It might be the case that donations are the best match for local news, but other content creators still need to build a business. Patreon’s new update will help them do it, the only question is how many of them there are.
Faceless Publishers, Take 2; Internet Trends 2017
Defining faceless publishers is perhaps easier by describing what they are not; then, my favorite slides from Mary Meeker’s 2017 Internet Trends Report
Faceless Publishers
The missing piece when it comes to the future of media are faceless publishers. Vox Media’s deal with The Ringer shows the way.
Facebook Content Guidelines, Facebook Video, Amazon Prime Video on Apple TV
Facebook faces a daunting challenge when it comes to policing content, but it is a challenge the company brought on itself. Then, Facebook’s video tab is competing against YouTube, not Amazon or Netflix, and business models explain why — and probably explain the Amazon-Apple truce.
The Local News Business Model
Subscriptions are the future of local news: the key, though, is getting rid of newspapers.
Facebook Earnings, Advertisers Won’t Save Local News, Bret Stephens and the NYT Business Model
Facebook’s earnings show that the company’s ads are differentiated. Then, advertisers won’t save local news, and a reminder that publications need to match their journalism with their business model.
Twitter Earnings, Twitter’s Video Push, Amazon Earnings
Twitter’s earnings were encouraging when it comes to user growth, but the company’s focus on video is a disappointment. Then, Amazon’s earnings were mixed: AWS has competition, but e-commerce is dominant.
ESPN’s Cuts, ESPN’s History, ESPN: From Franchise to Business
ESPN’s cuts are not a surprise if you understand how ESPN has made money in the past, and where it must go in the future
Not OK, Google
Google is making an algorithmic change to demote fake news, but its lack of transparency around its actions is concerning in its own right.
Wikitribune, Apple Cuts Affiliate Fees, Netflix Earnings
Wikitribune is betting on scale in a way that most news organizations can’t comprehend. Then, Apple is keeping more of the pie for itself, and Netflix is getting loose with definitions.