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Stories of the people and publishers innovating in a time of crisis
The media industry has had a turbulent decade when it comes to technology, transformation, and changing consumer habits causing disruption to businesses. But for many of us, these challenges seem trivial compared to what we are now all up against with the coronavirus crisis.
Publishers and media organisations of all shapes and sizes have had events and shows that they depend on for their revenue cancelled, advertising spend plummeting as the travel industry hits major issues, and print runs reduced as commuters stay home.
But the crisis has also provided a unique opportunity for publishers to build trust with their audiences and provide them with the vital information they need to keep themselves and their families safe. Not only that, over the coming weeks, the public appetite for quality content will continue to grow as isolation takes effect.
In this special live episode from the Media Voices team, Chris, Peter and Esther overcome technological challenges of their own to take a look at examples of publishers who are adapting to the pandemic, and what these changes will mean for the industry in the years to come.
Stories we discussed:
1 – Paywalls
- For its must-read coronavirus coverage, The Atlantic is rewarded with a huge surge of digital subscriptions – Nieman Lab
- The Athletic suffers identity crisis over cancelled sports fixtures – Financial Times
- Despite relaxing paywalls, publishers like Bloomberg, WSJ and The Atlantic see subscription spikes – Digiday
- Why is it important that we do not give news away for free during a crisis? – Baekdal Plus
- Removing paywalls on coronavirus coverage is noble. It also makes no sense. – Poynter
- McClatchy puts coronavirus paywalls back up – Axios
- No paywall in the chicken coop: A fast-food chain is paying to take down 16 Canadian newspapers’ paywalls this month – Nieman Lab
2 – Launches
- gal-dem launches membership model “at a time of reckoning for the media industry” – What’s New in Publishing
- Vox launches a program for audiences to support its journalism at a time of record demand – Vox Media
3 – Distribution and print
- Support the Big Issue today – The Big Issue
- Big Issue to be sold in stores for first time after street sales paused – The Guardian
- Magazine publishers see print sales boost due to coronavirus – New York Post
4 – Digital events, real issues
- Why PinkNews is buoyant about bringing Pride online – even if it’s without sponsors – The Drum
- How The Financial Times is adapting its events business – Digiday
- Hearst Live and Women’s Health launches inaugural virtual event – InPublishing
Finally, that embargoed piece Chris almost accidentally talked about…Playboy launches ‘Playboy Live’ as it adapts to life after print (we told you it was good!)
We’ll be back on May 4th with another brilliant guest and more of our signature media analysis. Until then, stay safe, and stay home.
Republished with kind permission of Media Voices, a weekly look at all the news and views from across the media world.
