On this week’s episode Helen Pearson, Chief Magazine Editor for Nature, tells us about what consumer-focused publications can learn about community from the journal’s focus on supporting scientists, the changing expectations of younger audiences, and the challenge of making research open to all while also supporting the authors and journalists.
In the news roundup, the team discusses the UK launch of Netflix ‘competitor’ BritBox, the surprise return of Smash Hits, and Hearst’s latest micro-membership scheme. Peter sings The Spice Girls’ greatest hits.
News in brief:
- The Global Editors Network, the group behind GEN Summit, made a shock announcement about their closure this week after 9 years. They cited a ‘lack of sustainable finances’ as the main reason
- Twitter is rolling out ‘Topics’, meaning you’ll be able to follow topics like you currently can accounts (like you can on Instagram with hashtags). It’s starting with more than 300 subjects across sports, gaming and entertainment
- G/O Media’s editorial director Paul Maidment has left the company less than a week after the entire editorial staff of Deadspin resigned, after telling them to ‘stick to sports’. Brilliant piece in New Republic – The Death of the Rude Press
- Some good print news: 4 titles have seen growth this quarter at Meredith, and portfolio-wide newsstand revenue has also increased
- Court documents have shown Facebook deliberately cut off access to user data for app developers from 2012 to squash potential rivals, whilst using user privacy as an excuse – a move everyone is calling the ‘switcharoo’
- Google is in discussions about changing its political ad policy, a week after Facebook and Twitter made their stands. It’s unclear yet which side they’ll fall on, but a policy change would be reflected across all its platforms, including YouTube
- McClatchy have launched a new subscription product called Impact2020, which will give users access to all of the political reporting from its 30+ local papers, as well as national election news
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