On March 7, one year and two months from the publication of what was to be its final print issue, copies of Newsweek will once again hit newsstands. There will just be a lot fewer of them—several hundred thousand in the U.S. and abroad.
For some context, at the end of 2012, right before editor Tina Brown and IAC chairman Barry Diller turned the iconic but money-bleeding newsweekly into a digital-only proposition, its print circulation was a little under 1.5 million..
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
NRB Panel: People No Longer Trust Traditional Media
NASHVILE, Tenn. – By way of of social media, people look more to their friends and family for reliable information, including shared links to news stories, a Facebook manager for policy told Christian media professionals during the opening session of the National Religious Broadcasters Convention on Saturday.
"People no longer trust, I'm sorry to say, TV, radio, newspapers, campaigns, organizations – they don't trust them as much," said Katie Harbath, during the conferences first keynote session. Her work at Faceback focuses on political outreach. "But what they do trust is when that information comes from a friend or family member."
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Harbath explained, "Facebook is increasingly becoming a place for people to find new information and new organizations because yes, it's true that they are going there to see my cat pictures or baby pictures or vacation pictures of their friends, but while they are doing that they are getting news and information, too. They are seeing the headlines, they are clicking on links."
She pointed out that during this new technological era, an organization's website homepage might not be the place that gets the most traffic.
"It's going to be the stories [dealing] with issues, the back pages, that you (media and ministries) are driving people to on social media, that friends are sharing with friends, that they are having these conversations on them," Harbath said.
She made her comments during a panel discussion on social media led by filmmaker and media consultant Phil Cooke, who opened the conversation by saying it was important to know what Christian media should be focusing on this year "when it comes to your web presence, blogging, when it comes to digital media of all kinds."
"People no longer trust, I'm sorry to say, TV, radio, newspapers, campaigns, organizations – they don't trust them as much," said Katie Harbath, during the conferences first keynote session. Her work at Faceback focuses on political outreach. "But what they do trust is when that information comes from a friend or family member."
Free Sign Up CP Newsletter!
Harbath explained, "Facebook is increasingly becoming a place for people to find new information and new organizations because yes, it's true that they are going there to see my cat pictures or baby pictures or vacation pictures of their friends, but while they are doing that they are getting news and information, too. They are seeing the headlines, they are clicking on links."
She pointed out that during this new technological era, an organization's website homepage might not be the place that gets the most traffic.
"It's going to be the stories [dealing] with issues, the back pages, that you (media and ministries) are driving people to on social media, that friends are sharing with friends, that they are having these conversations on them," Harbath said.
She made her comments during a panel discussion on social media led by filmmaker and media consultant Phil Cooke, who opened the conversation by saying it was important to know what Christian media should be focusing on this year "when it comes to your web presence, blogging, when it comes to digital media of all kinds."
Friday, February 21, 2014
Digital Revenue Jumps to 32% for Magazine Publishers
From MediaWeek:
Digital revenue jumps to 32% for magazine publishers
by Louise Ridley
Digital's share of revenue at magazine publishers more than doubled last year, according to the Professional Publishers Association's Publishing Futures survey, although print still dominates the income model.
Income from digital activities at publishers leapt to 32 per cent in 2013, up from 15 per cent the year, according to the annual survey of senior magazine publishers.
It now represents nearly a third of total revenues across both consumer and business magazine publishers, indicating that generating income from digital platforms such as websites and apps.
Print still dominates the model for publishers, generating 53 per cent of revenue across consumer, business and customer publications.
Print is a far more significant driver of revenue for consumer publishers than for B2B publishers. In the consumer sector, print accounted for 73.1 of revenues, while digital's share of revenue now accounts for 18 per cent, compared with eight per cent in the 2012 survey.
Meanwhile business saw a strong digital revenues, with 41 per cent on average coming from paid-for digtial content and 17 per cent from live events.
Industry turnover grew by 6 per cent year on year, with B2B publishers experiencing a growth of 11 per cent. The consumer publishing sector remains "volatile" with 2 per cent turnover growth, according to the report.
