Survey identifies subscription growth, AI integration and audience engagement as key areas of focus for next year. A recent survey conducted by the Alliance for Audited Media (AAM) reveals insights into the objectives and expectations of American digital publishers heading into 2025. They reported significant changes this in digital subscription growth, advertising strategies and the integration of artificial intelligence in their operations, all of which will shape their future policies and practices. Of the 32 AAM-audited publishers surveyed, 53% indicated a positive trend in digital subscriptions, with a further 38% experiencing growth in sponsored content. Additionally, 34% of publishers successfully…

The tech journalist discusses his innovative approach to content distribution and monetisation. Eric Newcomer has successfully turned his newsletter business focused on start-ups and venture capital into a significant revenue stream, achieving $2 million in earnings. In an interview with Simon Owens, published by Talking Biz News, Newcomer discussed his approach to content distribution and monetisation strategies in the digital publishing landscape. Newcomer gained early traction in his career by securing interviews with influential CEOs, including Dara Khosrowshahi of Uber and Tony Xu of DoorDash. A pivotal moment for his newsletter occurred in January 2021 with the release of a…

Troels Behrendt Jørgensen discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by news publishers in a digital economy shaped by AI, highlighting the Danish publisher’s strategies for revenue generation and audience engagement. Troels Behrendt Jørgensen, the digital director of Politiken, a leading Danish media corporation, shared insights on the evolution of the media landscape during an interview with digital media consultant Mark Challinor as part of The Drum’s News Horizons series. Jørgensen, who boasts over 25 years of experience in digital transformation and media strategy, discussed the various challenges and opportunities that await news publishers, particularly in the context of a digital…

Norwegian media group Amedia has announced the acquisition of Denmark’s Berlingske Media, aiming to strengthen its position amid increasing global competition and digital shifts in the industry. Norwegian media group Amedia has announced the acquisition of Denmark’s Berlingske Media from Belgian media company DPG Media. The deal, announced on Tuesday morning, brings together two major players in the region, with Berlingske Media’s prominent titles, including Berlingske, BT, Weekendavisen, and Euroinvestor, joining Amedia’s extensive portfolio. Amedia CEO Anders Opdahl emphasised the strategic rationale behind the acquisition, citing the increasingly challenging environment for media companies. “Nordic media companies face tougher global competition…

The independent Australian business publication has successfully launched with a subscription model targeting younger audiences. Capital Brief, a recently established independent business publication in Australia, is carving out its niche in the digital media landscape with a subscription-based model aimed at engaging a younger audience. CEO Chris Janz spoke to Crikey regarding the publication’s progress in its first year since launch. Launched with a goal to provide high-quality journalism free from targeted advertising, Capital Brief positions itself as a contemporary alternative to established publications like the Australian Financial Review. It offers subscription rates of $39 per month or $348 annually,…

Dave Strauss, The Guardian’s VP of revenue operations, discusses the move from open auctions to curated private marketplaces, highlighting the importance of first-party data and direct relationships with publishers. Programmatic advertising is shifting its focus from open auctions to curated private marketplaces (PMPs), creating new opportunities for publishers, particularly those with dedicated audiences and strong first-party data. This was highlighted by Dave Strauss, The Guardian’s new vice president of revenue operations and strategy for North America, who shared insights into the publisher’s evolving revenue strategies in an interview with AdExchanger. Strauss, who assumed his role in October 2023 after leading…

The billionaire’s proposed acquisition of Substack in 2023 has led to significant changes at the newsletter platform, which is now focusing on honing its political content amid challenges of profitability and reputation. Elon Musk’s proposal to acquire Substack in April 2023 has sparked crucial developments in the newsletter platform’s focus on political content, indicating a dynamic shift in the landscape of digital publishing and monetisation strategies. Musk, now the owner of Twitter — rebranded as X — was interested in the newsletter platform primarily for its lucrative paid subscription model. During a conversation with Substack’s CEO Chris Best, Musk suggested…

The New York Times says its new generative AI tool, BrandMatch, is leading to increased click-through rates on campaigns. The New York Times (NYT) has announced an ambitious investment in generative artificial intelligence as part of a broader strategy to enhance its self-reliance amid widespread external disruptions. With increasing constraints imposed by privacy laws, browser tracking restrictions and the diminishing efficacy of third-party signals, publishers like the NYT are compelled to innovate in order to sustain their advertising revenues. Valerio Poce, Executive Director of Ad Product Marketing for New York Times Advertising, highlighted the pressing need for new methodologies in…

The German-language initiative outlines innovative strategies to engage younger readers by adapting local journalism to the digital age. Local journalism must be revitalised with fresh formats, advanced digital technologies and collaborative efforts across publishing entities to attract younger audiences, according to a newly published white paper from the Drive (Digital Revenue Initiative) project. Drive, founded in 2020 by the German press agency dpa and advisory firm Highberg (previously known as Schickler), assists regional publishers in navigating the digital transformation landscape. By sharing data analyses and AI algorithms among its members, Drive supports around 30 publishers across Germany, Austria and Switzerland…

The search giant has launched a limited test in several EU countries, temporarily excluding results from EU-based news publishers amid regulatory challenges. Google has begun a limited test in several European Union countries by temporarily omitting results from EU-based news publishers. Described by Google as a “small, time-limited test,” the trial involves excluding news content from the search engine’s results, Google News, and the Discover feed. This experiment affects approximately 1% of users in Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The users will still have access to news from non-EU sources. The specific duration of…