After enjoying several years of stability, the total audience for 70 major American consumer magazines dipped from 2010-2011, according to a MediaPost analysis of data from GfK MRI. Although there have been audience fluctuations in the past, this large year-over-year decrease is ominous, coming as it does alongside falling newsstand sales and stagnant ad pages.
Read more here
Thursday, September 15
Monday, September 12
News Trends Tilt Toward Niche Sites
Like newspapers, portals like AOL and Yahoo are confronting the cold fact that there is less general interest in general interest news. Readers have peeled off into verticals of information — TMZ for gossip, Politico for politics and Deadspin for sports, and so on.
Part of the problem is the result of a fundamental shift in Web behavior. Media stalwarts erected a frame around the Web and organized, and sometimes produced, content. Now the frame around content is the Web browser itself, and consumers do their own programming and are more inclined to see news consumption as a kind of voting, selecting smaller brands that reflect their sensibilities.
Many of the news sites that are now having success on the Web — Business Insider, Gawker and Mashable, to name a few — are built on sensibility, which is generally a product of a small group of like minds.
There are exceptions. TMZ has thrived as a division of Time Warner, College Humor continues to crack wise as part of IAC/InterActiveCorp and CBS seems to have done well by CNET after acquiring it.
There are some parallels with the television world. The name NBC communicates very little other than generic bigness, while right now, FX, HBO, AMC and Showtime each convey a cachet that the big networks lack.
Business Insider has become marginally profitable in a short amount of time, Politico has begun to make money and TMZ has a sturdy enough Web brand that it was able to successfully build a television show of the same name. But all of them are hemmed in by the tyranny of small numbers.
Read more at the New York Times
Part of the problem is the result of a fundamental shift in Web behavior. Media stalwarts erected a frame around the Web and organized, and sometimes produced, content. Now the frame around content is the Web browser itself, and consumers do their own programming and are more inclined to see news consumption as a kind of voting, selecting smaller brands that reflect their sensibilities.
Many of the news sites that are now having success on the Web — Business Insider, Gawker and Mashable, to name a few — are built on sensibility, which is generally a product of a small group of like minds.
There are exceptions. TMZ has thrived as a division of Time Warner, College Humor continues to crack wise as part of IAC/InterActiveCorp and CBS seems to have done well by CNET after acquiring it.
There are some parallels with the television world. The name NBC communicates very little other than generic bigness, while right now, FX, HBO, AMC and Showtime each convey a cachet that the big networks lack.
Business Insider has become marginally profitable in a short amount of time, Politico has begun to make money and TMZ has a sturdy enough Web brand that it was able to successfully build a television show of the same name. But all of them are hemmed in by the tyranny of small numbers.
Read more at the New York Times
Magazine Newsstand Sales Halved from 2001-2011
The combined newsstand sales of 68 major American magazines declined by nearly half from 2001-2011, a MediaPost analysis of Audit Bureau of Circulations data revealed. According to ABC FAS-FAX circulation reports, this group of leading weekly and monthly magazines saw total average newsstand sales plunge from 22,019,953 in the six-month period ending June 2001 to 11,562,028 in the six-month period ending June 2011 -- a 47.5% decline over the course of the decade. Newsstand sales have declined steadily, dropping every single year from 2001-2011. After slowly declining from 22 million in 2001 to just over 17 million in 2007, shedding 23% over the course of seven years, the rate of loss increased from 2008 to 2011 -- shedding another 32% in just four years.
In one of the more ominous developments, women seem to be losing interest in many newsstand titles traditionally aimed at them, which are responsible for a large share of total newsstand sales.
Although magazine publishers are looking to sell both digital single copies and subscription intended for consumption with tablet computers, e-readers and online, digital newsstand sales remain fairly low. In August Time Inc. revealed that it had sold a total of about 600,000 digital copies of People, Time, Sports Illustrated and Fortune across all platforms, and Conde Nast said it had sold a total of about 106,000 digital editions of its various magazines through Apple's iTunes store in the preceding six weeks, per Adweek.
In one of the more ominous developments, women seem to be losing interest in many newsstand titles traditionally aimed at them, which are responsible for a large share of total newsstand sales.
Although magazine publishers are looking to sell both digital single copies and subscription intended for consumption with tablet computers, e-readers and online, digital newsstand sales remain fairly low. In August Time Inc. revealed that it had sold a total of about 600,000 digital copies of People, Time, Sports Illustrated and Fortune across all platforms, and Conde Nast said it had sold a total of about 106,000 digital editions of its various magazines through Apple's iTunes store in the preceding six weeks, per Adweek.
Read more here
Print Media Ad Revenues Continue To Slide
According to a recent note by UBS, print ad growth came in at negative 8.9%, below estimates of a 7.7% decline, to the benefit of other media segments which will receive funds flowing out of print media. Revenues on classified sections deteriorated substantially, with growth down to negative 10.9% versus estimates of a decline of 5.1%. National print advertising was marginally better than expected, falling 8.8% compared with estimates of a 10% drop.
UBS now estimates full year 2011 print advertising growth to fall 6.6%, while in 2012 they expect a decline of 5%, in both cases worse than their previous expectations.
