How The Information built a successful tech news operation
Sarah Scire of Nieman Lab interviewed Jessica Lessin, the co-founder and CEO of tech news site The Information. Here is an excerpt: SCIRE: If I can ask you to generalize on what you’ve seen as an advisor, why does a new news organization succeed? Why do some fail? LESSIN: I think every organization I’ve seen produce really […]
How the WSJ uses data and engagement to drive digital subs
Shelley Seale of the International News Media Association writes about how The Wall Street Journal uses data and engagement to drive digital subscriptions. Seale writes, “The objective was to monetise the WSJ’s high-quality journalism with new and diverse audiences to deliver on short-term goals and build a foundation for long-term growth. Buckley said to do this, […]
How The Information gets people to pay for a subscription
Recode’s Peter Kafka interviewed The Information CEO and founder Jessica Lessin about how she has gotten people to subscribe to the seven-year-old technology news site. The Information has in the “tens of thousands” of subscribers, who pay $399 a year, and has a staff of more than 40. It expects to add 10 to 20 […]
Why VC firms are getting into journalism
Candy Cheng and Berber Jin of Business Insider write about how venture capital firms are launching their own media operations. Cheng and Jin write, “With its growing editorial hires, a16z has managed to churn out hundreds of hours of content, including articles, video interviews, podcasts, and newsletters (some of which are shared with and published by Insider). “‘What they are […]
Business Insider added 130 newsroom jobs in 2020
Lukas I. Alpert of The Wall Street Journal writes about Business Insider’s pandemic strategy, which essentially was not to change anything. Alpert writes, “Insider Inc., the parent of Business Insider and related properties, roared back in the second half of the year, posting 30% revenue growth for 2020 while turning a profit, Mr. Blodget said. A […]
What WSJ staffers learned by shadowing colleagues
Louise Story, the chief product and technology officer at The Wall Street Journal, writes about how her staff learned what others at the paper do by shadowing them for a day. Story writes, “It wasn’t long before Round Two became a Must Do. Our team members saw us visiting other people’s meetings and asked to […]
Forbes plans to hire 20-30 for newsletter initiative
Mark Stenberg of Business Insider writes about the initiative at Forbes to expand its newsletter business. Stemberg writes, “Third, the publication will be hiring 20 to 30 journalists as staff writers. These ‘Journalist Entrepreneurs’ will write newsletters about subjects they have expertise in, as well as articles for the Forbes website, which makes them eligible […]
Reuters signs on to Google News Showcase
Google has struck a deal with Reuters to provide its content on News Showcase. Brad Bender, vice president of product management, news, wrote, “Since we announced Google News Showcase last year, we’ve signed agreements with nearly 450 publications across a dozen countries, the majority of which are local and regional. Our news partners include Le […]
How the WSJ is trying to attract more female readers
Ebony Reed, the new audiences chief at The Wall Street Journal, writes about the newspaper’s strategy to attract more female readers. Reed writes, “Stemming from the event, senior Journal editors collaborated on a newsletter that launched in spring of 2019. At first, the newsletter was sent to a few hundred former Women in the Workplace […]
How The Information built a business on scoops and deep dives
Cynthia Littleton of Variety interviewed Jessica Lessin, the founder and editor in chief of tech news site The Information, about her success. Littleton writes, “While working as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal nearly a decade ago, she saw an opening in the journalism market for more thoughtful longform reporting. The decision to follow her […]
