Now that the production and distribution of digital information are at the heart of many old and new industries, and the media landscape is changing in such unexpected and different ways, transparency is often lacking. The digital developments are largely driven by the software, telecom and television industries, that can invest large sums to establish vertical markets, and are often making alliances with content producers. The resulting new structures, monopolies and gateways to the audience may endanger the free access to distribution the press could previously count on. What would benefit individual newspapers most, though, and will assist them in staying one of the mainstays of European democracies, is continuous innovation and development of their product, to be as relevant in the online world as they are in print. Kent State University Permission is granted for non-profit educational uses.
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