Vox Solicits Reader Contributions to Keep Its Content Free Amid Ad Declines

The near-simultaneous rush among publishers with subscription businesses to loosen their paywalls and provide free access to reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic has reignited long-standing debates about whether the news should fundamentally be free, even as ad-supported journalism (with some exceptions) becomes an increasingly difficult proposition. This week, rather than erecting a paywall, Vox says it's looking to make up for declines in its advertising business by soliciting contributions from those readers who can afford it, in order to preserve free access to its journalism for those who can't. "Our dedicated team of journalists has boundless ambitions—and feels a great sense of responsibility—to bring you more of our distinctive coverage, in new and different ways, and to continue doing so for free," wrote editor-in-chief Lauren Williams and executive editor Allison Rockey in a note to readers Wednesday afternoon. "But even with record audience growth, the media business is not immune to the effects of economic downturns. In fact, right now, when audiences need quality, accessible journalism the most, ad revenue is on the decline as companies move to save money and shrink their marketing budgets." While not a tax-deductible charitable donation, Vox says recurring or one-off contributions, ranging from $7 to $250, will help support its science explainers, its coverage of the challenges being faced by the U.S. health care system and its YouTube and Facebook videos... Continue reading at 'Folio Magazine'

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-04-10 16:17:19 UTC ]
News tagged with: #caption id= #subscription model #apple news+ #york magazine #media industry

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Comixology to Offer DRM-Free Backup Copies

Comixology's new DRM-free backup program is available to any publisher or self-publisher that chooses to make their books available in the program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Polansky Up at Reader's Digest

Debra Polansky has been named publishing director, books, at The Reader’s Digest Association. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digest association


3 ways agency calls for viewability will change ad buying

Agencies are pushing for transparency from publishers on all fronts, but viewability has by far become their most pressing priority. GroupM, the biggest digital media buyer in the U.S., announced it would shift its buying from open exchanges to private ones, in a push for greater transparency.... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #greater transparency #major players #sponsor content


Native-Ad Metrics Startup SimpleReach Raises $9 Million

SimpleReach, a company that provides publishers like The New York Times and Forbes with measurement and distribution tools for their native ad programs, has raised $9 million in its first big round of financing, the company said Tuesday. With the new series A funds, SimpleReach plans to invest... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big round #foundational player #kirk wolfe #general partner #mk capital #atlas ventures #village ventures #native advertising #tactic embraced


Native-Ad Metrics Startup Simple Reach Raises $9 Million

SimpleReach, a company that provides publishers like The New York Times and Forbes with measurement and distribution tools for their native ad programs, has raised $9 million in its first big round of financing, the company said Tuesday. With the new series A funds, SimpleReach plans to invest... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big round #foundational player #kirk wolfe #general partner #mk capital #atlas ventures #village ventures #native advertising #tactic embraced


Amazon buyers prefer DRM-free ebooks, study claims

The big publishers lock down their ebooks to their own detriment, according to a new study. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #study claims


Simon & Schuster negotiating with Amazon amid Hachette feud

The publisher is reportedly in talks with the e-commerce giant, sparking speculation as to what the negotiations are about. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-commerce giant #sparking speculation


Digital Publishers: It's Time to Think About Paying to Promote Content

There is a long-held belief among content publishers -- including many we are partnered with -- that they shouldn't pay to amplify their content. Their clear aversion most often comes from some dogmatic belief that quality content doesn't require paid promotion. For them, paying to promote... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #core part #largest advertisers #online publisher


Time Inc. Creates Native Ad Group to Forge Programs Across Brands

Time Inc. has created an eight-person unit to focus on native advertising at the publishing company, led by a staffer from the editorial side, Sports Illustrated Group Creative Director Chris Hercik, and another from the business side, Senior VP-Marketing and Sales Development Priya Narang.Mr.... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #vp-global marketing #mark ford #entertainment weekly #travel leisure


Unicef to distribute free board books in Scotland

Nosy Crow has created a new board book, published by Unicef, that will be given to new parents in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nosy crow #board book


Mexico’s Manuvo: Building Book Apps for Spanish Readers

Award-winning Mexican app development studio Manuvo is at the forefront of building book apps for the Spanish-language market. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spanish readers #spanish-language market


The literary World Cup: readers' best all-time teams

Could goalie Camus cope with an attack formed by Burroughs, Ballard and Bolaño? Guardian readers imagined football squads made from their favourite writers. As the World Cup comes to an end, we take a look at our best fictional elevens. But what team would you put your money on? Back when the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt’s Free “Global Trends in Publishing” Report

The Frankfurt Book Fair's new Business Club is making available the new "Global Trends in Publishing" report compiled by Rüdiger Wischenbart for free. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business club #global trends #rdiger wischenbart


Sponsored Content is the Holy Grail of Digital Publishing. But Does it Work?

In recent years, a debate has raged on among publishing and advertising industry insiders over “sponsored content”—more recently called “native advertising” and once known as & ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sponsored content #digital publishing #holy grail


SheKnows Sharing its Explorer Platform With Competitors, For Free

On June 25, SheKnows introduced its Explorer platform, which it has been testing since early this year. In addition to the SheKnows network of verticals, 40 other publishers (including Time Inc. and ESPN) have integrated the content curation widget onto their sites, at no charge. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft gives away nearly 300 free, tip-packed ebooks and resource guides

Get ready to drink deep from the fountain of knowledge. As he's done in years past, Microsoft senior sales excellence manager Eric Ligman has compiled a veritable flood of free Microsoft ebooks and other resources, offering up nearly 300 gratis guides for your reading pleasure.To be fair, most... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #resource guides #years past #reading pleasure


Amid Hachette dispute, Amazon appeals to authors

Amazon.com Inc. is offering authors caught up in its dispute with Hachette Book Group all of the proceeds from the sale of any digital book, seeking to bypass the publisher and appeal directly to the... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon appeals #digital book #appeal directly


Amid Hachette fight, Amazon appeals to authors

Amazon.com Inc. is offering authors caught up in its dispute with Hachette Book Group all of the proceeds from the sale of any digital book, seeking to bypass the publisher and appeal directly to the... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon appeals #digital book #appeal directly


Amazon's battle with Hachette is a fight for readers, writers and retailers | Hugh Howey

As things stand, Hachette is making ebook discounts impossible, and almost everybody else stands to lose, writes Hugh HoweyNews: New Amazon terms amount to 'assisted suicide' for book industry, experts claimHow much should an ebook cost? And how should that money be split? These two questions... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook cost #publishing industry #sticking point #digital books


Google and ABC Build a Programmatic Ad Exchange That Only Buys Mastheads

Google's private programmatic exchanges can now book premium ad space like mastheads for brands. It is working with ABC to promote the new show Rising Star using an exchange that only places ads in prominent positions, ones that are not typically associated with automated buying. "This exchange... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital strategy #rising star #rolling stone #huge part #ad world