A forum for the print and
digital publishing industries

• What publishers can learn from adblockers

Almost half of all internet users are currently using ad blockers, and Google itself has launched a native adblocker in its web browser Chrome. Digiday predicts the cost to publishers could exceed $35 billion by 2020. What can publishers learn from this large population of readers that block ads?

• One subscriber or 48,000 pageviews: Why every journalist should know the “unit economics” of their content

Imagine you’re a barista at a coffee shop. You may have no background in business, finance, or data analysis — but you still probably have a decent handle on how the company you work for makes money and what role you play in that process.

• Joe Pulizzi Shares His Secret to Event Success

Here at Niche HQ, we believe industry event attendance can make a huge difference to your company growth (I mean…it’s our business model!)

• With the Help of Washington, News Publishers Fight to Recapture Advertising Dollars From Facebook and Google

Rupert Murdoch, the executive chairman of News Corp and co-chairman of Fox Corp., who built his fortune in the newspaper business, once called the ad-driven profits from his publications “rivers of gold.” By 2005, he lamented, “Sometimes rivers dry up.”

• A soccer league, job fairs, and local news: How this Spanish-language news org in New Orleans reshaped its mission post-Katrina

Jambalaya News is one of those organizations that’s hard to pin down — because it’s busy doing as much as it can for its ever-growing community.

• How Magazines Can Avoid Disaster by Coming Back to Earth

You will be familiar, I suppose, with Apollo 13—if not the phenomenal movie, perhaps the unfortunate outer-space incident that inspired it. Seriously. It was in all the papers.

• “Slow sites have a negative impact on revenue”: Publishers opt for leaner websites to attract and keep users on site

Publishers looking to deliver more value to their readers, may inadvertently do so at the cost of user experience. “In our shared pursuit to push the web to do more, we’re running into a common problem: performance.

• New, Big B2B Ideas, from MarTech to Dimensional Mail

Last summer, I picked up a score of great ideas from the FlipMyFunnel conference in Boston. This year, the conference has joined forces with two other B2B niche conferences to form the B2B Sales and Marketing Exchange…

• Million Dollar Idea: Happy Attendees, Happier Sponsors

For those in the events business, you know the better experience you provide for sponsors, the more revenue you generate.

• Shoptalk: Google, Facebook Should Pay For News They Use

The good news is that somebody is once again making money from journalism. The bad news is that it’s not those who are doing the actual work of producing journalism; instead, it’s Google and Facebook, which have figured out how to “monetize” the publication of news.

• This company opens up the black box of what print newspaper subscribers are actually reading

For each article, Lesewert comes up with a “reading value” score that brings together the data on how many print readers at least noticed it and how much of it they read.

• Turning Editorial Franchises into Brand Builders and Moneymakers

Bon Appétit’s “Hot 10″ list of the best new restaurants in the country began as a typical magazine feature when it made its debut in BA‘s September restaurants issue in 2009.

 

• Getting More from Google Analytics: 3 Tips for Editors

Over the last year or so, I’ve had the chance to run several editorial training sessions with B2B media players. In these sessions, the number-one question I get from content teams is how to best judge success for their site content, video, podcasts, and other efforts.

• ‘Don’t Lose Local News’ Campaign Urges Kroger to Keep Weekly Papers in Stores

Local, independent journalism will get kicked to the curb in more than 20 markets later this month as the Kroger Co. removes free publications from all of its grocery stores nationwide.

• Revenue, Database, and Leads – Oh My!

Indy’s Child is a parenting magazine based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. Our magazine prides itself on being the ultimate parenting resource for families living in the greater Indianapolis area and beyond.

• The newspaper edition has endured over 400 years: How has it evolved in today’s digital age?

Defining the edition concept was simple in yesterday’s print world; the newspaper edition was the printed product that landed on your doorstep every morning.

• Nonprofit news outlets aren’t relying as heavily on foundations — but journalism philanthropy continues to grow

Nonprofit news does not mean news without a business model. As more and more 501(c)(3) status–granted outlets emerge in the last decade of journalism, more and more are building out ways to make money beyond foundation grants — though with less impact from membership than their commercial counterparts.

• How publishers get their reporters to drive subscriptions

For many newsrooms, paying subscribers have replaced pageviews as the key barometer of success.
That means thinking up new ways to steer reporters to create subscriber-worthy stories.

• Researchers analyzed more than 300,000 local news stories on Facebook. Here’s what they found.

