OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR READERS
OUR world is evolving at warp speed and nowhere is that more evident than in the media.
One only has to log on to the Gold Coast Bulletin website to see how dramatically our approach to delivering news and telling stories has changed in the past few years.
Rarely do we upload an article without a video as part of the package and our readers have come to know we are breaking quality news stories not just in newsprint but throughout the day and night.
This approach has clearly proven popular, as evidenced by our rapid growth in digital subscriptions.
Unfortunately not every organisation has been as agile when it comes to embracing the future.
Various major sporting organisations are among those that have failed to keep pace with the world and, in particular, the Commonwealth Games Federation has demonstrated it remains stuck in the 20th century with its quaint and antiquated idea of how modern media operates.
This is the case with the accreditation agreement it has asked the Gold Coast Bulletin and our fellow News Corp publications to sign for the privilege of covering next year’s Games.
We firmly believe this old-school approach to broadcast rights will prevent us from delivering video and breaking news in real-time, as has been our normal operating procedure for years.
As a result, News Corp, of which we are a key part, has had no choice but to refuse to sign the agreement.
This decision has not been taken lightly and was only reached after we were unable to nut out a reasonable and sensible solution after discussions with both the Commonwealth Games Federation and the Seven Network.
Our overtures have fallen on deaf ears and the bottom line is we will not settle for anything that duds our readers of the quality and promptly delivered news they have come to expect.
This is a standard for which we must fight.
So what does it mean for you? Given our professionalism and dedication, very little.
We will still bring you every moment that matters at the Commonwealth Games with the energy, vision, insight and sense of excitement you would expect from us.
We remain committed as ever to delivering outstanding coverage of the biggest event our city has ever seen – with or without the help of its governing body.