The Publisher Podcast by Media Voices

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.

Media Voices: New Scientist's head of data science Kimberly Karman on paywalls and GDPR

On this 50th episode of Media Voices, we hear from New Scientist’s head of data science Kimberly Karman about the practical application of data science to a business, to GDPR and how they continue to evolve their decade-old paywall. In the news round-up, the team discuss VICE reportedly missing its revenue target, Trinity Mirror buying up Express Newspapers, and good news for the NYT and Twitter. We're reading: • 'Bikini slideshows and other click bait: Do paywalls usher in better content?' via Mollie Bryant - https://www.bigiftrue.org/2018/02/01/paywalls-journalism/ • ‘A Crazy Idea for Funding Local New: Charge People for It’ via NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/technology/funding-local-news-charge-people-money.html • 'How Facebook is killing comedy' via Splitsider - http://splitsider.com/2018/02/how-facebook-is-killing-comedy/

Media Voices: European Journalism Centre's Adam Thomas on sustaining quality journalism

In this week's episode of Media Voices, Peter speaks to the European Journalism Centre's Adam Thomas about its mission of enabling and sustaining quality journalism through a program of online resources, seminars, training and grants. In the news round-up we discuss Wired's paywall, digital successes at several other outlets, and the She Rocks editorial campaign across Team Rock's titles. Peter admits that he can't handle the feeling of hope. We're reading: • 'Measuring the reach of "fake news" and online disinformation in Europe', via Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism - https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/measuring-reach-fake-news-and-online-disinformation-europe • 'The Libraries Bringing Small-Town News Back to Life', via The Atlantic - https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/01/libraries-local-news/551594/ • 'Tackling the Internet’s Central Villain: The Advertising Business', via NYT - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/technology/internet-advertising-business.html

Media Voices: President of theguardian.org, Rachel White on funding independent journalism

On this week's episode of Media Voices, Esther interview's the Guardian's director of philanthropic & strategic partnerships Rachel White about finding ways of funding independent journalism. In the news round-up, the crew of the good ship Media Voices discuss Google's plans to fix local news, an uptick in trust in traditional media in the UK and discuss Jonah Peretti insisting that everything is fine at BuzzFeed. We're reading: • 'I write fake news', via the Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/jan/26/experience-i-write-fake-news • 'Never get high on your own supply - why social media bosses don't use social media' - via the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/23/never-get-high-on-your-own-supply-why-social-media-bosses-dont-use-social-media • 'Facebook's trust survey isn't as simple as it sounds' - via Nieman Lab http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/01/facebooks-trust-survey-which-will-help-determine-news-feed-ranking-is-two-questions-but-its-not-as-simple-as-it-sounds/

Media Voices: Refinery29's Jacqui Kavanagh on authenticity of experience

In this week's episode of Media Voices, we speak to Refinery29's Jacqui Kavanagh about that brand's success in Europe since it launched in 2015, about what authenticity means to brands and audiences, and why experiential is a growth industry. In the news round-up, the gang discuss the Guardian's return to black, some unfortunate closures at news sites we've long admired, and whether Facebook's plan to have The People judge the trustworthiness of news outlets is a good idea (no, but what's the alternative?) We're reading: - 'The Chicago News Landscape' via the Centre for Media Engagement: https://mediaengagement.org/research/chicago-news-landscape/ - 'How one woman built an award-winning news outlet from her dining room table' via Nieman Lab: http://www.niemanlab.org/2018/01/we-stepped-in-and-started-doing-it-how-one-woman-built-an-award-winning-news-outlet-from-her-dining-room-table/ - ''Time well spent’ is shaping up to be tech’s next big debate’ via The Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/17/16903844/time-well-spent-facebook-tristan-harris-mark-zuckerberg

Media Voices: Facebook WTF?

