Category: Editorial content

Business models, Editorial content, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Strategy

Stylist Magazine’s editor-in-chief Lisa Smosarski on its circulation success

This week, Stylist Magazine’s editor-in-chief Lisa Smosarski explains how the title has managed to grow its weekly circulation at a time when much of the industry is experiencing print decline.

In the news round-up the gang butt heads over the Guardian’s new £42 million Venture Capital fund, argue about The Wall Street Journal’s new social media guidelines and agree that BuzzFeed UK’s success is a good thing (mostly).

What we’re reading:

Subscribe to Media Voices on iTunes here or by searching for ‘Media Voices’ in your favourite podcast app.

Editorial content, Podcasts, Strategy

University of Oregon’s Damian Radcliffe on local journalism in the Pacific Northwest

In this week’s episode, the University of Oregon’s Carolyn S. Chambers professor in journalism Damian Radcliffe takes us through his latest report into local journalism in the Pacific Northwest.

In the news round-up, the gang discuss strict new NYT social media guidelines for journalism, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s statement on moderating news content, and whether publishers should ‘punish’ audiences who come in through social. We can’t stop making analogies; we’re like sharks who just have to keep swimming.

What we’re reading:

Subscribe to Media Voices on iTunes here or by searching for ‘Media Voices’ in your favourite podcast app.

Background music courtesy of Nicolai Heidlas Music via SoundCloud -@nicolai-heidlas
Editorial content, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers

Future’s Rock titles Editor in Chief Scott Rowley on covering rockstar deaths

This week Scott Rowley, Editor in Chief of Future’s rock titles, takes us through how his magazines responded to death of Tom Petty in real time, and why he believes reporting on rock star deaths is devolving into a “bun fight”.

In the news round-up, the gang discuss Glamour magazine moving to a bi-annual publishing schedule, whether Google and Facebook failed in the wake of the Las Vegas shootings, and whether Rupert Murdoch is really publishing’s White Knight (no). Esther imitates a sheep.

We’re reading:
– Why objective journalism is a misleading and dangerous illusion
– Is ‘guerrilla war’ being waged on news broadcasters?
– If journalists take sides, who will speak truth to power?

Subscribe to Media Voices on iTunes here or by searching for ‘Media Voices’ in your favourite podcast app.

Editorial content, Podcasts, Social responsibility

Newspaper analyst Liz Gerard and Stop Funding Hate founder Richard Wilson

This week’s episode of Media Voices features two interviewees discussing UK papers’ obsession with immigration, the emotive language used on their front pages, and whether anything can halt that trend.

First, newspaper analyst Liz Gerard takes us through the recent history of tabloid front pages, then Stop Funding Hate founder Richard Wilson explains the goals of the campaign.

In the news round-up, Chris and Peter discuss the news that UK current affairs magazines have seen a year on year rise in circulations and the MediaMavens project, which aims to see what a news publication looks like when only women pick the stories and headlines. Peter sings us out.

Subscribe to Media Voices on iTunes here or by searching for ‘Media Voices’ in your favourite podcast app.

Editorial content, Podcasts, Publishers, Strategy

The Tab’s Charlie Gardiner-Hill on taking a student brand global

In this week’s episode, we talk to The Tab’s COO Charlie Gardiner-Hill about taking the student brand to the States, building other titles around a totem brand, killer clowns and drinking game rules.

In the news round-up Chris and Esther discuss the Guardian’s $50,000 fundraising campaign to support an environmental series called ‘This Land is Your Land’, Google’s latest attempt to control and monetise the ad-blocking ecosystem and Slate applying podcasting lessons to try out VR. Chris sings a song.

TheMediaBriefing podcast is sponsored by Make Real. Make Real, providing virtual reality experiences that engage, inform, inspire and delight.

Editorial content, Platforms, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Social responsibility

Cosmopolitan UK’s Farrah Storr on Snapchat and representation

In this week’s edition of TheMediaBriefing, Esther talks to Cosmopolitan UK’s editor-in-chief Farrah Storr about the brand’s Snapchat success, whether women’s magazines have a duty to be representative of an entire gender, and what the magazine might look like in the future.

In the news roundup Chris and Esther discuss Snap Inc’s disappointing results, El Pais’ plans partnership with Amazon to deliver a print product in under two hours and why Amazon Prime is launching a live concert division. An argument ensues over who owns the MediaBriefing office crown (not a metaphor).