Headcount at publishers also rose again in 2013. There was a sharp drop in 2010 but headcount climbed again in 2011 and 2012.
Barry McIlheney, the chief executive of the PPA, said: "This year's survey contains encouraging signs for the industry as a whole: turnover, profit and headcount are all on the rise, and there is a continued trend towards an increasingly multi-platform, international future, driven by growth in digital, mobile and live events.
"However, it is clear that this growth is being matched by a need for sustained cost control; careful management of a shifting revenue base; and the need to prioritise investment in the right skills and technology for the future."
Among the 106 survey respondents, a net of 74 per cent of companies forecast turnover growth for 2014, and 89 per cent of companies expect to be in profit in 2014, up from 74 per cent in 2013.
This is the fifth annual Publishing Futures report, commissioned by the PPA and produced by Wessenden Marketing. This year's survey contains data from 106 UK consumer, business and customer publishers that are responsible for a combined average turnover of £3.5 billion.
Digital revenue jumps to 32% for magazine publishers
by Louise Ridley
Digital's share of revenue at magazine publishers more than doubled last year, according to the Professional Publishers Association's Publishing Futures survey, although print still dominates the income model.
Income from digital activities at publishers leapt to 32 per cent in 2013, up from 15 per cent the year, according to the annual survey of senior magazine publishers.
It now represents nearly a third of total revenues across both consumer and business magazine publishers, indicating that generating income from digital platforms such as websites and apps.
Print still dominates the model for publishers, generating 53 per cent of revenue across consumer, business and customer publications.
Print is a far more significant driver of revenue for consumer publishers than for B2B publishers. In the consumer sector, print accounted for 73.1 of revenues, while digital's share of revenue now accounts for 18 per cent, compared with eight per cent in the 2012 survey.
Meanwhile business saw a strong digital revenues, with 41 per cent on average coming from paid-for digtial content and 17 per cent from live events.
Industry turnover grew by 6 per cent year on year, with B2B publishers experiencing a growth of 11 per cent. The consumer publishing sector remains "volatile" with 2 per cent turnover growth, according to the report.
Headcount at publishers also rose again in 2013. There was a sharp drop in 2010 but headcount climbed again in 2011 and 2012.
Barry McIlheney, the chief executive of the PPA, said: "This year's survey contains encouraging signs for the industry as a whole: turnover, profit and headcount are all on the rise, and there is a continued trend towards an increasingly multi-platform, international future, driven by growth in digital, mobile and live events.
"However, it is clear that this growth is being matched by a need for sustained cost control; careful management of a shifting revenue base; and the need to prioritise investment in the right skills and technology for the future."
Among the 106 survey respondents, a net of 74 per cent of companies forecast turnover growth for 2014, and 89 per cent of companies expect to be in profit in 2014, up from 74 per cent in 2013.
This is the fifth annual Publishing Futures report, commissioned by the PPA and produced by Wessenden Marketing. This year's survey contains data from 106 UK consumer, business and customer publishers that are responsible for a combined average turnover of £3.5 billion.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Amy Foundation Offers Writers Opportunity, Rewards
The Amy Foundation Writing Awards program offers an annual first prize of $10,000. Second prize is $5,000, third prize is $4,000, fourth prize is $3,000, and fifth prize is $2,000. Up to 10 more awards of outstanding merit are for $1,000 each.
The Awards are designed to recognize creative, skillful journalism that applies biblical principles to stories about issues and lives. The goal is for non-Christian readers to see the relevance of biblical truth and for Christian readers to become disciples.
Background
The Amy Foundation, founded in 1976 by Jim and Phyllis Russell and named after their daughter, is best known for its Amy Writing Awards, which are incentives to present biblical truth in secular publications. Writing professionals like Cal Thomas and dozens of gifted amateurs have won awards over the years. In 2013 the Amy Foundation continues to offer prize money and World News Group takes over administration of the Awards.