In this special episode of Media Voices, the team rattle through some news before doing a deep-dive into the realities of Facebook killing the news industry (again). Peter, Esther and Chris offer their thoughts on the whys and hows of the decision, plus speculate as to whether this will be good for journalism in the long run and who is most likely to be affected by the decision. We're reading: - Editorial standards put BBC reporters in tough spot over pay equity issue (Scott Nover): A good explainer of the background to the BBC gender discrimination furore, with comparisons to other organisations and a look at the context at the BBC - https://www.poynter.org/news/editorial-standards-put-bbc-reporters-tough-spot-over-pay-equity-issue - When harassment drives women out of journalism (Katherine Goldstein): What could have been if women weren’t hounded out of journalism, with profiles of various women journalists and their stories - https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/12/18/16780424/women-journalism-career-harassment - Peter's enjoying his copy of new indie print magazine Foul Play. Some really nice design touches but loads of great reads unlike too many style over substance indy mags - https://www.foulplaymag.com/

Media Voices: End of Year 2017 Special

Never say we at Media Voices don't know how to treat you right - in this special end of year celebration, we hear from eight of our past guests about what they want (and don't want) to see from the media in 2018. In the feature-length news round-up Chris, Esther and Peter discuss the highlights and lowlights of 2017, and their own personal hopes for next year. Happy holidays! Subscribe to Media Voices on iTunes here - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/media-voices-podcast/id1181998402?mt=2 - or search 'Media Voices' in your favourite podcast app. Help us improve Media Voices! Complete our first ever listener survey - https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VTVZMWM

Media Voices: The Reuters Institute's Nic Newman on bias, bullshit and lies in the news

In this week's episode Nic Newman, Visiting Fellow at the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, takes us through his and Dr. Richard Fletcher's latest report, entitled 'Bias, Bullshit and Lies: Audience Perspectives on Low Trust in the Media' - http://bit.ly/2juSyAZ In the news round-up, Peter and Esther discuss the pivot FROM video, BuzzFeed's e-commerce proposition, and YouTube's plans to eat the music industry. They begin with fully 30 seconds of snow puns. We're reading: • ‘You have to love the complexities’: Publishers confront challenges in growing events, via Digiday - http://bit.ly/2z0PvVT • The decade of display that wasn't, via Medium - http://bit.ly/2AK8Rhd

Media Voices: The Financial Times' Alyssa Zeisler on using engagement metrics to launch new products

In this week's episode, the Financial Times' audience engagement strategist Alyssa Zeisler takes us through how the team uses engagement metrics to identify a need for new products that benefit new audience segments. In the news round-up the gang attempts the first-ever Media Voices Blitzcast, rounding up as many news items as they can in two minutes each. Among other things, they examine changes to Wired and the FT's paywall strategies, disappointing news for BuzzFeed and the Daily Mail, and a discussion on diversity in the media. The team burns 30 seconds with a discussion of Peter's pelvic floor muscles. We're reading: • How to survive the media apocalypse, via The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/11/media-apocalypse/546935/ • The scary tale of the Washington Post's counter-sting investigation, via WaPo: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/a-woman-approached-the-post-with-dramatic--and-false--tale-about-roy-moore-sje-appears-to-be-part-of-undercover-sting-operation/2017/11/27/0c2e335a-cfb6-11e7-9d3a-bcbe2af58c3a_story.html?utm_term=.b6263a87440d • Killing TIME: Requiem for an Empire, via Josh Quittner: https://medium.com/@twittner/killing-time-1362ca01e9f3

Media Voices: Journalism lecturer Adam Tinworth on the tragedy of platform dependency

This week, visiting lecturer in digital journalism at City University Adam Tinworth takes us through the history of platform dependence. We look at the rise of the intermediary, the tragic loss of focus on building direct relationships, and even touch on Second Life. In the news roundup, Chris and Peter discuss managing director of Times Newspapers Ltd Chris Duncan's declaration that "no more than ten" global English-language news brands will survive from subscriptions, and puzzle over whether journalists should be involved in the marketing material for their newspapers. It's a very sweary episode. We're reading: • The right loves free markets - except when they hurt the Daily Mail, via New Statesman: https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2017/11/right-loves-free-markets-except-when-they-hurt-daily-mail • I Interviewed a White Nationalist and Fascist. What Was I Left With?, via NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/25/insider/white-nationalist-interview-questions.html Help us improve Media Voices! Take this quick survey and let us know what to change - surveymonkey.co.uk/r/VTVZMWM

Media Voices: The Death of Digital Special

In this very special episode of Media Voices, we discuss the conflux of news about BuzzFeed, VICE, Mashable and many more and ask whether the dream of a digital future for publishers is over before it began. It's Media Voices' first birthday! The team briefly reminisce about the travails of launching the podcast, their favourite episodes, and their plans for the future. We're reading: • Newsonomics: The New York Times’ Mark Thompson on regulating Facebook, global ambition, and when to stop the presses (forever), via Nieman Lab - http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/11/newsonomics-the-new-york-times-mark-thompson-on-regulating-facebook-global-ambition-and-when-to-stop-the-presses-forever • A mission for journalism in a time of crisis, via Guardian - https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/16/a-mission-for-journalism-in-a-time-of-crisis

