Fairfax Media has hired external consultants Bain & Co. to evaluate its medium-term growth strategy, but some industry watchers say they thing the move will only further delay implementing new strategies, The Australian reported yesterday.

The strategy also includes a proposal that would give control of the group's flagship Web sites, currently managed by Fairfax Digital Chief Executive Jack Matthews, back to their print sides. The group's flagship titles include The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

"The transfer of management of the flagship websites to the print business would represent a significant loss of influence in Fairfax for Mr Matthews and the digital division," The Australian report stated.

Meanwhile, Fairfax was among the first news outlets to create apps for the iPad, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. The SMH and The Age e-edition apps will include all the same sections found in print newspapers, and will enable readers to flip through pages.

"If you are part of a generation that likes screens more than paper, then The Age's iPad app will appeal. It will give you the full paper - everything from News, BusinessDay, Sport and the sections - every day in a digital, portable format. And it will look like the paper. In fact, it will be the paper - just on a screen, not on paper," said Paul Ramadge, editor-in-chief of The Age.