Fairfax result masks challenge of digital first

FAIRFAX Media’s full year result provides further evidence management’s digital first strategy is a case of too much, too soon. The bottom line profit number looks better than it has done for some time but it has been boosted by savage cost cuts and asset sales including holiday website Stayz. Meanwhile, the newspaper division’s digital advertising revenue continues to grow at a slow rate. For the full-year, digital ad revenue rose a paltry 6 per cent.