Media Voices: NYU's Jay Rosen on the Membership Puzzle Project

This week, director of the Membership Puzzle Project Jay Rosen takes us through why membership could be the future of funding journalism, and what needs to be done to make it valuable to readers and publishers alike. In the news round-up the team discusses Esquire's controversy for controversy's sake, how journalism can convince the public it's relevant and useful, and ask what the future of Twitter might look like. Chris takes potshots at two beloved authors. We're reading: • Google UK chief Ronan Harris says digital giant is not stealing advertising from publishers, via Press Gazette - http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/google-uk-chief-ronan-harris-says-digital-giant-is-not-stealing-advertising-from-publishers-telling-editors-we-come-in-peace/ • Snapchat will overhaul its app to boost user numbers, via The Drum - http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/11/08/snapchat-will-overhaul-its-app-bolster-user-numbers-it-endures-the-growing-pains • Is Mark Zuckerberg Facebook's last true believer? via Vanity Fair - https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/11/is-mark-zuckerberg-facebooks-last-true-believer

Media Voices: The Tip-Off's Maeve McClenaghan on celebrating investigative journalism

This week, host and founder of The Tip-Off Maeve McClenaghan takes us through why it's important to celebrate investigative journalism in an age of 'fake news' and limited resources for journalists. https://soundcloud.com/thetipoff In the news round-up, the team takes a deep dive into new ad-blocking stats, laments the closure of Teen Vogue in print, worries about Snapchat's future and celebrates more paywall success. Audio glitches suspiciously kill a discussion on billionaire media owners. What we're reading: • The United States of American Media, Inc - via Popbitch - http://popbitch.com/2017/10/the-united-states-of-american-media-inc/ • In the hunt for reader revenue, publishers give micropayments another look, via Digiday - https://digiday.com/media/hunt-reader-revenue-publishers-give-micropayments-another-look/ • What your site can learn from 100 news organizations with robust membership programs, via Membership Puzzle Project - https://membershippuzzle.org/articles-overview/what-your-site-can-learn

Media Voices: Dennis Executive Director Kerin O'Connor on The Week's enduring appeal

This week, publisher of The Week Kerin O'Connor takes us through the reasons behind the magazine's continued success on the newsstand, and how it encourages a relationship between it and its audience. In the news round-up the Media Voices team talk about the Guardian's membership success, the spectacularly frightening changes to the Facebook news feed, and ask whether we should be nice to the Duopoly. Listener beware, you're in for a scare! What we're reading: • '“News you don’t believe”: Audience perspectives on fake news', via RISJ:https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/our-research/news-you-dont-believe-audience-perspectives-fake-news • 'The Gender Trap with Media on Social Channels' via Thomas Baekdal: https://www.baekdal.com/blog/the-gender-trap-with-media-on-social-channels • 'Why bad ads deserve to die, and what might replace them', via LA Times: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-ol-patt-morrison-andrew-essex-advertising-20171025-htmlstory.html

Media Voices: Stylist Magazine's editor-in-chief Lisa Smosarski on its circulation success

This week, Stylist Magazine's editor-in-chief Lisa Smosarski explains how the title has managed to grow its weekly circulation at a time when much of the industry is experiencing print decline. In the news round-up the gang butt heads over the Guardian's new £42 million Venture Capital fund, argue about The Wall Street Journal's new social media guidelines and agree that BuzzFeed UK's success is a good thing (mostly). What we're reading: • 'The war to sell you a mattress is an internet nightmare', via Fast Company: https://www.fastcompany.com/3065928/sleepopolis-casper-bloggers-lawsuits-underside-of-the-mattress-wars • 'Not a revolution (yet): Data journalism hasn’t changed that much in 4 years', via Nieman Lab: http://www.niemanlab.org/2017/10/not-a-revolution-yet-data-journalism-hasnt-changed-that-much-in-4-years-a-new-paper-finds/ • '“De Correspondent” and the blueprint for a successful membership model', via Monday Note: https://mondaynote.com/de-correspondent-and-the-blueprint-for-a-successful-membership-model-3660eba337ba