Here we go again. The newsprint nostalgia will never end. Those of us who have been fighting for digital transformation since the silly “blogs can’t possibly ever be journalism!” days feel like it is Groundhog Day. It is 2016, and Twitter is abuzz wondering if the newspaper industry made a “colossal mistake” in adopting a […]
A little over a decade ago, I left the newspaper business. I had spent 14 years of my career in a variety of newsrooms. I had experienced life at a family-owned newspaper as well as corporate-controlled outlets under Gannett and other chains. By 2005, the push toward online had taken over as news organizations struggled […]
It’s a constant conversation among clients and colleagues: How big-sky should your thinking be when it comes to innovation? As a creative person, I am a fan of the open canvas in many settings to avoid the shackles of legacy thinking. Analyze a particular problem, and brainstorm solutions regardless of limitations. Work to develop an […]
Understanding the psychological underpinnings of how we work together helps us adapt to change There are some key lessons for news leaders in the “What Google Learned from Its Quest To Build the Perfect Team” piece in The New York Times Magazine that remained on the “most-emailed” and“most popular on Facebook” lists for over a […]
I’m one of those journalistic idealists enamored of the promise of Vox Media and Re/code. When Vox’s acquisition of Re/code was announced this past week, I focused on the strategic aspects in terms of content and competencies. But then, Brown fired back in an email: What do you think about all the VC money Vox […]
Innovation may be the buzzword that won’t die, but Vox Media has not forgotten a keyword for success: strategy. Since its founding in 2011, Vox has made several smart strategic decisions as it has developed and expanded its media presence. Yes, it is an innovative company, but its leaders have developed a keen sense of self to […]
Look at BuzzFeed at any given time of day, and you’ll see a host of enticing quizzes and timely listicles like the clickbait below. Who can resist such easy-to-digest content? Not many of us, apparently. (I am Thing One, by the way.) BuzzFeed is now among the top 10 U.S. sites for traffic, and news […]