The Publisher Podcast by Media Voices

Media Voices: Hearst UK's Kalpana Fitzpatrick on the launch of Financially Fabulous

Hearst UK's Finance Editor, Kalpana Fitzpatrick talks about the launch of their new consumer-facing Financially Fabulous campaign, aiming to empower women to take control of their finances. She discusses the aims of the campaign, the benefits of running it across multiple brands and the overwhelming demand from their audiences for straightforward financial advice. In the news roundup - everything. The team does the second ever newsblitz, looking at everything from the Guardian's paid membership numbers to the Comcast/Disney/Fox saga to Chance the Rapper buying up the Chicagoist. We're reading: - Fact-checkers have debunked this fake news site 80 times. It's still publishing on Facebook, via Poynter: https://www.poynter.org/news/fact-checkers-have-debunked-fake-news-site-80-times-its-still-publishing-facebook - HuffPost experiments with 'listening circles' in Birmingham to go beyond the London bubble, via journalism.co.uk: https://www.journalism.co.uk/news/huffpost-experiments-with-local-reporting-to-go-beyond-the-london-bubble/s2/a724811/ - A new model for investigative journalism, via Omidyar Network: https://medium.com/positive-returns/a-new-model-for-investigative-journalism-b604aaea091f

Media Voices: The Second Source’s Jasmine Andersson on the challenges facing women in journalism

In this week’s episode, one of The Second Source’s co-founders, Jasmine Andersson talks about the aims of the project, the launch of their new mentoring scheme and how women can support each other in challenging environments. In the news round-up, the team dive into what YouTube’s $25 million news spend means for publishers, whether Reddit will work for advertisers and what the deal is with Rolling Stone’s revitalised magazine. Chris worries that AR ads will start manipulating the size of his head. We're reading: - 'The good, the bad, and the mansplaining of WikiTribune’, via Nieman Lab http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/07/several-people-are-typing-the-good-the-bad-and-the-mansplaining-of-wikitribune/ - ‘The promises and pitfalls of reporting within chat apps and other semi-open platforms: A journalist’s guide’ via Nieman Lab http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/07/a-journalists-guide-to-the-promises-and-pitfalls-of-reporting-within-open-and-closed-and-semi-open-platforms - The Death of Truth, by Michiko Kakutani https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jul/14/the-death-of-truth-how-we-gave-up-on-facts-and-ended-up-with-trump?CMP=share_btn_tw

Media Voices: Corinne Podger on mobile journalism and digital storytelling

This week, Corrine Podger takes us through best practice in mobile journalism and digital storytelling, and how varying mobile consumption habits affect the journalism in different territories. In the news round-up, the team discuss Quartz's sale, a mixed bag of news for UK newspapers, and The Beast Inside. Chris flubs the outro, see if you can tell. We're reading: The Guardian finds less polished video works better on Instagram Stories, via Digiday - https://digiday.com/media/guardian-finds-less-polished-video-works-better-instagram/ Tell me more: The Globe and Mail is slipping a little extra context into its stories (while explaining its editorial thinking along the way), via Nieman Lab - http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/07/tell-me-more-the-globe-and-mail-is-slipping-a-little-extra-context-into-its-stories-while-explaining-its-editorial-thinking-along-the-way/

Media Voices: The New Statesman's digital editor Jasper Jackson on paywall strategy

In this week's episode we hear from the New Statesman's digital editor Jasper Jackson about the circumstances that led the popular current affairs magazine to launch a paywall, how the team decided on digital-only extras to lure potential subscribers across, and what the widespread adoption of paywalls says about the state of the news media. In the news roundup Chris and Peter discuss The London Evening Standard's £10m loss under its editor George Osborne, whether a news and entertainment bundle can work for Apple, and the great news that Mediargh has returned from hiatus. We're taking Media Voices on the road! We're recording a live show and presenting a podcasting masterclass at Magfest this September. For more information or to book your place, visit http://www.magfest.co.uk/

The Telegraph's Director of Product Cat Wildman on navigating tech trends and platforms

On this week's episode, we hear from The Telegraph's Director of Product Cat Wildman on how a modern newspaper can stay on top of changes in consumer habits and launch new products and services that benefit publisher and audience. In the news roundup the team discuss the launch of yet another publisher advertising alliance, Instagram's new TV-like service, and who Facebook's 'subscription groups' are really for.

