This week’s Twipe Weekly Publishing News Digest takes a look at stories from across the world of publishing and news tech, touching on topics like why subscriptions are still on the rise, how publishers are pioneering with NFTs, insights from Reuter’s latest report on changing newsrooms and more. Read our top 5 stories of the week below.
1. Subscriptions Still on the Rise at Most Newspapers in the Medill Subscriber Engagement Index
Despite widespread worries throughout the year, the Local News Initiative team at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism has reported that subscriptions are on the rise at the majority of the 100+ news organisations included in their Medill Index. This includes rises at newsrooms of all sizes across the USA and suggests that despite the drops in page views, news publishers are getting better at conversion.
Get the full story from Susan Chandler at the Local News Initiative here.
2. 4 cases of publishers pioneering with NFTs
NFTs have become less of a marketing ploy and more of a genuine revenue opportunity for publishers. To understand what drives publishers to take steps into the NFT space and what business goals they are looking to achieve, we talked to 20 Minutes, TIME, Atlanta Journal Constitution and Le Parisien who have all pioneered the use of NFTs.
Discover our findings here.
3. We Can’t Depend on Platforms Anymore
Platforms are becoming more and more unpredictable. Turbulent times and takeovers are causing platforms to wobble, and it appears this could change the game for the tricky relationship between platforms and publishers. According to A Media Operator’s Jacob Donnelly, now is the time for publishers to stop trying to “game” platforms and instead focus on conversion from platforms to publisher’s own properties.
Find out why on a Media Operator here.
4. Why are successful paywalls such a rarity in UK local press?
The UK is a publishing market with a typically low willingness to pay. In 2022’s Digital News Report, just 9% of people paid for news. Still in the UK, the majority of digital subscriptions go to big players with just 5% of subscribers paying for a local news title. So, why are the Brits so unwilling to pay for local news and why are successful paywalls such a rarity in UK local press? Dominic Ponsford at Press Gazette took a look.
Check out his findings here.
5. Changing Newsrooms 2022: media leaders embrace hybrid work despite challenges
Last week, Reuters Institute released their latest report on changing newsrooms. The world has continued to evolve at a rapid rate following on from the COVID-19 pandemic and this has directly impacted how newsrooms and businesses across the world operate. A survey of 136 senior industry leaders from across 39 countries provided some eye-opening findings for the world of publishing.
Find the full report and an executive summary from Federica Cherubini and the Reuters Institute team here.
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