How to turn Google Discover traffic into subs | Publishers deserve more from AI
And more former editors have joined the revolt against plans to sell The Observer to Tortoise Media
Good morning and welcome to your Press Gazette Future of Media newsletter on Thursday 28 November, brought to you this week in association with Q5 - experts in organisational health.
It turns out Google Discover is good for more than delivering random massive traffic spikes.
Swedish publisher VK Media has worked out a way to predict which stories will do well on the platform and use that knowledge to boost reader revenue. Digital media strategist (and former professional snowboarder) Anton Gunnarsson Molin has explained all to Press Gazette.
The World of Interiors has a website!
It’s hard to go digital when your brand is all about lavish photography published on the best glossy paper stock and your product is designed to adorn high-end coffee tables.
Digital director of the Conde Nast-owned glossy Elly Parsons explains why coming late to the online party has its benefits and how the brand is making money after the move from coffee table to computer screen.
And last night there was yet another high-profile intervention in the debate over the future of The Observer. No fewer than five former editors of the title, and one former editor-in-chief, have written to the Scott Trust.
We have the letter in full and the latest Scott Trust response.
The Trust is a private Ltd company, so can do what it likes with The Observer.
But its 12 directors must be feeling the weight of history as they ponder the future of the world's oldest Sunday title.
I’m hearing rumblings that some big political hitters on the left may get involved soon too.
The Observer’s print readership on a Sunday is probably less than 200,000 - so fairly inconsequential in direct electoral terms. But it seen as being a crucial liberal voice on a mainly right-leaning Sunday newspaper newsstand and so has a key role shaping the news agenda and national conversation.
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On Press Gazette
Six former editors urge Scott Trust not to ‘gamble’ with future of Observer
“We urge that negotiations with Tortoise be paused while Guardian and Observer journalists can contribute to a frank and open discussion about how the Observer’s voice might continue to be protected by the Scott Trust rather than cast off to an uncertain future.”
The Swedish regional newsbrand driving subscriptions via Google Discover
“It’s weird, but it actually works.”
Why publishers deserve more than 50/50 generative AI revenue share
“That publishers have signed on these terms is particularly concerning in that they may begin to establish a precedent for the relative value of the content inputs versus the delivery platform in the AI information-retrieval age.”
Benefits of coming ‘fashionably late’ to online for The World of Interiors
“It’s much, much more important for me to have this quality audience who we are actually getting more lifetime value from.”
How Capital Economics made leap to personalised multimedia publishing (promoted)
“Capital wanted an end-to-end reinvention of their platform to have everything synchronised. The idea was to have sales, accounts and content providers all working together.”
Press Gazette highlights
News media job cuts 2024 tracked: Hearst Magazines and Now This latest hit
Mirror merger with OK! mag not about reducing headcount but concerns remain
Lords slam government inaction on SLAPPs, calling for action by summer
Mail publisher ‘strongly denies’ lawyer’s allegation of document deletion
Warning of imminent, ‘irreparable’ fracture of news landscape without action
How publishers can use branded content to grow advertising revenue (promoted)
News agency behind UK’s biggest headlines expands into US (promoted)
Latest podcast
Podcast 79: How Bluesky became News-sky, Google Discover, US election lessons
Press Gazette editor-in-chief Dominic Ponsford talks about the benefits of Bluesky for publishers with the zeal of a new convert, reporter Bron Maher explains how publishers are getting new traffic from Google via Discover and Charlotte Tobitt reveals the biggest lessons for the news industry from the US presidential election.