Business models, Editorial content, Podcasts, Publications

The New European’s editor Matt Kelly on bravery and business models

In this week’s episode, The New European’s editor Matt Kelly discusses the respective strengths of right- and left-wing rhetoric, the ephemeral nature of pop-up publishing, and what it means for the paper to have been rewarded with four prizes at the British Media Awards last week.

In the news round-up Chris and the newly-married Esther discuss Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook’s race to own video, newspaper owners’ desperate pleas for advertisers to come back to print and Airbnb’s new print partnership with Hearst. In our new regular feature ‘Who Hath Blighted The Consumer This Week’ we discuss whether anyone really needs an IoT-enabled salt shaker.

 

Editorial content, Platforms, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Strategy

Trinity Mirror’s digital innovation editor Alison Gow on the opportunities of Live

In the March 28th episode of TheMediaBriefing, we talk to Trinity Mirror’s digital innovation editor Alison Gow on the opportunities afforded by live video for national and regional media, in addition to talking AR and best practice for engaging with communities on social platforms.

In the news round-up Chris and Esther discuss the ongoing YouTube ad blackout, why reddit is introducing profile pages, Twitter’s new premium offering and more success for The Times’ subscription model.

Editorial content, Platforms, Podcasts, Strategy

NewsThump’s Richard Smith on how satirical humour sites are being hit by ‘fake news’ filters

The definition of Fake News went from ‘specific term for misinformation spread via social networks’ to ‘objective fact I disagree with’ within a week of its conception. In the same way you can physically watch bamboo grow, you could watch the the term ‘fake news’ become meaningless with your bare eyes.

While the term itself is nebulous and ill-defined now, the responses to it have been very real and concrete. Facebook, a vector for the spread of misinformation, has now implemented its response, making it much harder for users to spread ‘fake news’. But there are other efforts underway behind the scenes, and attempts to curb the spread of misinformation is hitting satirical humour sites too. In this episode of TheMediaBriefing’s podcast, NewsThump’s founder Richard Smith explains how his site has been caught in the crossfire.

In the news round-up, Chris and Esther discuss TMB favourite Quartz becoming profitable after four years, George Osborne’s ascension to editorship of the London Evening Standard and how the Hustle email newsletter raised $300k from its readers in 55 hours.

Editorial content, Podcasts, Strategy

Media analyst Kevin Anderson on going beyond the article

In this episode of TheMediaBriefing’s podcast we talk to Kevin Anderson, author of the Beyond the Article: Frontiers of Editorial and Commercial Innovation report for the Reuters Institute. We discuss platform plurality, the need for good project managers and why editorial and commercial innovation need to be wed.

In the news round-up Chris and Esther discuss the Metro’s circulation ‘success’, Vimeo’s 360 video project and Instant Article disappointment.

Editorial content, Podcasts

Editorial cartoonist Andy Davey on why publishers should readjust their priorities

In this episode of TheMediaBriefing podcast, we speak to editorial cartoonist Andy Davey to discuss his work for the Guardian; The Sun; Private Eye; Punch and more, and discuss how the homogenisation of digital news brands can be stopped.

In the news roundup, Chris and Esther debate the pros and cons of Google AMP for publishers, reported declines in the number of editorial staff at the FT, Slate, Thrillist and other, and Esther fails to prevent Chris evangelising about virtual reality and its use at publishers.

Editorial content, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Social responsibility

Glamour’s Jo Elvin on a modern magazine’s role in society

In the latest, entirely Trump-free podcast, we hear from Glamour UK’s editor in chief Jo Elvin on its recent format change and price drop, its enduring place in the minds of its readers and how the magazine and society are reciprocal reflections of one another. In the news round-up, Chris and Esther talk Guardian rumours, print closures (we don’t seek these out, we swear!) and the latest skirmish in the Facebook-Snapchat war.

Editorial content, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers

The Drum’s Diane Young on when a magazine company is no longer a magazine company

In this episode of TheMediaBriefing podcast, we chat to The Drum’s Diane Young to ask when a magazine company is no longer a magazine company. We also provide a news round-up discussing a bad week for (most) print products and publishers, Facebook finally overtaking some traditional media organisations in terms of ad revenue, and a discussion about whether we’re already living in an advertising dystopia.