Eligibility
A submitted article needs to have been published in a secular journalistic outlet such as a city or college newspaper, a local or national magazine, or a news website. Articles from personal blogs, newsletters, or religious publications are ineligible, as are books, manuscripts, and works of poetry or fiction. World News Group is the final determiner of eligibility.
Columns and opinion pieces are eligible, but news or feature articles that include original reporting receive preference. Submissions must be published during 2013 and must contain at least one verse of Scripture quoted from an accepted and popular edition of the Bible such as the English Standard Version, the New International Version, or the King James Version. The Bible must be acknowledged as the source. Verse(s) can come from a person quoted in the article, or from the author.
Examples of acceptable ways of acknowledgment include "the Bible says," "biblical documents indicate," "a biblical perspective," "a first-century follower of Jesus wrote," "Jesus' close friends reported," "Paul, an early Christian, wrote in a letter," "a first-century witness to the events stated," "an ancient Israelite said. …"
For more information, log onto: http://www.worldmag.com/amyawards/
The Awards are designed to recognize creative, skillful journalism that applies biblical principles to stories about issues and lives. The goal is for non-Christian readers to see the relevance of biblical truth and for Christian readers to become disciples.
Background
The Amy Foundation, founded in 1976 by Jim and Phyllis Russell and named after their daughter, is best known for its Amy Writing Awards, which are incentives to present biblical truth in secular publications. Writing professionals like Cal Thomas and dozens of gifted amateurs have won awards over the years. In 2013 the Amy Foundation continues to offer prize money and World News Group takes over administration of the Awards.
Eligibility
A submitted article needs to have been published in a secular journalistic outlet such as a city or college newspaper, a local or national magazine, or a news website. Articles from personal blogs, newsletters, or religious publications are ineligible, as are books, manuscripts, and works of poetry or fiction. World News Group is the final determiner of eligibility.
Columns and opinion pieces are eligible, but news or feature articles that include original reporting receive preference. Submissions must be published during 2013 and must contain at least one verse of Scripture quoted from an accepted and popular edition of the Bible such as the English Standard Version, the New International Version, or the King James Version. The Bible must be acknowledged as the source. Verse(s) can come from a person quoted in the article, or from the author.
Examples of acceptable ways of acknowledgment include "the Bible says," "biblical documents indicate," "a biblical perspective," "a first-century follower of Jesus wrote," "Jesus' close friends reported," "Paul, an early Christian, wrote in a letter," "a first-century witness to the events stated," "an ancient Israelite said. …"
For more information, log onto: http://www.worldmag.com/amyawards/
Monday, February 10, 2014
Wesleyan Writer's Conference to Re-Open
Wesleyan transfers Writer's Conference to Anderson professor
Wesleyan Publishing House is pleased to announce that after eleven successful conferences, the Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference (ICWC) has transferred leadership to Heather Gemmen Wilson, an experienced author, editor, and professor of writing. In partnership with Anderson University (AU), Wilson will be carrying on the vision of ICWC founder, Donald Cady, to provide opportunities for encouraging those communicating the good news of Jesus Christ through the written word.
Indiana Faith and Writing Conference 2014 will convene on October 31 – November 1 at AU’s state-of-the-art York Performance Hall. For more information, contact Heather at http://www.anderson.edu/IFWC or hlwilson@anderson.edu.
Wesleyan Publishing House is grateful for the opportunity to partner with gifted writers and communicators in our effort to communicate the life-transforming message of hope and holiness to the world
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Marc Andreessen on Local News: 'Most People Don't Care'
From Poynter.org:
Marc Andreessen: The ‘problem with local news is most people don’t care’
Published Feb. 5, 2014 4:35 pm Updated Feb. 5, 2014 4:39 pm
Internet pioneer and investor Marc Andreessen spun out some thoughts about the news business on Twitter Wednesday. 2005 was the last year of an era that lasted since World War II, he said — one in which news was a monopoly business that profited from controlling distribution. But just because the Internet found a way around the old system doesn’t mean there’s no future for news: The industry “Will grow 10x-100x,” Andreessen predicted.