The distribution and consumption of news on social media is a central concern for the future of journalism as social media platforms have become a prominent component of the news ecosystem.

• How to effectively transition from print to digital: API report

Over the last decade or so, many newspapers have slowly reduced print publishing. Between 2004 and 2018, at least 104 US newspapers reduced publishing frequency enough to change…

• Niche “School” is In! Fall Revenue Idea Refresh

January 1st is a fresh start date for most folks. But for me, fall always signals that “new beginnings” feeling. I may not have a new Star Wars lunch box anymore… But my pencils are sharpened, and I’m ready to take notes on fresh business growth ideas!

• Critical Thinking: Several Newspapers Have Stopped Printing Editorial Cartoons Due to Criticism. Did Those Publications Respond Correctly?

Recently, the New York Times stopped printing editorial cartoons in its international edition due to a cartoon’s anti-Semitic imagery.

• Here’s what we know so far about the upcoming Facebook News tab

Facebook’s News Tab is supposed to launch this fall; the company will pay some news publishers to syndicate their headlines and article previews.

• The Guardian reaches 1 million YouTube subscribers after doubling longer-form videos

The Guardian has hit 1 million subscribers on its main YouTube channel, racking up 1 billion minutes in total watch time from publishing longer-form investigative journalism, documentaries and explainers, according to the publisher.

 

• As Readers Move More Toward Digital, How Are Newspapers Fulfilling Their Needs?

For so long newspapers have designed content with the print customer in mind, but times are changing. A recent Pew Research Center study based on 3,425 U.S. adults…

• Traditional Print vs Digital Content: Can One Editorial Team do Both?

We know the reader experience is VERY different between print and digital. But whether we want to admit it or not, there can also be big differences in the writing experience as well.

• Unprepared for unpublishing? Here’s how some newsrooms are rethinking what lasts forever

Eighty percent of news outlets surveyed had established unpublishing policies, but almost half of those policies were not in writing and only two percent were shared beyond the newsroom.

• Sports publishers use fantasy frenzy to drive subscriptions

Dramatic changes in the fantasy landscape, including the slowdown of daily fantasy and the rise of legalized gambling, have triggered an explosion of paid subscription products from both newcomers and incumbents.

• How ALM’s New Ad Tech Product Drives Campaign Success

As marketers turn to first-party data, B2B media company ALM is developing a suite of new advertising products to meet their needs and stand out among competitors.

• The Publisher Podcast Awards open for entries

The Publisher Podcast Awards, run by the team behind Media Voices, are now open for entries from publishers with podcasts.

• The best upcoming publishing events in the Americas

Fall is approaching, and as the publishing industry dusts itself off from the summer break and goes back to school, we’re heading into peak industry event season.

• Forget Behavioral Targeting – Ad Format Is the Real Problem

Publishers get roughly 4% more revenue for an ad impression that is cookie-enabled – or personalized – versus one that isn’t, according to a recent study by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, University of Minnesota, and University of California, Irvine.

• Top 20 Power Words to Use in Ad Sales

People say there is power in the words you use, so I did a little research into the most potent power words to suggest in my media sales training.

• This Just In: Magazines Are Not TV Networks

Recalling my 25 years covering the magazine industry’s tortured migration to digital, TV envy first became evident in the early 2000s.

• How publishers are cutting print days — and not losing (too many) subscribers

“The key is the consumer will let you know when they’re done with the print product. Don’t prematurely yank it from them.”

• How The Sun’s fantasy football newsletter increased retention to 68%

Dream Team, the fantasy football offshoot from U.K. tabloid The Sun, has had a retention problem. From one year to the next, the free-to-play game would have to reacquire two-thirds of its audience who signed up to play the previous year, which is typically around 1 million subscribers.

 

• “Numbers are growing every day”: Publishers continue to place their bets on video

‘Pivot-to-video’ ended up hurting quite a few publishers but many continue to bet on the format. They range from global publishers like Conde Nast to region-specific ones like the Argentinian company Editora Perfil.

• People avoid consuming news that bums them out. Here are five elements that help them see a solution

“It is important that journalists take the time to fully explain the issue and the response before exploring implementation, results, and insights.”

• How to Funnel In More Revenue from Your Events

Events are likely one of the biggest revenue drivers (and if they’re not, they should be!) Everyone knows, the more people you get to your event – the BIGGER the revenue it delivers.

