We're getting more details about Twitter's new product roadmap, and I have to say that it is genuinely exciting to see them doing innovation again at a pace that rivals Google and Facebook.

Is the future of reader revenue really down to podcasts and newsletters? Trick question.

Industry news from NZ, the UK and Oz with Stuff's CEO creating an employee stock trust, Reach naming its youngest ever editor and Nine striking deals with Facebook and Google.

Reader Revenue: How to Acquire and Retain Readers

What if the future of media is only newsletters and podcasts? Axios seems to think that’s right. | What’s New in Publishing | Digital Publishing News — whatsnewinpublishing.com

Successful tech startups and new media ventures bet big on paid newsletters and podcasts. Big Tech seems to follow. The recipe for starting a new media venture in 2021 seems to be straightforward: blog, newsletter, podcast. From there you scale up and start adding additional verticals, like events (both virtual and in-person as more people …

"More and more media businesses are basing their future on growing recurring reader revenue. The two pillars of reader revenue hinge on acquisition and retention. Newsletters are a great retention tool and a superb distribution tool, with almost no algorithms standing in the way of the audience."

More Details on Twitter's Creator Features

Twitter teams with climate vet to launch local weather news service — www.axios.com

"It's the largest collective of writers and experts we've launched with."

Ticketed live audio events and Q&A services. Twitter definitely seems to be accelerating its product efforts.

Quartz Takes Baby Steps Towards Sustainability

“It’s been a galvanising moment for us”: How Quartz is charting an independent path to the future - Media Voices Podcast — voices.media

The past few years have been bumpy for many publishers. Quartz is no exception; squeezed by plummeting ad revenues and …

Quartz has struggled, from getting caught in the 'mushy middle' of digital - not unique enough to attract a substantial number of subscribers and not big enough to attract big ad revenue. By flattening their offering and focusing on the long run, they are adding subscribers but not at a really solid pace.

Stop Judging Journalists Who Have to Leave the Industry

There’s no such thing as a former journalist - Poynter — www.poynter.org

Journalists who change professions are met with judgment and half-jokes about joining the Dark Side. How sad, how narrow, how counterproductive.

A good and necessary piece about the people who leave journalism. There is a lot of talk about people 'going to the dark side', and as someone who has moved from editorial to product management, editorial leaders in my organisation have said in editorial meetings about how I left for 'the big money in IT'. I haven't left public service journalism. I'm working to increase the impact of what we do.

NZ: Stuff CEO Sets Up Employee Trust

Stuff owner Sinead Boucher gifts 10% of company to staff | Stuff.co.nz — www.stuff.co.nz

Stake in media firm to be held by trust, with trustees appointed by employees.

"The stake in the company will be transferred to a trust controlled by employee representatives, rather than the shares being directly owned by staff members.

The arrangement means staff would receive through the trust a share of any dividends Stuff pays out, and 10 per cent of the sale proceeds if Stuff was later sold or listed, CEO Sinead Boucher said."

UK: Youngest Reach Editor Talks about Her Experience and Vision

Youngest ever Reach editor sets out plan to take publisher into Norfolk and Suffolk with two new sites — www.pressgazette.co.uk

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.

An interview with the 23-year-old editor who will take over two new 'Live' sites for Reach as beach heads in Archant territory.

Abigail Rabbett told the Press Gazette that in her four years with Reach that she had "huge breadth of experience in just four years and that some of the lessons she had learned included to celebrate every success, how to put personality and flair into her work, and not being afraid to have awkward discussions."

Oz: Nine Outlines Facebook and Google Deals

Nine announces signing of Facebook and Google agreements — www.mediaweek.com.au

Nine Entertainment (ASX: NEC, Nine) has signed agreements with Facebook and Google, following the enacting of the News Media Bargaining Code.

We get a sense of the type of deals that broadcasters and publishers in Australia will be cutting with Facebook and Google now that Australia has pushed the duopoly into striking deals with media groups there. Nine has entered into a deal to provide video for a guaranteed payments.