Media Voices: Bauer Xcel's Ian Betteridge on leading a data-driven digital division

On this week's episode, Bauer Xcel's Director of content and audience development Ian Betteridge talks about drawing together the separate roles of editorial and data-driven audience development, how commercial needs drive content strategy and how he brings together the print and digital teams to make the many brands he oversees a success. He also tells the story behind 'Betteridge's Law'. In the news round-up, Peter and Esther talk about their highlights of the Digital News Report, why Quartz is partnering with Facebook Watch and a dismal set of newspaper ABCs. Peter gets excited about independent magazine publishing. We're reading: - Despite concerns about control, news publishers are still pushing a lot of content to third-party platforms, via Nieman Lab http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/06/despite-concerns-about-control-news-publishers-are-still-pushing-a-lot-of-content-to-third-party-platforms/ - Platforms and Publishers: A Definitive Timeline, via Tow Centre http://tow.cjr.org/platform-timeline/

Media Voices: Deadspin editor in chief Megan Greenwell on a bigger mission for sports journalism

On this week’s episode, Megan Greenway editor-in-chief of Gizmodo Media's sports site Deadspin challenges the 'toy department' misconception of sports journalism, sets her Twitter filters against the trolls and focuses on the work instead of a dysfunctional parent company. In the news round-up, the team take a cynical look at what the changing of the guard at the Daily Mail means for the brand, and whether a 'European Netflix' is viable. Peter takes an unexpected turn against paywalls. We're reading: - ‘Britain's biggest Local TV company has "gamed" the BBC for hundreds of thousands of pounds of licence fee payers' money’, via Buzzfeed https://www.buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/revealed-how-britains-biggest-local-tv-company-has-gamed - 'Study: Apple News’s human editors prefer a few major newsrooms', via CJR https://www.cjr.org/tow_center/study-apple-newss-human-editors-prefer-a-few-major-newsrooms.php - 'Rip it Up: The Story of Scottish Pop at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh', via The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/6e42643c-6a5a-11e8-9c53-0e2cb45ebb16

Media Voices: Allure editor in chief Michelle Lee on representation in magazines

On this week’s episode, Esther interviews Allure’s editor in chief Michelle Lee about its ongoing efforts to improve representation in magazine media, how diversity can help heal divisions in society, and opportunities around new media. In the news roundup the team discusses a potential cash-for-coverage scandal at the Evening Standard (and what that says about sponsored editorial and trust), Peter gets extremely happy about new investment in Rolling Stone, and Esther discusses the latest news about news at Facebook. We’re reading: ‘Do we need J-schools?’ from Columbia Journalism Review - https://www.cjr.org/special_report/do-we-need-j-schools.php/ ‘Don’t forget about ad blocking: Lost revenue to UK publishers rises to £630,000 a year’ from Digiday - https://digiday.com/media/dont-forget-ad-blocking-lost-revenue-uk-publishers-rises-63000-year/ ‘Are news organisations ‘consciously uncoupling’ from Facebook?’, via Emily Bell - https://medium.com/global-editors-network/emily-bell-are-news-organisations-consciously-uncoupling-from-facebook-7fdfc89fc2d0

Media Voices: White Light Media CEO Fraser Allen on indie mags and content marketing

This week, CEO of White Light Media Fraser Allen takes us through what it's like to close a much loved indie magazine, the launch of World Whisky Day and trends in the content marketing world. In the news roundup the team discusses Time Inc UK's renaming, the Guardian's new approach to a premium app, and whether Elon Musk is right to launch a site grading journalists' credibility (no). We're reading: - A progress report on Deepnews.ai, via Frederic Filloux - https://mondaynote.com/a-progress-report-on-deepnews-ai-aka-news-quality-scoring-b643d3e7b620 - How media paywalls work in authoritarian countries, via Bloomberg - https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-05-16/how-media-paywalls-work-in-authoritarian-countries - RIP Interview: Here's what killed Andy Warhol's iconic magazine, via AdAge - http://adage.com/article/media/r-i-p-interview-andy-warhol-s-iconic-glossy-dead/313593/?utm_source=mediaworks&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=adage&ttl=1527541683&utm_visit=1254485

