Five takeaways from a new study of local digital news publishers

For-profit news startups are more likely to succeed than other small businesses, but many owners aren’t getting rich. I’ve been tracking these local, independent, digital news outlets for more than a decade and started Michele’s List in 2010. Now, with an assist from the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute, I updated my database and surveyed … Continued

Video as revenue: Start with listening

This summer for Innovation in Focus, we are speaking with news organizations that are exploring new, emerging or unique revenue models. Alabama Media Group launched Red Clay Media in 2017 as a video driven revenue stream. It began with videos created in the newsroom that inspired engagement from their readers. Today it is a thriving … Continued

The contributor model

Rhett Power, Moderator, Columnist at CNBC, Moderator Rajul Varshneya, Columnist at Forbes Whitney Evans, KSL.com with Deseret Digital Media One of the emerging content plays taking root is the “contributor model.” Low-cost, highly targeted, and leveraging the power of influencers and thought leaders, this content thrives on sites ranging from Inc. to Forbes to CNBC … Continued

Winning the niche

Chris Sheridan, Wake Forest University/Formerly, ESPN and CNBC, moderator James daSilva, SmartBrief Mark Babbitt, President, Switch and Shift Nathan Byrne, Newsy Brian Morrissey, President/Editor-in-Chief, DigiDay Media While some content streams seem saturated and almost impervious to new players, other content streams are rich and ripe for expansion and even monetization. And it’s not just sports … Continued

Emerging payment platforms and strategies

David Gehring, Relay Media, moderator Cosmin Ene, LaterPay Raju Narisetti, Gizmodo Bill Densmore, RJI Dan Peskorse, Invisibly, Inc. Pay models are evolving as more and more testing indicates users are interested in paying for valuable, relevant content that fits within their framework of consent. New payments models range from per-use micropayments, to more scaled subscription … Continued