He doesn’t, however, see local news riding that wave. On Monday, Steve Waldman wrote about the existential crisis facing local news, as more investment money flows to outlets with a national outlook: “News is tough enough to make money on but at least if you’re national you can generate massive numbers of ad impressions and the possibility of Amazonian reach,” Waldman wrote. “Venture capital investors can only get 5x return or more for businesses that promise national or global scale.”
Read the tweets here.
Marc Andreessen: The ‘problem with local news is most people don’t care’
Published Feb. 5, 2014 4:35 pm Updated Feb. 5, 2014 4:39 pm
Internet pioneer and investor Marc Andreessen spun out some thoughts about the news business on Twitter Wednesday. 2005 was the last year of an era that lasted since World War II, he said — one in which news was a monopoly business that profited from controlling distribution. But just because the Internet found a way around the old system doesn’t mean there’s no future for news: The industry “Will grow 10x-100x,” Andreessen predicted.
He doesn’t, however, see local news riding that wave. On Monday, Steve Waldman wrote about the existential crisis facing local news, as more investment money flows to outlets with a national outlook: “News is tough enough to make money on but at least if you’re national you can generate massive numbers of ad impressions and the possibility of Amazonian reach,” Waldman wrote. “Venture capital investors can only get 5x return or more for businesses that promise national or global scale.”
Read the tweets here.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Amazon Creates Christian Publishing Imprint
From Warren Cole Smith at World magazine:
Christian publishing’s new player.
Amazon has created a Christian publishing imprint. Waterfall Press is the company’s foray into the $1.4 billion Christian publishing market. As Larry David said: “There’s big money in the god racket. Big money.” And that’s why secular publishers are diving in.
But what happens when industry and ministry collide, or have different goals? With new imprints like Waterfall, and HarperCollins’ purchase of Thomas Nelson, we’ll likely get a chance to find out.
Christian publishing’s new player.
Amazon has created a Christian publishing imprint. Waterfall Press is the company’s foray into the $1.4 billion Christian publishing market. As Larry David said: “There’s big money in the god racket. Big money.” And that’s why secular publishers are diving in.
But what happens when industry and ministry collide, or have different goals? With new imprints like Waterfall, and HarperCollins’ purchase of Thomas Nelson, we’ll likely get a chance to find out.
70 Journalists Died Last Year in the Line of Duty
From World magazine:
In the line of fire.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 70 journalists died last year in the line of duty. Syria was the deadliest country, with 28 journalist deaths. Adding insult to injury has been the growing number of journalists who have been detained or censored for doing their work. The most recent example is the terror charge leveled against Al-Jazerra in Egypt.
Imprisonment of journalists worldwide reached a record high in 2012, with 232 individuals behind bars on Dec. 1, an increase of 53 over its 2011 tally. Last year was the second-worst year on record, with 211 journalists imprisoned. Turkey was the worst offender.
In the line of fire.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 70 journalists died last year in the line of duty. Syria was the deadliest country, with 28 journalist deaths. Adding insult to injury has been the growing number of journalists who have been detained or censored for doing their work. The most recent example is the terror charge leveled against Al-Jazerra in Egypt.
Imprisonment of journalists worldwide reached a record high in 2012, with 232 individuals behind bars on Dec. 1, an increase of 53 over its 2011 tally. Last year was the second-worst year on record, with 211 journalists imprisoned. Turkey was the worst offender.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Fixing the Paywall Model--One Suggestion
How I Would Fix the Paywall Model
By Joe Wikert | Posted on February 03, 2014, from BookBusiness
The digital content industry is infatuated with a paywall pendulum that keeps swinging back and forth, from one extreme to the other. Remember when paywalls were considered a roadblock to achieving the broadest reach possible and all the revenue problems could be solved with advertising?
That didn't work, so now a lot of publishers and pundits are saying paywalls are the future (again). Paywalls are rapidly going up around content that used to be freely accessible with no limits. On the one hand, I think this makes sense. After all, how can newspapers expect consumers to pay a monthly subscription when the exact same content is available for free on the publisher's website?
