Web First or Print First

Shane Richmond ,writing on the Telegraph's techie blog today, says that where once there were three models fro managing a web and print news operation,today there are only two.

"Broadly speaking those can be described as 'print first', 'web first' and 'separate but equal'. "

Only the Indy,he argues ,follows the old model of Print first and then wait until revenues start to catch up on the minimum web product before investing in the web.

Everybody else falls somewhere between the other two.The Guardian's announcement yesterday (see earlier blog) puts in firmly in the web first camp.

"Here reporters are commissioned for online first, in whatever medium suits the story best. Once the story is online they continue to build it out and develop it, with the changes constantly being published online and, sometime in the evening, a version being taken in print."