Category: Strategy

Business models, Podcasts, Strategy

The Death of Digital Special

In this very special episode of Media Voices, we discuss the conflux of news about BuzzFeed, VICE, Mashable and many more and ask whether the dream of a digital future for publishers is over before it began.

It’s Media Voices’ first birthday! The team briefly reminisce about the travails of launching the podcast, their favourite episodes, and their plans for the future.

One of those plans is to make Media Voices so good you have to listen to every single episode. The only way we can do that is if you tell us what you like, what you don’t like and what should be doing that we haven’t even thought about. Please take a few minutes, complete our survey, and tell us how we could make Media Voices better for you.

What we’re reading:

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

Business models, Innovations, Podcasts, Strategy

NYU’s Jay Rosen on the Membership Puzzle Project

This week, director of the Membership Puzzle Project Jay Rosen takes us through why membership could be the future of funding journalism, and what needs to be done to make it valuable to readers and publishers alike.

Continue reading “NYU’s Jay Rosen on the Membership Puzzle Project” →

Editorial content, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Strategy

Dennis Executive Director Kerin O’Connor on The Week’s enduring appeal

This week, publisher of The Week Kerin O’Connor takes us through the reasons behind the magazine’s continued success on the newsstand, and how it encourages a relationship between it and its audience.

In the news round-up the Media Voices team talk about the Guardian’s membership success, the spectacularly frightening changes to the Facebook news feed, and ask whether we should be nice to the Duopoly. Listener beware, you’re in for a scare!

What we’re reading:

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

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
Business models, Podcasts, Strategy

FIPP CEO James Hewes on international lessons for media owners

In this week’s episode of Media Voices, Peter speaks to CEO of FIPP James Hewes to discuss its upcoming congress and the lessons learned through watching other titles from round the world.

In the news round-up the team discusses the backlash against a pivot to video and the decision by a UK cycle retailer to stop advertising with the right-wing tabloids. Chris, Esther and Peter accidentally make it through a whole episode without mentioning Trump.

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

Innovations, Podcasts, Publishers, Strategy

Deutsche Welle’s Esra Doğramacı on best practice for digital video

In this week’s episode of Media Voices, Peter travels to Cape Town and interviews Deutsche Welle’s Esra Doğramacı, to find out how the German broadcaster is approaching digital video.

Continue reading “Deutsche Welle’s Esra Doğramacı on best practice for digital video” →

Business models, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Strategy

De Correspondent’s International Editor Maaike Goslinga on crowdfunding journalism

In this week’s episode of Media Voices, Peter speaks to De Correspondent’s International Editor Maaike Goslinga to find out whether its type of crowdfunded journalism could exist in an English-speaking country.

In the news round-up, Peter, Esther, and Chris discuss why magazine cover designers have struck gold with Trump, take bets on whether the pivot to video is good for publishers long-term, and try to come up with a name for a three-party duopoly (harder than you’d think). Chris and Esther argue about the origin of three-dimensional chess.
Chris’ pick for best Trump cartoon:
Peter’s pick:
Esther’s pick:
Platforms, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Strategy

British GQ’s Becky Lucas on the true meaning of ‘engagement’

In this episode of the Media Voices Podcast, Esther interviews British GQ’s Insight and Strategy Editor Becky Lucas. They talk about what ‘engagement’ means for a luxury magazine that exists across so many different platforms.

In the news round-up Peter, Esther and Chris discuss BBC pay, Snap’s latest efforts to thwart its competitors, and (shocker!) print revenue. They also take a deep dive into the Reuters Institute’s latest study and Google’s attempt to create a ‘friendless’ recommendation engine. Esther gets preoccupied with a particular GQ article, and Peter and Chris agree they don’t want to join any club that would let them in.

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

Podcasts, Strategy

Journalism.co.uk’s Madalina Ciobanu on putting together a great media conference

In this week’s episode of Media Voices, we chat to journalism.co.uk’s senior reporter Mădălina Ciobanu about what considerations go into creating an event like the upcoming news:rewired – www.newsrewired.com

In the news round-up, Chris and Esther discuss a less-is-more approach to digital display ads (and whether AdBlock Plus was right all along), and why Amazon might be launching its own dedicated messaging app. Esther’s lack of experience with MySpace makes Chris confront his own mortality.

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

Innovations, Podcasts, Publishers, Strategy

Dennis UK CTO Paul Lomax on the tech that underpins a modern publisher

In this week’s episode of Media Voices we hear from Dennis Publishing’s CTO Paul Lomax, who discusses the technology that underpins a modern publisher, and how Dennis builds agile working into its culture.

Continue reading “Dennis UK CTO Paul Lomax on the tech that underpins a modern publisher” →

Innovations, Platforms, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Strategy

CNN’s Samantha Barry on innovative social media for a global newsbrand

On the fourth of July, Media Voices is celebrating its own Independence Day. In the inaugural episode of our new-look podcast, Esther interviews CNN’s executive producer of social and emerging media Samantha Barry about its U.S. election coverage, the rise and rise of chatbots, and how the team approaches storytelling across different platforms.

Continue reading “CNN’s Samantha Barry on innovative social media for a global newsbrand” →

Business models, Podcasts, Publishers, Strategy

IDG’s Michael Friedenberg on driving a major media brand forward

In this week’s episode, we talk to IDG’s CEO Michael Friedenberg about how IDG has managed to consistently stay ahead of the curve, the future of display advertising and changing revenue breakdowns within the company.

In the news round-up Chris and Esther discuss Apple’s in-browser autoplay-blocking following a similar move by Google last week, the launch of News UK’s new ‘vertical video studio’ and two significant new publisher additions to Snapchat Discover. Chris attempts to guess the election results.

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.

Innovations, Podcasts, Strategy

Author and podcaster Emma Gannon on authenticity and ‘the influencer’

In this week’s episode, we talk to author, blogger and podcaster polymath Emma Gannon about the death of ‘the influencer’, balancing authenticity and commercial concerns, and the relative value of corporate and personal brands.

In the news round-up Chris and Esther talk about Facebook’s original video programme being delayed and its efforts to enter the food ordering marketplace, discuss Wired’s edition-based entrance onto Snapchat discover, and try very hard not to swear while talking about net neutrality rules being overturned.

Business models, Platforms, Podcasts, Publications, Publishers, Strategy

Bauer’s head of ePublishing Jim Foster on native app strategy

In the latest episode of TheMediaBriefing, Bauer’s head of ePublishing Jim Foster takes us through the publisher’s app and distributed publishing strategies and provides a look back at how the company went from having no apps to considering one for each publication. Chris and Esther try not to sound too incredulous when he describes a time in magazine publishing when the market could support multiple magazines about carp.

In the news round-up Chris and Esther discuss a £300m bad week for Johnston Press, the News Integrity Initiative and De Correspondent’s attempt to crack the states.

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.

Platforms, Podcasts, Social responsibility, Strategy

Facebook’s head of news partnerships Nick Wrenn on fake news, journalism and live video

Facebook dominates any conversation about media in 2017. Whether it’s an examination of its role in disseminating journalism, its status as a vector for ‘fake news’ or its position as one of the digital advertising duopoly, it’s an unmissable feature of the media landscape. In this episode of TheMediaBriefing we speak to Facebook’s head of news partnerships EMEA Nick Wrenn to discuss those issues and how they affect the publisher-platform relationship.

In the news roundup, Chris and Esther discuss the NYT-Spotify bundle, magazine circulations and try in vain not to enjoy the Daily Mail vs. Wikipedia grudge match. Sign up to our podcast on iTunes here.