/r/BusinessOfMedia

Photograph via snooOG

Share & discuss the changing business of media and media products: digital publications, news organizations, MCNs, podcast networks, subscription newsletters, and other kinds of media companies.

Business models, new content formats, media startups, audience development / content distribution are all relevant here.

This sub is for anyone interested in the changing business of media...

...How content-creating companies (news organizations, industry / lifestyle / interest magazines, entertainment networks, etc.), particularly digital publications & networks (e.g. Vox, Mic, VICE, Gimlet Media, Tastemade) are:

  • finding new formats that work,
  • reaching an audience, and
  • generating enough revenue to operate at scale.

Examples of encouraged submissions:

  • Editorialized links to publications experimenting with new formats
  • Articles with analysis of a business of media topic (e.g. paywall tactics, trends in unionizing digital writers, comparison of ad payouts from different networks / formats)
  • Self-post discussions about any of the above.

Do not post:

  • General news about media companies (e.g. layoffs at a newspaper, a new channel launch, reporting trends)
  • Anything about individual-published media (e.g. an individual / handful of bloggers, vloggers, filmmakers, podcasters, etc) -- this is a sub for media companies that want to scale beyond just supporting a few creators.
  • Nuts & bolts of creating content (video production, data journalism techniques, WordPress tips, etc)
  • Anything self-promotional.

Related Subreddits

Broader industry news + specific formats:

Active subs:
/r/journalism /r/inthenews
/r/youtube /r/PartneredYoutube
/r/radio /r/podcasts
/r/adops /r/podcasting

/r/BusinessOfMedia

772 Subscribers

1

Investigative Journalism API

Hey! I am doing an investigative journalism project. I am trying to figures out the individual persons that represented each company to a certain lobbyist (Heather Podesta) in the year 2022.

Open Secrets tells you the name of the companies that went to her for lobbying.

Does Bloomberg Gov have that API of the individual persons? Also, if not, who does?

0 Comments
2024/03/13
23:50 UTC

3

If you had only $3,000 to spend on your small, growing digital media company (content website, social, newsletters, etc.), where would you spend it?

3 Comments
2023/06/05
17:53 UTC

1

Is everyone underestimating the power of radio?

I'm a journalist, and just worked on this story with some statistics that honestly really surprised me!

In the UK, 89% of adults listen to the radio at least once per week, and that's been true since the 90s. The average radio listener tunes in for over 20 hours a week, and it's not just from driving - even before the pandemic, 60% of radio listening was in the home.

Do you think the media is underestimates just how much power radio has? Why do you think it's so enduring? Check out the piece and let me know what you think!

https://www.newstatesman.com/business/2022/04/in-with-the-old-how-radio-is-beating-streaming-at-its-own-game

https://preview.redd.it/hs7i1o3qswr81.png?width=1440&format=png&auto=webp&s=6aa0bf76c32a4581b8b422184119cb07f8082a2c

0 Comments
2022/04/06
13:18 UTC

1

Zenfolio or similar photo gallery hosting

Hey, all. One of our photographers suggested using a third party platform for our photo galleries, since our CMS galleries suck. Apparently the one this photographer liked isn't around any more - does any here know of something similar for photo hosting and sales?

0 Comments
2022/01/27
19:49 UTC

3

What should I ask before buying a magazine?

My town's local business magazine shut down due to COVID. I asked about buying it at the time, but ultimately things were too uncertain and I dropped it. I got back in touch on a whim last week, and the owner, a regional publisher/commercial printer, said they would consider selling it for a dollar if I used them for printing in the future.

So I have a zoom meeting with the owner tomorrow. What questions should I have ready? So far I plan to ask:

-What's the cost of a typical print run and mailing?
(The mag used a qualified free subscription model, where anyone with a business license could request a mail subscription. I believe they also used a few free pickup spots like the Chamber of Commerce lobby, SCORE Office, public library etc.)