Media Voices: The Book Of Man founder Martin Robinson on promoting mental health online

On this week's episode, The Book Of Man co-founder Martin Robinson discusses his journey through the UK magazine industry, the need for a space for men to honestly discuss mental health, and plans for podcasts, longform and membership. In the news roundup we discuss YouTube Music Premium's place in the market, Twitter's latest attempt at fixing its troll problem, and whether it's a good or bad thing that Facebook and Google are now the biggest funders of journalism. We're reading: • Third Party Web Content on EU News Sites: Potential Challenges and Paths to Privacy Improvement, via RISJ - https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2018-05/Third-Party%20Web%20Content%20on%20EU%20News%20Sites.pdf • Why we need older women in the workplace, via The Cut - https://www.thecut.com/2015/08/why-we-need-older-women-in-the-workplace.html • Google's selfish ledger is an unsettling glimpse at Silicon Valley social engineering, via The Verge - https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/17/17344250/google-x-selfish-ledger-video-data-privacy

Media Voices Paywall Special

In this bumper episode, the team discusses the rise of the paywall. As everyone from Vanity Fair to the New Statesman have decided to launch paywalls, we try to determine whether there is a recipe for paywall success, taking in everything from the need for brand recognition, the propensity for people to pay, and the likely outcomes of the trend towards reader revenue. We're reading: • 'Google’s news chief Richard Gingras: “We need to rethink journalism at every dimension”', via Nieman Lab - http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/05/googles-news-chief-richard-gingras-we-need-to-rethink-journalism-at-every-dimension/ • 'What Google Chrome’s new built-in ad blocker means for you', via What's New In Publishing - http://whatsnewinpublishing.com/2018/05/07/google-chromes-new-built-ad-blocker-means/ • 'How not to do paywalls', via TechCrunch - https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/06/subscription-hell/

Media Voices: PressPad founder Olivia Crellin on the need for diversity in journalism

In this week's episode of Media Voices, PressPad founder and BBC journalist Olivia Crellin explains how PressPad aims to diversify the media by removing one of the main financial obstacles to those trying to enter the profession. In the news round-up, the team discuss a week of huge news around paywalls, the success of The New York Times' subscription efforts, and why Snapchat has stopped paying licensing fees. We're reading: • Why the "golden age" of newspapers was the exception, not the rule, via Nieman Lab - http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/05/why-the-golden-age-of-newspapers-was-the-exception-not-the-rule/ • 3 questions to ask your data when evaluating your paywall, via Digital Context Next - https://digitalcontentnext.org/blog/2018/04/30/3-questions-to-ask-your-data-when-evaluating-a-paywall/ • How to get rich quick in Silicon Valley, via Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/apr/17/get-rich-quick-silicon-valley-startup-billionaire-techie

Media Voices: LSE's Charlie Beckett on its Truth, Trust and Technology Commission

In this week's episode we hear from the London School of Economics' professor Charlie Beckett about its Truth, Trust & Technology Commission, on the role of platforms in defining truth, whether media literacy is a good or a bad thing and whether we can still use the term "fake news" as a helpful definition. In the news round-up, a full house of hosts discuss Hearst's mea culpa over abandoning quality journalism in pursuit of scale, Netflix's original content plans, and early wobbles for Facebook's local journalism scheme. We're reading: • The Book of Man: why ex-Shortlist editor is launching a platform to ‘reappraise’ masculinity, via The Drum - http://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/04/16/the-book-man-why-ex-shortlist-editor-launching-platform-reappraise-masculinity • Optimising Journalism for Trust, via Jay Rosen on Medium - https://medium.com/de-correspondent/optimizing-journalism-for-trust-1c67e81c123 • An Apology for the Internet - From the Architects Who Built It, via the New Yorker - http://nymag.com/selectall/2018/04/an-apology-for-the-internet-from-the-people-who-built-it.html

Media Voices: Mic's Cory Haik on millennial loyalty and the importance of deliberate distribution

