E-commerce, ads and philanthropy: The many ways media are earning revenue PLUS the disappearing legacy of digital journalism

September 15, 2022

Today's items fascinate me because they demonstrate how much commercial experimentation is going on in media right, and it is across the board from new revenue streams such as the New York Times' cooking kits (which you could argue is just an extension of the e-commerce trend) to philanthropic support for traditional publishers. And of course, with all of these new products, we are seeing media outlets experiment with what bundles are the most successful in converting audiences to paying customers.

Lots more today, including a reorganisation at the Washington Post of their audience and strategy teams. Semafor's staff announcement, the social media platforms release best practice guides and Kara Swisher

NYT Cooking, the subscription recipe site from The New York Times, will sell $95 at-home cooking kits curated by guest chefs.

Exhibit number one of the New York Times' revenue experimentation.

In many ways, ads are a harsh fact of life for publishers. If they want to have any sort of longevity beyond a certain level then chances are they need to sell more ads - even if doing so sucks them further into the proverbial race to the bottom that is online advertising.

Exhibit number two of their commercial experimentation.

For many news organizations, philanthropy has become an emerging and sustaining source of revenue. But how does a news organization start that work of asking for funders and partnering with local philanthropic organizations? In this Q&A, we share some helpful tips from Will Campbell, the innovation editor and reporter at The Columbian, on how the […]

As concerns about local journalism have become more acute in the United States, philanthropic support has not only increased, but it has expanded focus beyond its traditional focus of non-profits and public media. This practical piece looks at how these traditional publishers are dipping their toes into the philanthropic pool.

Gannett Is Selling 4 Massachusetts Papers Marked For Closure - 09/13/2022

And if you want to raise some cash, you can always sell some newspapers. Gannett has been selling off many of its smaller properties, and groups like Cherry Road are only too happy to buy them up.

The rise of retail or commerce media

McKinsey believes it’s time to look at the e-commerce and retail media as one big industry, encompassing all the advertisers, retail media firms, media companies and shoulder industries that serve them.

This is a wide-ranging view looking at the wide array of efforts to drive sales through media, including the adoption by traditional media outlets of e-commerce.

Where Retail Media Went Wrong And How Newer Entrants Can Avoid the Same Pitfalls - 09/15/2022

A more focused look at retail media, where brands or retailers create media to drive sales.

'Washington Post' Reorganizes Its Audience Growth And Strategy Group - 09/13/2022

Data and analytics teams, newsletter teams, major projects teams to keep everything running, teams to coordinate with the business side and also product and emerging format teams - this reorganisation definitely covers the waterfront in a way that only a shop the size of the Washington Post can.

Semafor releases memo announcing team

Social media tips and best practice guide

Corbett, 25, is a producer on NPR's Planet Money and a TikTok wunderkind.

How a 25-year-old with an interest in economics and a canny sense of production values that work on TikTok has become a sensation. If you're looking to create news-oriented social media videos, this is a great piece to read.

Social Media Today

It seems the season for the platforms to release updated best practices. First Twitter...

Social Media Today

And next Meta.

How you interview guests or package a show depends on whether you have a two-minute briefing or 30-minute interview to prepare

The different production process of producing bite-sized audio content meant for smart speakers or short breaks in people's days versus the half hour shows that fit more neatly in a person's commute. It's worth thinking about where people are at and what they might be doing when you're making audio content.

Zoomers are the customers of the future, and companies must have them on their teams to succeed.

Yesterday, we highlighted an INMA report about connecting with Gen Z audiences, and one of their recommendations was that you have to hire people from the generation to produce content that speaks authentically to audiences from the generation. In this follow up, they discuss the different employment expectations from this generation.

The disappearing legacy of digital journalism

This really hit home as so much of the work that I did as a journalist has either disappeared behind a paywall, disappeared in old formats or simply disappeared. It's a sad statement when you're looking back over your career, and so much of your work is simply gone.