Tablet-only newspaper struggling to meet expectations

More than a year after News Corporation launched the first-ever tablet-specific newspaper, the Daily is still falling short of its lofty aim of reigniting a struggling journalism medium.

According to the New York Times, the Daily is not struggling in terms of readership or revenue generation. Greg Clayman, publisher of the Daily, says the newspaper has 100,000 weekly and monthly subscribers, 250,000 unique monthly readers and expects to break even within five years. Nor is the Daily failing to deliver a fresh take on print media, featuring a dynamic design full of pictures and video every day.

Where the Daily is having issues, according to the Times, is influence. As of yet, the Daily has not established a strong voice in the mainstream media, and is not generally recognized as a major outlet for news or a driver of national discussion.

The fact that tablet computers are not yet as widespread as traditional PCs could be hindering the publication's influence. The Times suggests that the app also "lacks the fluidity" of most websites and the immediacy of Twitter and blogs.

The Daily's current struggles may soon change, however, as tablets become more popular. Studies have shown that tablet users read more news after purchasing the mobile device. If this trend holds true, digital publications could be poised to take off in the coming years.