Hearst Newspapers’ Post

The internet has been impacting news publications for 20 years, yet news sites by Reach, locally especially, are badly done - unreadable sometimes. Not surprising advertisers don't get a return on investment. Reading some of the commentary, this feels like very poor management rather than a lack of desire for quality journalism. Such a blow not just for the journalists involved as well as the overall health of our media, but for democracy itself. #newspapers #journalismmatters #supportlocalnews

Five ideas to convert readers into subscribers: Asking people to pay immediately is not the only way. The Audiencers tells readers to take up free newsletters first and paid products later #journalism #media #news

Is ad-noyance killing great reporting? On the face of it, Brits want to have their news cake and eat it. At least that’s what it first seems from a survey in Press Gazette. The vast majority want to read ad-funded online content. Yet just 1-in-20 of the ads they’re served are relevant to them. This is the real turn-off. I don’t care for “the best sandals for older women to wear all day comfortably.” Nor am I interested in a “New oedema device that leaves experts speechless.” This kind of two-bob clickbait nonsense clutters up news pages. It destroys page load times. And renders articles unreadable. Of course, journalism has to pay the rent. But not at the cost of haemorrhaging readers. Ad departments have an important role to play in the future of journalism. They need to raise their game. https://lnkd.in/e4rMeD2b

Here's my latest what I've been reading round-up, with interesting links from across the digital publishing landscape that I've come across. Includes a what I've been doing section too as we announced our launches with The Lead this week too (which means I'm afraid I was a day late sending my round-up!) This week alongside giving some info on The Lead newsletter launches there's also a really interesting search-audience related about from Chris Long who dug into how forum-based (and I'd call them UGC-driven sites) are seeing strong uplifts in Google search results and some quite explosive traffic growth. Suggesting there's more plurality being applied in search results than before and also the question-based search is giving more perspectives in line with Google updates (which have been appearing frequently). Plus there's the BBC News and local commercial publishers row which is intensifying with the trading of open letters and retorts this week. I've given my thoughts on ways the BBC could actually drive significant uplift and value for the local digital news ecosystem as a whole by adopting some amended approaches compared to what I've seen so far happening in Lancashire (where I receive its output). And two other highlights, as Graham Ruddick speaks to The Metro editor-in-chief and the managing director about their print and digital strategies. Always fascinating when the lid is lifted. Plus there's a great deep-dive into LinkedIn newsletters and how publishers are using these from Nieman Journalism Lab. See the weekly round-up email here: https://lnkd.in/ggAKtaJX And the blog version here: https://lnkd.in/gAX4Ss_7 #digital #digitaljournalism #localjournalism #journalism #seo #digitalaudience #audiencedevelopment #linkedin #socialmedia

📰💡 Unlocking Insights: Navigating the World of Newspaper Paywalls 💡📰 In Merja Myllylahti's insightful study on newspaper paywalls, she delves deep into the impact of paid news content on media corporations' revenues across various countries. 🌐🗞️ Her findings, rooted in meticulous analysis, shed light on the evolving landscape of digital journalism. 🔍 Key Takeaways: 1. Revenue Realities: Paywalls contribute roughly 10% to media companies' publishing/circulation revenues, challenging the perception of their immediate viability as a business model. 2. Softening Strategies: Myllylahti notes that paywalls are adapting, with prices decreasing as news corporations vie for digital subscribers and revenues. The battle for readership is reshaping the industry. 3. Lack of Transparency: The study highlights a significant challenge — media corporations' reluctance to disclose digital subscription revenues. This opacity raises questions about the true impact of paywalls. 💬 Industry Reflections: The study aligns with the skepticism voiced by media experts like Macnamara and Grueskin, who question the long-term success of paywalls. 💬🤔 🚀 Monetization in Focus: As the publishing industry grapples with digital challenges, monetization efforts become paramount. Myllylahti's findings emphasize the need for transparent data, akin to print circulation numbers, to assess the genuine success of paywalls. 💻🌍 Digital Dilemma: The shift to digital platforms has been both a boon and a challenge. While paywalls have emerged as a defensive strategy for some, they also face hurdles like easy circumvention and competition from bloggers and social media. 🛡️ The Paywall Paradox: While paywalls offer a potential revenue stream, their efficacy is contingent on factors like pricing strategies and reader willingness to pay. Major news events often see paywalls lifted for increased readership, posing a dilemma between income generation and PR. 🤝 Call to Action: Myllylahti's research prompts a call for further exploration into the viability of paywalls and their societal impact. The study underlines the potential emergence of a new digital divide and the role of publicly funded journalism in bridging informational gaps. In navigating the complex realm of newspaper paywalls, the industry must balance innovation with sustainability. Myllylahti's research acts as a compass, guiding us through the intricate terrain of digital journalism's monetization efforts. 👉 link to study: https://lnkd.in/dRWxZDMc #MediaIndustry #DigitalJournalism #Paywalls #MonetizationStrategies #ThoughtLeadership 🌐📈

