Managerial Innovation in Newspaper Organizations

Abstract

A national sample of daily newspaper publishers and editors provides the first look at the dimensions of newspaper managerial innovativeness. A positive relationship was found between the innovativeness of newspaper managers and daily circulation. The data also show newsroom morale is perceived to be higher among innovative managers at large newspapers. Counter-hypothetically, innovativeness of newspaper organizational management was found to be unresponsive to direct market competition. Finally, managerial experience and publisher involvement (as perceived by editors) were shown to be significantly related to management innovativeness. The authors consider the impact of innovation on newspaper organizational health and on the newspaper industry's future.