I don't think the paywall concept is inherently bad. I just think the way it's being implemented (again) follows the same faulty logic that caused publishers to abandon it earlier.
Here's how I'd fix the paywall model: Make it like the I-Pass system.
If you're not familiar with the Illinois highway toll system you might not know how the I-Pass model works. Other states have similar systems and they all feature a dashboard transponder device allowing drivers to avoid the stop-and-go tollbooth delays.
Imagine an I-Pass-like subscription that lets you get behind the paywalls of all your favorite news sites. Rather than one paywall for this paper and another paywall for that paper, one monthly fee grants you access to everything. Your monthly payment is then pro-rated across publishers based on whose content you consume.
Newspapers will hate this because each one believes they should keep 100% of your subscription. They'll also hate the idea of having to split a subscription fee with the competition. There are two factors that need to be considered here though: total reach and born-digital alternatives.
Publishers might be content to have 100% of the revenue from X subscribers. But what if X could become 2X, 10X, 100X or more? Even if the resulting subscription is shared with other publishers it's quite possible every publisher will earn more than they can by building their own paywall. A federation of newspapers supporting one common paywall would be much more appealing to consumers than today's model where every site has its own paywall.
For those publishers who don't buy into this logic, I suggest they consider reading The Innovator's Dilemma. There they'll quickly discover that the startups they're competing with aren't focused on keeping 100% of the revenue and they're not tied to yesterday's revenue models. These startups are all about disruption and the smart ones will pool their resources (and paywalls), causing more of yesterday's market leaders to tumble.
The digital content world continues to evolve but the paywall model has remained static. I'm reminded of Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It's time to modify the paywall model before it's once again deemed a failure.
By Joe Wikert | Posted on February 03, 2014, from BookBusiness
The digital content industry is infatuated with a paywall pendulum that keeps swinging back and forth, from one extreme to the other. Remember when paywalls were considered a roadblock to achieving the broadest reach possible and all the revenue problems could be solved with advertising?
That didn't work, so now a lot of publishers and pundits are saying paywalls are the future (again). Paywalls are rapidly going up around content that used to be freely accessible with no limits. On the one hand, I think this makes sense. After all, how can newspapers expect consumers to pay a monthly subscription when the exact same content is available for free on the publisher's website?
I don't think the paywall concept is inherently bad. I just think the way it's being implemented (again) follows the same faulty logic that caused publishers to abandon it earlier.
Here's how I'd fix the paywall model: Make it like the I-Pass system.
If you're not familiar with the Illinois highway toll system you might not know how the I-Pass model works. Other states have similar systems and they all feature a dashboard transponder device allowing drivers to avoid the stop-and-go tollbooth delays.
Imagine an I-Pass-like subscription that lets you get behind the paywalls of all your favorite news sites. Rather than one paywall for this paper and another paywall for that paper, one monthly fee grants you access to everything. Your monthly payment is then pro-rated across publishers based on whose content you consume.
Newspapers will hate this because each one believes they should keep 100% of your subscription. They'll also hate the idea of having to split a subscription fee with the competition. There are two factors that need to be considered here though: total reach and born-digital alternatives.
Publishers might be content to have 100% of the revenue from X subscribers. But what if X could become 2X, 10X, 100X or more? Even if the resulting subscription is shared with other publishers it's quite possible every publisher will earn more than they can by building their own paywall. A federation of newspapers supporting one common paywall would be much more appealing to consumers than today's model where every site has its own paywall.
For those publishers who don't buy into this logic, I suggest they consider reading The Innovator's Dilemma. There they'll quickly discover that the startups they're competing with aren't focused on keeping 100% of the revenue and they're not tied to yesterday's revenue models. These startups are all about disruption and the smart ones will pool their resources (and paywalls), causing more of yesterday's market leaders to tumble.
The digital content world continues to evolve but the paywall model has remained static. I'm reminded of Einstein's definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. It's time to modify the paywall model before it's once again deemed a failure.
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