Aleen Kuperman is co-founder and CEO at Betches Media. The company has grown from a blog created in a dorm room at Cornell in 2011 to a sprawling media network including nine podcasts, New York Times-bestselling books and millions of Instagram followers. In this episode of the “Ad Block” podcast, Kuperman talks about growing up as the child of Russian immigrants who escaped the Soviet Union in 1988, a year before the Berlin Wall fell. In particular, it was a struggle to explicate what “Betches” was to her parents, who had always had high expectations for her future. “I had to explain to my parents, ‘I’m not going to medical school next year,’” she says. “I was terrified to have that conversation. They were like, ‘What’s a blog? How are you making money? What are you talking about?’” As with many new media startups, the business model evolved quickly, and as soon as she had gotten her parents on board, things would change. “They had just figured out Facebook, now they have to go learn Instagram,” Kuperman says. Tangible successes helped, like the book deal the team landed while still in college. “To my parents, that’s legit. A book, they understand.” Kuperman grew up hearing the stories of the family’s journey out of Russia, living in Vienna and Italy off the personal possessions they could sell before eventually being allowed into the U.S. and settling on Long Island. “Only now, I think back to all the things they instilled,” like her strong work ethic, she says. “It... Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'
[ Advertising Age | 2019-10-18 09:01:00 UTC ]
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Martini Media is in the money. The digital advertising network focused on affluent Web users announced on Tuesday that it has raised $14 million in new funding. The investment will "accelerate" Martini Media's "aggressive growth strategy," per the company. Martini Media CEO Skip Brand told... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2013-08-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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President Obama made headlines when he steered clear of the Vineyard Haven bookstore Bunch of Grapes during his recent visit to the island. Maybe his absence wasn't a political statement – it could be that he just wanted to keep his reading preferences quiet. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kobo has hired former Waterstones digital content acquisitions manager Diego Marano to head up... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book publisher and digital marketer Open Road Integrated Media announced that it has received $11 million in Series C equity financing led by an $8 Million investment from NewSpring Capital. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ron Burgundy will be the name behind a book titled 'Let Me Off at the Top: My Classy Life and Other Musings.' Ron Burgundy is Will Ferrell's alter ego in the 2004 film 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ron Burgundy will be the name behind a book titled 'Let Me Off at the Top: My Classy Life and Other Musings.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Web publishing services firm Livefyre has started turning social media content into native advertising for a handful of publishers. Livefyre—which offers publishers social tools like commenting, live blogs and live chats—built Playstation-sponsored social hubs for IGN and AOL's Joystiq... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2013-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Suvudu, Random House's online destination for science fiction and fantasy fans, launched Suvudu Universe, an online community for SF and fantasy bloggers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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China's Douban is experimenting with crowdsourced translations of English literature, including SF and short stories by David Mitchell. Can it help authors enter the market? Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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While IBT Media has carved itself a profitable space in a few niche markets, it hasn't been a household media name. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2013-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a report posted on its Web site, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt said that it received a notice from stockholders of at least 25% of its stock that the company begin the process of starting an initial public offering. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A little mystery by a debut writer got everyone talking on social media last month, after that unknown writer was revealed to be none other than Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Justice Department and 33 state attorneys general want to force Apple to sign contracts with publishers that don't prevent Apple or other ebook stores from competing on price. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Summit Media Group has named Joseph Angel its president and CEO. He takes over for co-founder Lloyd Ferguson who will remain as a consultant after heading the company for 20 years. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2013-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomberg LP has made another big raid on old media again, poaching Justin Smith from the Atlantic Media Co. to be global media CEO. Smith is the Atlantic Media president who is credited with reversing 154-year-old Atlantic magazine’s losses by advancing an aggressive, digital-first strategy. He... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2013-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Much like trends in magazine publishing, social media is becoming a niche-focused market. This means there are an increasing number of networks that serve very specific functions. For instance, the difference between Instagram and Twitter is similar to the difference between a photography... Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2013-07-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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em>Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin made a special appearance at the show of comedy musicians Paul & Storm during Comic-Con this weekend, smashing one of their guitars in (faux) outrage after they launched into their song "Write Like the Wind," which admonishes the fantasy... Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2013-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As of this writing, Christine Quinn, the first female and openly gay speaker of the New York City Council, remains a front-runner in the city’s crowded race for mayor. A poll by Quinnipiac University, the New York Times reports, shows Quinn, the second-most-powerful elected official in the... Continue reading at Slate
[ Slate | 2013-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Forbes Media has launched Forbes Wine Club, a new subscription and e-commerce site that connects subscribers with fine wines they are likely to enjoy. The company has partnered with Lot18 to create ForbesWineClub.com, a customizable wine buying experience. Continue reading at Folio Magazine
[ Folio Magazine | 2013-07-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lerner Publisher Services announced exclusive partnerships with Scobre and Live Oak Media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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