This week, Mic's Publisher Cory Haik talked to us about surviving as a video-first publisher in a platform world, how they retain a loyal and engaged millennial audience, and why she's not giving up on platform publishing as a sustainable option. In the news round-up, Peter and Esther discuss missed opportunities to grill the Zuck, why they won't be flocking to Yahoo News any time soon, Martin Sorrell's surprise departure and why Flipboard has reclaimed its traffic crown. Chris frolics with hobbits abroad. We're reading: • 'The rationalization of publishing' via Medium - https://medium.com/@ev/the-rationalization-of-publishing-dc001d509de8 • 'The Economist used to be boring, but smart with a wicked dry wit. Now it’s just boring (sigh)' via Twitter - https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/984705630106673152

Media Voices: The Disconnect's founders on experimentation and counter-intuitive bets

This week, Peter speaks to The Disconnect's co-founders Chris Bolin and Clayton d'Arnault about the philosophy and meaning behind a digital magazine that can only be consumed while offline. In the news round-up we discuss the sale of Time Inc's flagship titles, what makes a magazine title valuable to different media companies, and go deep into whether 'the Duopoly' is an unhelpful and misleading label. The team narrowly avoid singing Rihanna. We're reading: • 'This Is So Much Bigger Than Facebook', via The Atlantic -https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/03/data-misuse-bigger-than-facebook/556310/ • '73% of site visitors get there via mobile. Here’s your guided tour through the mobile landscape', via DCN - https://digitalcontentnext.org/blog/2018/03/12/73-site-visitors-get-via-mobile-heres-guided-tour-mobile-landscape/ • 'The podcasting juggernaut has (finally) arrived', via Wired - https://www.wired.com/story/rise-of-daily-news-podcasts/

Media Voices: The Atlantic's Executive Director EMEA Jemima Villanueva on trust and transparency

This week Jemima Villanueva, Executive Director for EMEA at The Atlantic tells us about trends in programmatic advertising, the need for trust, transparency and collaboration and her own role in the Atlantic’s relatively new European operation. In the news round-up the team discuss which 'Netflix for magazines' service will succeed (if any), whether Netflix itself should launch a weekly current affairs show, and discuss what the Evening Standard's redesign says about its five year plan. The team awards its first ever Voicey Award.

Media Voices: Scottish Wedding Directory's Chris Phin on switching niches and ads vs reader revenues

In this week's episode of Media Voices, Peter talks to the Scottish Wedding Directory's Chris Phin about the best way to monetise a niche vertical and switching from tech journalism to covering the wedding market. In the news round-up, the team discuss Amol Rajan and Farhad Manjoo's points getting lost in controversy, Trinity Mirror's rebrand to Reach, and, surprise surprise, 'fake news'.

Media Voices: Twitter's VP for EMEA Bruce Daisley on news, live video and transparency

This week, Twitter's VP of EMEA Bruce Daisley takes us through how the social network rediscovered its 'sweet spot' in the ranks of other platforms, where news and live video fit into its strategy, and media responsibility. In the news roundup the team discuss The New Statesman launching a metered paywall, Snapchat doubling down on an old idea, and the end of social-first publisher Little Things. Chris and Esther make Peter an honorary Millennial. Sign-up to our newsletter at voices.media

Media Voices: Positive News' Sean Dagan Wood on building membership around constructive journalism

In this week's episode, we hear from co-founder of the Constructive Journalism Project Sean Dagan Wood, to learn how at least one publisher is building a membership model around news with a constructive spin. In the news round-up, the team discuss how Kylie Jenner caused Snap's stock to plummet, the swings and roundabouts of Vox Media redundancies and The Atlantic's hiring spree, and Salon using its audience's spare processing power to mine a cryptocurrency. Peter puts his tinfoil hat on for Conspiracy Corner. Sign up for our brand-new newsletter at voices.media!

Media Voices: The Pool's Sam Baker on measuring digital success and launching paid-for newsletters

On this week's episode of Media Voices, we hear from long-time publishing pro Sam Baker, co-founder of women's site 'The Pool'. She talks about what digital success looks like, content partnerships and why she's launching a paid-for email newsletter. Chris is away this week, so in the news round-up Esther and Peter chat between themselves about Chrome's built-in ad-blocker, print redundancy risks from a digital shift at Trinity Mirror regionals, the good, the bad and the ugly of the latest ABC figures, foreign subscribers for US publications and a couple of interesting platform plays at the Guardian.