• Advertiser Blacklisting and Its Silencing Effect on Journalism

Journalism is, at its heart, about asking questions. And since the dawn of reporting, when civic-minded locals in ancient Rome circulated news sheets about important daily events, one question has been elevated above all others: Does this serve the public interest?

• Microsoft to Shutter MSDN Magazine After November Issue

“We realized that it is time to retire MSDN Magazine and to carry on its work through web channels like docs.microsoft.com.”

• Digital Publishing: As General Manager of the Compass Experiment, Mandy Jenkins Will Explore New Sustainable Models for Local News

We’re living in challenging times for digital publishers. While the Facebook-Google duopoly continues to grab an ever-increasing share of digital advertising budgets, a growing segment of consumers are turning to adblockers to opt out of ads completely.

 

• 3 Publishers Share a Page From Their Experiential Marketing Playbooks

While magazines continue to scramble for new revenue streams, events are proving that they can tick off multiple boxes.

• Production: The Latest Trends Fuel the Shift Away From Print and Closer to An All-Digital World

A little over a year ago, I wrote an article here outlining the latest trends and advancements in our newspaper industry. At that time, I went into the assignment eyes wide open and full of enthusiasm,

• Events As A Revenue Source For Magazine Publishers

If you’re a magazine publisher chances are you are constantly coming up with creative ways to make additional revenue.

• Million Dollar Idea: Awards + Readers = Revenue!!

Every publisher wants to connect with their readers in a meaningful, impactful way. Tom Bengtson shares how his publication is doing just that AND making more revenue to boot.

• Who works best in a revenue development role? Here’s what these local news organizations have found

Folks, it happened: The key to sustainable local news has been discovered. And it involves making money.

• How publishers can turn Adblock users into paying subscribers

We’re living in challenging times for digital publishers. While the Facebook-Google duopoly continues to grab an ever-increasing share of digital advertising budgets, a growing segment of consumers are turning to adblockers to opt out of ads completely.

• Why Are Brand Marketers Investing in Magazines?

While print isn’t always the answer, retailers and consumer brands are finding new value in an old medium.

• Ad Sales: It’s Not Rocket Science!

What the heck do I mean? In ad sales, you have LOTS of continual pressure from the competition, your clients, your advertising director, and Publisher (Big P). Your days are filled with looming deadlines, renewal mandates, and irksome budget challenges.

• How Hearst’s product team helps build audience, revenues

“We don’t do anything without an audience opportunity and a revenue opportunity,” Robertson Barrett, President of Digital Media at Hearst Newspapers, told participants at WAN-IFRA’s recent Digital Media North America conference in New York City.

• The ‘Acceptable Ads’ guide for digital publishers

The Acceptable Ads program, launched by the developers of Adblock Plus: what is it and how can digital publishers benefit?

• 4 Ways to Restore Value in Publisher-Advertiser Relationships

The symbiotic relationship between advertisers and publishers dates back hundreds of years to the rise of print mass media, when branded advertisements emerged as a means of funding the handbills and newspapers that educated the general public, both in the U.S. and abroad.

• How publishers are building habit with short-run newsletters

The importance of newsletters in today’s media landscape comes as no surprise. French financial newspaper Les Echos found that readers who reached the website via email are more loyal than those who come via social media or search,

• How Publishers Are Using Data to Transform Their Marketing Operations

The rise of big data–and the ability to collect, analyze and use it–has transformed industries from finance and healthcare to retail and logistics, and publishing is no exception.

• How to Build Data Literacy in Your Media Organization

Media organizations are increasingly using analytics to drive editorial strategy, and most acknowledge the need for cross-departmental access to content performance and audience data.

• Newsonomics: The “daily” part of daily newspapers is on the way out — and sooner than you might think

Seven-day newspapers aren’t just talking about cutting out one or two days a week in print – they’re talking five or six. Is this the only way to accelerate the transition to digital or speeding their own decline?

• Million Dollar Idea: Niche Community Events!

Today we’re bringing back one of our all-time favorite Million Dollar Ideas from our Niche CEO Summits. (Niche Pro Tip – there’s another one coming up in November.)

• What American media can learn from Europe

While the US is home to Silicon Valley and a host of innovative startups, there’s one area that hasn’t caught up with Europe. American news media lacks strong, resilient technology to support the switch to subscriptions.

• Why a Mentor is as Important as Investor for Startup

Hundreds of young people are entering the startup ecosystem. It’s a flood of such companies and activity.  The whole country is coming up with new ideas for products and service.