot be only one source of news. Because many news is related to the people in reality, their reputation, their livelihoods and families.

The second is to stick to the green mountains and not relax, regardless of the price.

Although he is very envious and has the ability to acquire, to be honest, Andy himself has a headache after acquiring so many traditional paper media. After all, the Internet has changed every factor in the news industry. It shortens the news cycle, erodes the income source on which newspapers rely for a long time on, and creates new competitive relationships. The collection cost of some news is very low or even cost-free.

There is no roadmap for where traditional print media will go in the future, and finding a good path is not easy.

This requires innovation and creation, which means Andy has the courage to let his subordinates boldly conduct new experiments. The touchstone will be readers, understanding what they care about, government, local leaders, restaurant openings, business, charity or sports, etc., everything will work according to readers' preferences.

However, before considering these, Andy felt that he should start to ask his subordinates to help him acquire a building near the White House to prepare for his future takeover of the Washington Post, because the Graham family sold only the Washington Post itself, not other assets under the Post Company. The Post Company owns some educational assets, magazines and websites, such as Foreign Policy and Slate Books, are not sold. In addition, the Post Company's headquarters building in downtown Washington is not sold.

This means that if you really take over the Post, you will have to undergo an overall relocation. Andy naturally cannot let the Post move to a place too far from the White House, the center of power. As for the temporary cramming of an office building whenever you have money, it is not Andy's style. Preparing for the future and making arrangements in advance is the success factor for Andy Smith to come to today.

Besides, the real estate bubble in the United States is bursting, and buildings are selling everywhere, so the price is so cheap!
Chapter completed!