-What's included in the sale?
(I'd be looking for website and domain, print templates/InDesign files, advertiser contact info and sales history.)

-What if I choose not to print at all?

6 Comments
2021/07/29
21:45 UTC

2

Does anyone have experience with an SaaS CMS like Foundation or Ellington/EPublishing?

0 Comments
2021/06/25
16:13 UTC

1

Leading Local: The Media’s Impact on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (No-Cost Training)

Register today for the upcoming sessions available through the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Foundation’s special diversity webinar series Leading Local: The Media’s Impact on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity.

Ten Steps to More Inclusive Reporting
June 18

Explore ten steps that you and your newsroom can take to produce more diverse, equitable and inclusive reporting.  This session features a Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellows project completed by Melba Newsome, RJI Fellows Class of 2020-21. Using research and findings from her fellowship, Newsome will outline the necessary steps and lead participants through an evaluation of published journalism for diversity and inclusive reporting. From common challenges to rethinking the whys and wheres of diverse sources to understanding and overcoming barriers, Newsome details what you can do to be more inclusive storytellers.

Learn More

Seeing the Whole Community: Diversity and Inclusivity through Design
August 12

Communities, readers and audiences want to see themselves reflected in your local news coverage. Not just through words and stories, but also through the visuals, photos, art and designs in your various print and digital products. Doing so requires you to look, listen and learn.

This session will help editors and reporters visually cover their whole community. Topics include visual inclusion, intention and diversity as well as making tough visual calls.

Learn More

Thanks to a grant from the Calkins Foundation, there is no cost for any members of press or news associations across the United States to join this training.

0 Comments
2021/06/14
20:42 UTC

3

Sponsored Content: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

0 Comments
2021/05/25
13:55 UTC

3

For vs. About: Reporting for Black Communities

Ms. Mayhem is hosting a panel discussion for our one-year anniversary about the importance of Black representation in the newsroom. Our panelists will discuss how journalists can better cover Black stories and how news media’s representation of Black communities affects long-term interpretation of historical events.

This event isn’t just for journalists. Anyone who’s interested in racial equity is welcome and encouraged to attend.

We also want to send a huge shoutout to our sponsors—@badbettieproject and the Black Community Initiative of DU’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

In addition, 10% of ticket sales will be donated to u/nabjofficial.

Come join us on Tuesday! Tickets are available on our Facebook event page and website.

https://www.facebook.com/events/318403633049071

0 Comments
2021/05/17
20:55 UTC

5

Ideas for "Sponsorship" Options for Small Town News Website

My hometown is pretty small, about 10,000 people. The local newspaper cut back considerably to one issue per week. So I've started my own local news site and have been paying a few writers out of pocket in addition to writing some articles myself.

The problem is it's not sustainable long term. I've already spent quite a bit on this. So I'm aiming to break even in order to keep it going.

My idea is to offer sponsorships to local businesses. I'd do an annual deal for $1,200 but will discount the first ones to $800. The question is what could I offer them in exchange for the sponsorship?

We get some traffic to our site. It's not a lot but for the area it's pretty good and it's mostly local. So right now I'm thinking putting their logos somewhere under a sponsored section on each page or article would be the main thing. We also have a few hundred Facebook followers and that will hopefully grow, so I'm open to ideas of how we might leverage the Facebook page.

I don't want to do anything that jeopardizes our journalistic integrity, but I'm open to additional ideas, maybe doing sponsored features on their businesses as well, which would be labeled as such. What do you think?

If I can get 6 to 10 sponsors, I think I'd be in a pretty good position to keep things going even though it might still cost me a bit it would at least be manageable.

8 Comments
2021/04/15
02:52 UTC

3

What software/tools are used by journalists?

I'm curious to hear what others use within news organizations for their day to day. Other than Twitter and AP/Reuters wires, what other news sources do you pull from? Is there an aggregation tool that makes it easy? Are you required to read a certain number of sources/different views?

7 Comments
2020/11/28
17:12 UTC

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