There's an interesting battle emerging between two major newspaper giants — The New York Times and The Washington Post. The New York Times now has over 8.4 million digital-only subscribers, compared to just 3 million for The Washington Post. So, what has driven The Times' success? A few key factors: Premium content: The Times has focused on high-quality, original journalism and insightful analysis you can't find anywhere else. Readers see value in this. Innovation: From podcasts to visual interactives, The Times is expanding storytelling formats beyond traditional articles. This multimedia focus attracts younger audiences (digital natives). Reader revenue model: With print declining, The Times aggressively pushes digital subscriptions as central to its business. The "subscription first" mentality is working. Perks and deals: From crosswords to recipes, subscribers get exclusive perks and partnerships. These sweeten the value proposition. The New York Times shows how quality content and digital innovation, paired with a subscriber-centric revenue model, can build a thriving news brand. With over 5 million more digital subscribers than The Post, it's clear The Times is winning over digitally-savvy readers seeking premium online journalism. Will you join the over 8 million who subscribe? #digital #subscribers #newyorktimes #washingtonpost

Engagement is key in digital journalism, and The Guardian is redefining this with their "Deeply Read" feature. For news organizations, building reader loyalty and encouraging repeat visits are fundamental for generating revenue, whether through subscriptions or advertising. A key metric in achieving this is the engagement time a user spends with the content. This metric effectively reflects the depth of a user's interaction with a news site. Now, The Guardian has an interesting flip to this with its "Deeply Read” feature. Moving beyond the typical 'most viewed' content lists, it’s showcasing articles based on the actual time spent on those by readers. Now this is a clear signal of ‘quality’. This approach brings a new perspective, valuing the quality of engagement over length. What I find interesting is, that shorter articles aren't necessarily at a disadvantage compared to longer reads – it's the quality of engagement that counts. How is this powered? The Guardian is using their home-brewed analytics tool called Ophan to churn this out. Earlier last year, they already announced moving Ophan from an Elastisearch based to BigQuery. Ophan now powers insights on various aspects like user location, device, time spent reading, and content type. Chris Moran, the Guardian’s head of editorial innovation says that this highlights great journalism and is off the beaten track of trending topics. This move by The Guardian aims to enhance reader engagement and loyalty, changing the way we measure success in online journalism. #DigitalJournalism #TheGuardian #DeeplyRead #EngagementMetrics #InnovativeMedia #Ophan #QualityContent

Journalism is being completely disrupted by creator platforms. ➝ 33% of adults under 30 get their news from TikTok. ➝ 50% of Americans get their news from social media. That’s Pew Research. 'Going to a website to read the news'? That's a 2010s, dying model. Traffic to legacy newspaper websites, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, declined 20% in Q4 of 2022. (That's the last quarter Pew has numbers for). The most interesting? Look at Instagram... The prevailing trend is pages that share news HEADLINES as a photo post, elaborate the story in the post's description. This is an adequate and convenient way to absorb the news. The new 'journalists' don't need fancy credentials. They need an iPhone: ➝ Dylan Page: TikTok 'News Creator' who's garnered 10.5M followers. ➝ Channel 5, Andrew Callaghan: Journalist who receives 9M monthly views. And, for young people who are actually paying for journalism? Millennials and Gen Z are 2X more likely to be paying for news from independent creators rather than legacy media digital subscriptions. The future of journalism is around 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙧, more cost-efficient operations.

In the rapidly changing sector of news media, newsrooms grapple with how to sustain themselves after the internet has eroded their grip on advertising. Here's an overview of recent research into how to navigate the new media landscape. https://buff.ly/3KezRuk #softwareforpublishers #newspaper #publishers #PCS #softwaredevelopment #softwaresolutions #journalists #digitalmedia #publishingsoftware #publishingtechnology #publisher #publishing #media

I have observed a range of significant challenges facing journalism in South Africa. The problems are multifaceted, affecting the quality, integrity, and sustainability of the profession. One of the primary issues is the deterioration of the product itself. Newspaper houses, grappling with financial constraints, have been forced to cut back on wages. This has led to the systematic juniorisation of newsrooms, where less experienced and lower-paid journalists are now producing content. Consequently, the quality of journalism does not meet the high demands of an informed readership. The depth of reporting, investigative rigor, and nuanced analysis that once characterized the profession are becoming rare. There has been a noticeable blurring of lines between public relations (PR) and journalism. The increasing influence of PR in newsrooms is evident as more content appears to serve corporate interests rather than the public good. This shift compromises the independence and objectivity of journalism, leading to a situation where news often reads like promotional material rather than critical, impartial reporting. The decline in quality is further exacerbated by the absence of robust copy editing and quality control processes. Many media organizations, in an effort to cut costs, have eliminated or significantly reduced their editorial staff. This has resulted in a lack of thorough fact-checking, editing, and oversight, which were once fundamental to the journalism trade. As a result, errors and inaccuracies are more common, undermining the credibility of news outlets. In today's fast-paced digital landscape, there is a growing emphasis on quantity over quality. The relentless 24-hour news cycle and the pressure to generate clicks and page views have led many media outlets to prioritize speed and volume over thoroughness and accuracy. This trend has diminished the depth and substance of news reporting, with sensational headlines and superficial coverage becoming the norm. These challenges are not unique to South Africa; they are mirrored in journalism worldwide. The rise of digital media has transformed the industry, bringing both opportunities and new challenges. While it has democratized access to information and allowed for diverse voices, it has also led to the proliferation of misinformation and the spread of "fake news." Social media platforms, driven by algorithms that prioritize engagement, often amplify sensational and polarizing content, further complicating the landscape for professional journalism. The current state of journalism, characterized by economic pressures, eroded editorial standards, and a focus on quantity over quality, poses significant threats to the profession's integrity and role in society. To address these challenges, it is crucial for media organizations to invest in quality journalism, uphold rigorous editorial standards, and resist the encroachment of PR influences.