#3 Scarcity = Value

Digital Publishing has always been a volume game. But a new crop of publishing startups are betting on delivering more value without massive volume. According to media analyst Brian Morrissey, we’re seeing a return to scarcity. Doing fewer things better makes sense as publishers both want to create value for advertisers and subscribers. But it’s a challenging path. Consistent quality is not something you build overnight. And in the end you need the be confident enough people will pay you or have an ad set-up that rewards quality over quantity.

This and more in this week's Wayfinder!?

IN FOCUS

The world spends 12? trillion hours online, a new milestone in internet adoption, according to the latest Digital 2022 Global Overview Report.?The report filled with mind-boggling numbers shows we are more than ever glued to our mobile phones, social media and video. A must read for everyone in media.

Another great resource launched this week is the new WAN-IFRA Knowledge Base, dedicated to digital transformation and audience-focused workflows. It’s a great place to find case studies on how European newspaper have adopted an audience centric-mindset. There is also a dedicated new report zooming in on the transformation stories of 10 European newspapers.

FUTURE OF MEDIA

Politico Magazine celebrates it’s 15th birthday with a look at what the future might have in store for media. From a big tech crackdown to the rebirth of local news, 16 future-minded thinkers predict where journalism will be in 15 years.

And the subscriptions strategy lead at FT Strategies lines up three predictions for the news publishing industry in 2022. Subscription growth will slow, infrastructure will become more important than business models and the need to move from volume to a more manageable selection of news for readers.

INSIGHTS

A new study reveals what makes an image on Instagram more likeable: Instagram users seemingly prefer images that are either very simple and minimalist or incredibly detailed and complex. And apparently neutral colours work better than too flashy and bright.

And 94% of people listen to podcasts alone, according to the latest research from RAJAR. 30% of all listening happens while working or studying, the data says.?

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Search engine optimisation (SEO) can help an article appear higher up on Google search and bring more readers to the publisher’s website. It is also becoming a crucial skill for journalists. This article offers a good summary of SEO basics and what to focus on.

The Google News Initiative’s (GNI) Digital Growth Program has launched a data program. It comes with the usual workshops as well as a set of best practices and lessons from news publishers around the world on gathering and using data.

And a psychologist and a journalist present remarkably practical techniques to communicate numbers in a new book. Making Numbers Count.

SHORT

• Google is building an AR headset.
• Substack plans to launch a native video player.
• And Google’s controversial project for replacing cookies is dead. But they already have a new proposal: topics.
• Facebook & Instagrams make plans to make, showcase and sell NFT’s. As is Youtube.
• Netflix share price collapsed: what that means for the streaming business.?
• Apple’s revenue is up to an all time record.

DEEP DIVES

The Konrad Adenauer Institute has compiled plans and strategies to save journalism across the world. From Australia’s efforts to get Google and Facebook to pay for news to new laws and investments aimed at supporting local news.?

New data from a global study analysing sexual harassment?in newsrooms in 20 countries finds, on average, 41% of women media professionals have experienced sexual harassment of some kind in the workplace.??

ONE MORE THING

I wanted to end on a happy note but the latest Edelman Trust Report was just too much of a smack in the face. A majority of people around the world (67%) now are concerned that they are being lied to by journalists. A big red light for our industry and let’s face it democracy itself.?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That's it for this week! I hope you enjoyed the selection. A big thank you for those of you sending suggestions. As always tips are welcome for the next edition!

And if you crave for more check this list of 36 media blogs!

Ezra.