Media Diary Analysis

I didn't record my data in the same way (in hours) as everyone else so it isn't in the chart but I noticed similar trends in the amount of social media that I used (which decreased every week), but more traditional news consumption (via the publication's app or website).  I noticed a lot of Netflix being consumed, which was similar to mine as well and even Stats Canada in 2016 determined that television in multiple forms was the highest form of consumer media. 

Unit 12

• Consider Rosen’s second and fourth reasons for optimizing for news - freedom from the 24-hour news cycle and journalist as discussion leader. How might a publisher bring those recommendations to life? What types of stories and angles to stories might get assigned and produced? How might journalists engage with the audience to build trust?

The publisher can avoid this by staying clear of clickbait articles and selling the story, not the traffic because there is no advertising. More interesting and relevant stories can be produced coupled wth the ability to follow the journalists you enjoy the most and have interactions with them.

• In his keynote, what are five ways Rosen suggests publishers can demonstrate they are optimizing for trust? 

1. When a person can easily understand the story being read and the data policy being bought into at sign up.
2. Knowing that the story will be reported only once it's nailed down and that corrections will be made if the story falls apart. 
3. Being able to click on the reporter's name and get a bio, archive and what motivates them in their journalism. 
4. Knowing that a reader can go to the "about" section of the website and learn about the mission of the publication, ownership, reporting priorities, and spending resources. 
5. When a reader can feel like the publication is listening to the internet while publishing on the internet. 
6. When the reader can add their knowledge to the product and their attention is given, not grabbed. 

• Consider Philip Eli’s five ways to regain trust from readers. What role does a publication’s public editor offer in terms of building audience trust? What role, if any, should they play in educating the audience about journalism? Does this extend to digital-native publishers or only traditional print publishers or broadcasters?

        The public editor should embrace the role of having to regain the trust of the reader but it can't just be an individual effort. Journalists and editors alike should band together and help educate the public about the profession; don't assume everyone knows what journalism is, there's no reason anymore to not educate people. It shouldn't matter whether you're a digital publication or traditional paper publication, that mentality should extend to everyone.  

Unit 10

• Explain the revenue strategies of The Athletic. Where does its money come from?

Its money comes from famous names they've hired to work for them and from the subscribers. People will pay for heavy coverage of topics that they are deeply interested in. Bringing in some of the best names in the business will attract readers and maximize profits.  

• How has it gone about building its audience? Has it been successful in audience and revenue growth?

Again, it's built it's audience through the people that they've hired. They know they have big audiences and those audiences will flock to the site. They should be well on the way to beating their goal of 100,000 subscribers but they don't actually release official numbers. 

Media Diary 8

This week I continued to read the news every morning when I woke up and throughout the day but I watched next to no YouTube. Started listening to more news podcasts including The Daily from The New York Times and Front Burner from CBC.

Media Diary 7

This week I checked the news every morning when I woke up. Didn't read everything, just what popped out at me. The amount of YouTube consumption went down but the amount I listened to podcasts went up. I followed a couple more sports podcasts and even substituted them for music at the gym.

Media Diary 5

My intake of news kind of spiked a bit this week with a visit to Queens Park for question period. However, my time spent reading news via my usual means didn't really increase or decrease at all as I spent a few hours a day reading the news, mainly in the morning is when I get the most reading in

Unit 5

1) Describe one reason that this new iteration of paywalls might work where they failed in the mid-2000’s.


Paywalls are not a deterrent like they used to be. Now they can actually generate revenue and make a company less dependant on ads to make their money. 



 2) Identify and provide a brief explanation of the four recommendations for the types of journalism The New York Times should be producing for digital readers as detailed in “Journalism that Stands Apart” report.

• Visual journalism: Making the story stronger with graphics by increasing the number of visual experts to the team and expanding on their leadership roles. Working closely with the photographers and videographers and using them in more than just a secondary role. 

• More additions like briefings: Consistent with the readers' habits and allows the journalists to use a more conversational writing style. It helps to bring a distinctness, making it clear that they're covering stories on the ground with experienced journalists. 

• A new approach to features and service journalism: A modern version of the 70s features expansion. Devoting resources to new areas, so as to attract more subscribers and engage new readers. 

• Engagement: The best way to build reader loyalty. Asking readers to spend time on their platform builds that loyalty through comments sections.

Media Diary 4

I upped my intake a bit this past week, so I have been spending about 4 hours a day consuming news from various platforms. All of my news apps, Twitter and Facebook. I listened to CBC Radio for about an hour this week. No print media again this week.

Unit 4

1) What are Buzzfeed’s Golden Rules of Shareability?


These golden rules are:

• Don't use tricks 
• be yourself 
• content should reflect your own identity, not anyone else's
• make content that you'd be proud to share
• experiment
• no ideas are bad ideas 
• have a heart 

 2) Provide the definition for each of Huffington Post’s reader badges: networkers, superusers and moderators.

The badges are rewards for the Post's most committed readers. Networkers are the people who draw fans and followers. Superusers share and comment on Facebook and Twitter often and moderators are trusted to delete comments that they deem inappropriate. 


