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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Amid Controversy, Penguin India Recalls Western Book on Hinduism

Penguin Books India has recalled American Indoligist Wendy Doniger’s book The Hindus: An Alternative History, sparking a debate about publishing freedoms. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here Comes Another Native Ad Exchange

The native advertising programmatic gold rush is on. Following the emergence of a handful of native ad networks came yesterday's announcement that the startup TripleLift was launching a native ad exchange with several top brands and publishers. Now comes another native ad exchange—albeit this... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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18 human traits that explain why readers can't get enough of BuzzFeed

Business psychologist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic reveals the reasons why the online publisher is so successfulWhen it comes to online content and storytelling, there are few sites as savvy as BuzzFeed, a platform that combines artificial and human intelligence to detect, produce and increase viral... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american idol #cultural significance #tomas chamorro-premuzic


When Publishers Pay for Video Ad Views

Quality video ad inventory is still scarce. That's why companies such as Conde Nast, Meredith, AOL, and Entrepreneur.com are eager to generate as many video views as they possible can, and why they buy traffic from platforms like Swagbucks to help.The post When Publishers Pay for Video Ad Views... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers pay #conde nast #video views #buy traffic


LinkedIn Is Looking More Like a Publisher as It Grows Its Native Ad Business

LinkedIn is looking more and more like a publisher these days. The professional networking site eschews the term, but its recent moves suggest otherwise, from its Influencers blog network to its acquisition of news reader Pulse and the introduction of native advertising. (LinkedIn calls them... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #make money #thought leadership #user engagement #technology company


Religion Update February 2014: Marketers Help Readers Discover Christian Fiction

Someone really ought to weave a tale about selling Christian and inspirational fiction: the overcrowded market, the distracted readers, and the rewards for those who overcome the odds. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inspirational fiction


News Corp. profit tops estimates but ad sales dip

News Corp., the newspaper publisher that owns The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, beat profit estimates and posted gains in real-estate services and book publishing, even as advertising... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2014-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #york post #book publishing


Sony to close Reader store and move users to Kobo's ebook platform in 'late March'

With its eye firmly fixed on a return to profitability, Sony's been making extensive cuts to its business arms in recent days (bye bye, VAIO!). So it's no surprise the company would train that cost-cutting eye onto another underperforming unit -- its... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook platform #late march


Previewing GLOBALOCAL, India’s “Forum for Content”

We preview the German Book Office, New Delhi's and Frankfurt Book Fair's GLOBALOCAL conference will be held in New Delhi from 13–14 February. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mail Online fuels DMGT ad revenue rise

Daily Mail publisher reports that website's ad revenues increased by 48% to £14m in the final three months of 2013Mail Online's ad revenues increased by almost 50% to £14m in the final three months of last year, more than offsetting a fall in print advertising to keep the Daily Mail titles in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sales decline #partially offset #dmg media #solid performance


Time Inc. Ad Revenue Grows, but Only Because It Bought AmEx Publishing

Time Warner, the media company that owns HBO and the Warner Bros. film studio as well as Time Inc. for a few more months, surpassed analysts' estimates for both fourth-quarter revenue and profit in results reported on Wednesday.Excluding some items, earnings were $1.17 a share, the New... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #warner bros #film studio #york-based company #data compiled #pay-tv providers #fourth quarter


Netflix to spend $3bn on TV and film content in 2014

On-demand streaming site ended 2013 with net profits of $112m despite rise in cost of international rights and commissioningNetflix is committed to spending almost $3bn on TV and film content in 2014 and more than $6bn over the next three years, as the cost of securing international rights and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook, Google and Yahoo now say when the US government requests user content (update: Microsoft too)

Last week, the US government finally relented on letting technology companies publish more detail about national security requests; today, some bigger firms are taking advantage of the looser rules. Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Yahoo have updated ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking advantage


Should Brands Even Be in the Content Business?

The editorial director of the Online Publishers Association weighs in on whether brands should be in the business of creating copy -- or whether that should be left to a partnership with the pros. The post Should Brands Even Be in the Content Business? appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Publishers Need to Embrace Automated Ad Selling

The president of The Media Kitchen sees private marketplaces gaining traction with top publishers, and that's a good thing.The post Why Publishers Need to Embrace Automated Ad Selling appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top publishers #good thing


'Interactive novel' invites readers to Choose-Your-Own sex adventure

Follow Your Fantasy promises fresh spin on the genre pioneered in rather less risqué stories in the 1980sA threesome, sex with a stranger or work on a porn film: the choice will be yours, as HarperCollins prepares to launch an erotic version of the Choose Your Own Adventure books which were... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Facebook's Mobile Ad Network Could (Finally) Upend A Backwards Industry

By understanding our tastes and habits, Facebook could steal billions of dollars in ads from traditional media and get Madison Avenue out of the stone age.Facebook has never been a company lacking in foolish ambition--witness Facebook Home, Beacon, Places, and other monumental undertakings. But... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional media #madison avenue #third-party publishers


People Prefer Big, Interruptive Web Ads

So much for blending in.  While the online ad industry falls deeper in love with native ads that fade into the background of Web pages, consumers prefer ads that get in their face by taking over their computer screens. At least, that’s according to a new study on high-impact ads conducted by... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facebook Tries a Mobile Ad Network

A Facebook spokesperson told Digiday that the program will not port Facebook-style ad units to other apps, however. Instead, it will simply use its data to target whatever formats those app publishers currently sell. The post Facebook Tries a Mobile Ad Network appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BuzzFeed's Peretti: Mobile is a Better Ad Vehicle

The Web publishing world has been slightly panicked over the growth of mobile consumption—mostly because for individual sites, the just money isn't there. Mobile banners are seen as a lousy brand vehicle, which is why so many are rushing to native ads. BuzzFeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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