Content, Community and Commerce - A US Local Digital Media Start-ups Strategy PLUS Newsquest's Audio Tool Boosts Audience Engagement

June 18, 2021

For those looking to launch a digital news start-up in a competitive market, Ken Doctor's Lookout project is one to watch. He's six months in, and he gives an honest and actionable review of where things stand. Launching in the middle of a pandemic almost certainly wasn't part of his plan, and it is interesting to see the local vulture fund-owned newspaper staff up - completely contrary to their standard operating procedure - to try to fend off the challenge.

We also have an interesting look at measuring impact from smartocto - an analytics company that promises more actionable insights than other analytics packages. I have to say that in my day job, we're not short of data, but we do sometimes struggle to sift through the data to provide that strategic guidance. We're at a tricksy point right now where the demand for numbers is outstripping the resources we have to do the analysis.

Plus, there is a good look at Newsquest's in-house tool that allows reporters to easily add audio to their stories. They are seeing readers engage more with those stories. Attention is definitely the coin of the realm. And some tips on how to build audience on Apple News+ for magazines if that is part of your strategy.

A Digital Start-up's Strategy: Content, Community and Commerce

We don’t wake up each morning to compete with a print daily, but rather to run our own local news and community model. That’s the key.

I've had the pleasure of speaking with Ken Doctor a few times, and I really love what he is doing. I know the challenge he has, especially launching in the teeth of the pandemic. But this stands out for me as he contrasts his operation with the fading vulture venture-owned paper:

"A shrinking of the public face of the paper vs. us flooding the zone with our staff engaging every way we can with the public in forums, Lookout Listens sessions, Zoom intros, member events, and, soon, street fairs. Two key positions we’ve invested in early on: A director of community partnerships and a head of events."

Adding Impact Measurement to Stories for Public Service Media

What drives journalism? Is it revenue, or a responsibility to society? Some would say both, but the reality is that most lean towards the revenue side, with the media and news sector being predominantly commercially driven. There is however a group of media (often public) that create their content strategy around a certain task, mission, …

Some interesting thinking here from smartocto, which promises more actionable analytics. From my experience working for public service broadcasters and also The Guardian which has its own unique model, there has to be alignment about the mission, which isn't always easy to achieve.

UK: Newsquest Uses In-house Audio Tool to Boost Engagement

A new in-house app allows local reporters to send soundbites from courts and sports matches to the newsroom to create richer content and pull the reader deeper into the story

NY Times and The Athletic Aren't Going to Bundle

The New York Times and subscription sports news site The Athletic have ended their acquisition talks, according to people familiar with the matter. The demise of the deal—which would have united one of media’s best known legacy brands with a respected up-and-comer—came down to money. The people ...

How People Magazine is Building Audience on Apple News+

Press Gazette has been reporting on British journalism without fear or favour since 1965. Our mission is to provide a news and information service which helps the UK journalism.

Ooo, this is interesting. I hadn't seen data about magazines on Apple News+ before, and Press Gazette has a nice write-up about how People is building audience on the platform.