3) Name two characteristics for each of the following digital media eras


Portal: 

• the first wave of digital journalism disruptors 
• had to use dial-up to connect 

Search:

• content developed for sharability  
• social networks such as Facebook and Twitter were introduced 

Saas:

• subscription based revenue model 
• uses AI and predictive analytics to understand what audiences want 

4) How does David Skok use disruption theory to explain how digital native news publishers were able to disrupt traditional publishers? 

By distributing a brand that is faster and more personalized than the major, more established news organizations and using technology to create a more efficient product. Like digital newsrooms for organizations like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. 

Unit 3

1) Taking into account all the data points examined in the API report “Paying for News,” what type of person would you say is most likely to pay for news?


Based on the report, news seekers are the most likely to pay for news as they search it out and follow it on a regular basis. The age range between who pays can vary depending on age, interests, preferred publications, whether they follow on social media and the amount of free content that they provide. 



2) For each of the 3 news subscriber archetypes in the API research report, list two to four strategies that would appeal to that archetype’s sensibilities in order to get them to pay for content and describe those strategies.


The Clinically Committed don't really need more strategies to get people to pay because they already view paying for content as a duty to journalism. I think for those people all you need is to continue to put out the good content that has kept them coming back. 


Good content at an affordable price for the thrifty transactors is one way to get them to pay for content. Price is the drive home factor for these people so that should be priority one with a high volume of good content a close second. 



The elusive evaders could be tricky because they're already on the fence to begin with, but offering pay-as-you go services with multiple options. And an easy way for the consumer to back out if they so choose so they know that you still value their business of they do decide to come back later. 


3) What does the API research report “Paying for News” say about the perceived cost and value of the news people pay for? 


It says that the people that are already paying generally fell like they are getting a good deal. However the ones that are not paying, saying that price is a big factor and are not willing to pay a lot. 






Media Diary

I've spent 3-4 hours a day this week consuming the news via the various platforms I get it from. My news apps (CBC, CP24, Toronto Star), Twitter and Facebook. The Toronto Star news letters keep me updated every few hours. No print media this week. 

Survey

Would you like to see more content? 

If so, which areas could be improved?

Is the content quality reflective of the price? 

Would you be willing to pay more for more exclusive content? 

How long would you be willing to commit for? 

Unit 2

1) Name and describe three reasons identified in the Kantar Media report why people might pay for news.
  
The first is content related motivations, which can mean several different things. Accuracy and neutrality of the news stories, the broadness of the coverage and how appealing the writing is. Others prefer the content that paid sites can only provide. Which leads to the next reason people pay for news. 

The second is platform related motivations. Simply put, one can get a better experience when they can pay for their content with benefits such as customization and prioritizing content to your personal interests. 

The third is brand related motivations. More than just content and benefits, a brand comes with trust and assurances. Paying for a reputable news source as opposed to "fake news" outlets. But people will pay just for the popularity of the brand itself. 






2) Which of the suggested funding propositions do you think has the most potential to be a successful revenue source for a news website? Explain your choice. 

I think paying for a membership with benefits would have the most success just solely on the benefits. Yes, you're spending money but you're also getting things that others aren't 

3) Why do you think people identified Display Advertising as the least intrusive and most acceptable form of advertising? Why do you think people identified Video Pre-Roll the most intrusive and least acceptable form of advertising?

Display advertising was the most acceptable because it's the most familiar. People are used to seeing it so it doesn't disrupt their day in any way. Video pre-roll is the least acceptable because it's the most intrusive. Banner ads in videos that you always have to close and ads in the videos. It's annoying and people shy away from it.    

4) In your opinion, how would you rank the following forms of advertising in terms of intrusiveness? Explain your ranking choice.

• Sponsored by Content
• Click Bait
• Branded Content
• e-Commerce links and partnerships
• Video Pre-Roll

Video pre-roll and clickbait are the most intrusive because sometimes you can't get away from it. The others, while still annoying, can simply be ignored or laughed off. 




Media Diary



I didn't keep an ongoing record of my use this week, but I have been spending as much free time as I can on Twitter or my news apps and websites. I also subscribed to several Toronto Star newsletters today. 

Unit 1

1) If you were creating a new digital editorial product, let’s say a website, where would you start? Would you come up with the content first, identify an audience, or would you first try to figure out where your money would come from to fund this venture?

      I think that content and audience can go hand in hand, as one always feeds off the other. You can't have an audience, at least a loyal one, without good content. So once you figure one out, the other will follow. Having no experience in website design or content creation, my methods might differ from someone who might be an accounting major and worry about the finances before anything else. You can have all the finances in the world available, but if you don't have the ideas to sell for the content or audience, it won't matter. 

2) What impact might there be on a media company’s brand if they accept advertiser written content or create content that is paid for by advertisers without transparent labeling? 

      The lack of transparent labeling could lead to the audience feeling like they've been misled or a confusion as to what the brand is or is trying to sell. It could look like they have something to hide and could very well drive people away and have an overall negative impact. 

Media Diary



I very rarely pick up a physical copy of a magazine or a newspaper. Unless the magazine is a baseball magazine. Instead, I opt to read the online publications of newspapers or magazines, which I spend an inordinate amount of time reading on my phone. It's easier and more cost effective than buying a paper every day. I watch a lot of news clips via Facebook, Twitter or YouTube and listen to a few sports podcasts via the PodBean app and Spotify.