Why we’re undervaluing attention (or what Quakers have to teach us about social media) PLUS why subscription models push media businesses to create better products

December 12, 2022

It’s the end of the year, and it’s always a time to reflect on the year that is ending and what the new year might bring. Ezra Klein has a really interesting piece that challenges some of the primary metaphors used to describe Twitter. But that’s just a fascinating launching point in which Klein discusses the corrosive impact of social media on attention, not just the attention that we in the media compete for but the deep, reflective attention that helps society solve its problems. It’s worth your time.

And Esther Kezia Thorpe has an excellent Nieman Lab prediction that subscription-driven businesses press companies to make better news products. I was having a conversation recently about user experience, and how it you’re asking people to pay, you better have great content, great user experience and ultimately great overall products.

Plus, there is a great overview of how journalism groups are using TikTok and the launch of a new social media-driven news organisation, the News Movement. And Vox is getting out the CMS business, only a week after more rumours that the Washington Post was spinning out its CMS business. And Twitter plans to make you pay more for your blue tick if you’re an Apple user.

We need a thoughtful alternative that doesn’t exist yet.

This is a really thoughtful piece about what we’ve lost, not just with Musk taking over Twitter but with the rise of social media in general. It’s not just the dominance of platforms when it comes to the attention economy. Ezra Klein argues that it is the quality of attention that we’re able to bring to bear. “Attention, in this sense, is a collective resource; it is the depth of thought and consideration a society can bring to bear on its most pressing problems. And as with so many collective resources, from fresh air to clean water, it can be polluted or exhausted.”

"Once growth slows and the lowest-hanging fruit — the superfans — have signed up, publishers will have to get smarter about how to make money from the rest."

A really smart and well thought out piece about the positive affect of subscription models. Content businesses built on scale often give into pressures that push them to create content that appeals to the widest possible audience in ways that may not be positive for society or the business. But subscription models push businesses into creating content and experiences that are valuable enough for people to pay for.

"Modern digital design has drained all sentiment and inventiveness from products we use on a daily basis."

Another interesting piece from the annual Nieman Lab predictions, and this is from the designer of Semafor. He says that we’re entering a new era of UX design for news design again, and I definitely see that Semafor is different. It would be good to see some novelty in design again because we’ve had similar news design metaphors for much of the last decade. It’s time to experiment again.

“News publishers have begun to take TikTok seriously.” More and more publishers are experimenting with TikTok in order to engage young audiences. The platform has added new features which make it more useful for publishers. New report from Reuters Institute shares the latest strategies they are using on the platform. 49% of publishers across 44 …

The major takeaway here shouldn’t be surprising: If you create content that is specific to TikTok, you have higher engagement. This has always been the case, and the question for media leaders has to be whether the effort is worth the reward. And that is why it is important to have SMART goals when going into any new project, and I would argue that you to know how those goals support your business more broadly.

Kamal Ahmed and Will Lewis’ The News Movement is on a mission to understand Gen Z and social media publishing better than anyone else.

Speaking of which, it’s always easier to create content that is more appropriate for social platforms if that is your focus. The challenge for such projects has always been the business model.

Mediagazer presents the day's must-read media news on a single page.

Rumours of the Washington Post spinning out its CMS business is now followed by a report that Vox will be getting out of the CMS business.

What does the future hold for VR journalism & what new tech is on the way in 2023? Is the metaverse slowly dying out?

VR’s application will be largest in things like games and entertainment, and after some initial enthusiasm, VR journalism has declined quite a bit. But with the focus on VR from companies like Facebook, it has been inevitable that the format would get some attention. The issue is the effort involved, which has an impact of the types of stories covered. But this piece looks at near term innovations that might be a part of the mix.

“It’s devastating. They funded 40% of Report for America in addition to everything they funded with us, @LIONPubs & many others. A huge void. Really hoping other funders will take on these projects.”

While Facebook pulls back from journalism, there is a potential huge impact because the company funded so many journalism projects, projects that were looking for future models for journalism, both in terms of editorial output but also in terms of seeking new business models for public service journalism. The company’s retreat from these efforts will have cascading affects throughout news innovation projects.

Twitter Blue will relaunch Monday -$8 for web subscribers, $11 for iOS subscribers. Gold and gray checks to come for business and government.

A Twitter tax for the Apple tax.