 |
Monday, September 19, 2016
 |
A cross-disciplinary approach to science is helping Nautilus carve a unique niche in science publishingWith a focus on deep reporting, a print magazine, and an intense affinity for illustrations, nonprofit Nautilus has taken an expensive approach to launching a new science publication. By Ricardo Bilton. |
What We’re Reading
Los Angeles Times / Stephen Battaglio
ESPN targets Latino viewers with a new bilingual sports show →
The show will be presented in English, but guests appearing on "Nación ESPN" can speak in Spanish if they prefer (the bilingual hosts will summarize remarks in English in those cases). Taped interviews conducted in Spanish will have English subtitles.
Wall Street Journal / Newley Purnell
Facebook hires executive with India ties to help develop strategies for its Messenger app →
With Facebook locked out of China because the government doesn’t allow its citizens to use the service, India is a crucial market for growth. But Facebook is also in a tricky position there: In February, India's telecommunications regulator effectively banned its controversial Free Basics service.
The Washington Post / Erik Wemple
New NYT managing editor: We’re “trying to figure out strategy not just for the newsroom but for the whole company” →
"We're all getting dragged much more into trying to figure out strategy not just for the newsroom but for the whole company," says Joseph Kahn. "The job has just gotten much busier and more complicated than it may have been 10 years ago.”
Washington Post / Margaret Sullivan
Cats here, politics there – how a split-up BuzzFeed sees its video-heavy future →
“Like a watermelon wrapped in rubber bands, the news business is under increasing pressure. That explosion — or maybe implosion — is something nobody should want to see.”
Business Insider / Nathan McAlone
This veteran entrepreneur wants to use email to build the next media empire →
“Jason Calacanis launched Monday Inside.com, which functions as a Kickstarter-style system for identifying topics ripe for their own recurring "top news of the day" email newsletter. Topics that snag 1,000 sign-ups will see their own newsletters produced by Calacanis' team.”
Digiday / Max Willens
Why The Information foregrounds community to attract subscribers →
"It's become one of the most powerful parts of the site," founder Jessica Lessin said of her site's commenters and community.
Politico / Peter Sterne
The Daily Dot lays off at least 15 →
“While this move is without a doubt the right thing for the long-term sustainability of the Dot, this was an exceedingly tough decision to make. We expect headcount to grow back to yesterday’s level soon, as we hire more people in areas like video, e-commerce and sales.”
Talking Points Memo / Josh Marshall
Traffic to Talking Points Memo can drop when the news cycle is bad for liberals →
“We’ve even noticed a significant drop in TPM traffic since Clinton’s fainting spell. We’ve seen this happen before when our readers think the news sucks and some just tune out.”
The Wall Street Journal / Deborah Gage
Mode Media, previously valued at $1 billion, shuts down unexpectedly →
“Founded in 2004, the company was called Glam Media until it changed its name to Mode two years ago in an effort to broaden its reach beyond women, blogs and online advertising.”
Wired / Susanne Althoff
Algorithms could save book publishing but ruin novels →
“The result of [Jodie Archer and Matthew L. Jockers’]’ work — detailed in The Bestseller Code, out this month — is an algorithm built to predict, with 80 percent accuracy, which novels will become mega-bestsellers.”
Ad Age / Emma Hall
Google, The Washington Post, and Procter & Gamble are teaming up to improve online ads →
“In possibly the broadest attempt yet to fix online advertising so that consumers don’t become obsessed with blocking it, Google has got together with a diverse group of marketers, publishers, agencies and industry bodies to create The Coalition for Better Ads.”
Media Impact Funders / Nathalie Applewhite
Why the Pulitzer Center funded an issue of The New York Times Magazine →
“Editorial control remains firmly with the outlets and journalists. We aim to be a catalyst for them to think bigger and go deeper on slow moving crises — such as climate change, gender rights, water and sanitation, and fragile states — and to do so through compelling, rich multimedia that engages audiences in powerful ways.”