With New York Times’ total company advertising declining 4% in the second quarter and no positive revisions on digital ad revenue growth, UBS now expects The Gray Lady’s third quarter advertising revenues to decline 5.5%.
Read more at Forbes
UBS now estimates full year 2011 print advertising growth to fall 6.6%, while in 2012 they expect a decline of 5%, in both cases worse than their previous expectations.
With New York Times’ total company advertising declining 4% in the second quarter and no positive revisions on digital ad revenue growth, UBS now expects The Gray Lady’s third quarter advertising revenues to decline 5.5%.
Read more at Forbes
Sunday, September 11
Report Details Rise of Social Media
Social media account for 22.5 percent of the time that Americans spend online, according to (a new Nielsen Company report), compared with 9.8 percent for online games and 7.6 percent for e-mail. That makes social media the No. 1 specific category and the No. 2 category over all, behind “other” ways Americans spend time online, among them perusing adult content, visiting retail Web sites and reading about subjects like sports and health.
The social media brand that Americans spend the most time with, the report finds, is Facebook, by an enormous margin. During May, when the report was compiled, Americans spent 53.5 billion minutes on facebook.com from computers at home and work. (That was up 6 percent from 50.6 billion minutes in May 2010.)
Behind Facebook during May was Blogger, at 723.8 million minutes; Tumblr, at 623.5 million minutes; Twitter, at 565.2 million minutes; and LinkedIn, at 325.7 million minutes.
Read ore at the New York Times
The social media brand that Americans spend the most time with, the report finds, is Facebook, by an enormous margin. During May, when the report was compiled, Americans spent 53.5 billion minutes on facebook.com from computers at home and work. (That was up 6 percent from 50.6 billion minutes in May 2010.)
Behind Facebook during May was Blogger, at 723.8 million minutes; Tumblr, at 623.5 million minutes; Twitter, at 565.2 million minutes; and LinkedIn, at 325.7 million minutes.
Read ore at the New York Times
Computer Generated Articles Gaining Traction
Narrative Science, a start-up in Evanston, Ill., offers proof of the progress of artificial intelligence — the ability of computers to mimic human reasoning. The innovative work at Narrative Science raises the broader issue of whether such applications of artificial intelligence will mainly assist human workers or replace them. Technology is already undermining the economics of traditional journalism... will “robot journalists” replace flesh-and-blood journalists in newsrooms?
The company, founded last year, has 20 customers so far. Narrative Science (earns) less than $10 for each article of about 500 words — and the price will very likely decline over time. Even at $10, the cost is far less, by industry estimates, than the average cost per article of local online news ventures like AOL’s Patch or answer sites, like those run by Demand Media.
Read more at the New York Times
The company, founded last year, has 20 customers so far. Narrative Science (earns) less than $10 for each article of about 500 words — and the price will very likely decline over time. Even at $10, the cost is far less, by industry estimates, than the average cost per article of local online news ventures like AOL’s Patch or answer sites, like those run by Demand Media.
Read more at the New York Times
Great digital expectations
In the first five months of this year sales of consumer e-books in America overtook those from adult hardback books. Just a year earlier hardbacks had been worth more than three times as much as e-books, according to the Association of American Publishers. Amazon now sells more copies of e-books than paper books. It accounts for less than a quarter of physical book sales. But Amazon sells 60-70% of e-books in America.
Read more at The Economist
Read more at The Economist
Disappearing ink
More quickly than almost anyone predicted, e-books are emerging as a serious alternative to the paper kind. Amazon, comfortably the biggest e-book retailer, has lowered the price of its Kindle e-readers to the point where people do not fear to take them to the beach. In America, the most advanced market, about one-fifth of the largest publishers’ sales are of e-books. Newly released blockbusters may sell as many digital copies as paper ones. The proportion is growing quickly, not least because many bookshops are closing.
The music and film industries have started to bundle electronic with physical versions of their products—by, for instance, providing those who buy a DVD of a movie with a code to download it from the internet. Publishers, similarly, should bundle e-books with paper books.
Read more atThe Economist
The music and film industries have started to bundle electronic with physical versions of their products—by, for instance, providing those who buy a DVD of a movie with a code to download it from the internet. Publishers, similarly, should bundle e-books with paper books.
Read more atThe Economist
Tuesday, September 6
5 Signs of an Online Lie
Words longer than eight letters: Long words aren’t typically used in day-to-day conversation, so people who deploy them may be trying too hard to sound authentic—when, in fact, they’re pulling the wool over your eyes.
A lack of me, myself, and I: “In deceptive text, expect fewer first-person pronouns,” says Subbalakshmi. “This is because deceivers try to dissociate themselves from their words. This is done to avoid personal responsibility for their behavior.”
Too much you: Text riddled with second-person pronouns like you, your, or y’all are also suspect. Often, it’s an attempt to deflect attention from the liar toward the person he’s trying to dupe.
No ifs, buts, or withouts: “Since lying requires cognitive resources, deceivers tend to tell a less complex story,” explains Subbalakshmi. “They typically do not distinguish between various branches in the story. This could be characterized in the form of a fewer number of exclusive words, like except, but, or without.”
A lot of hate, sad, and bad: “The act of deception induces short-term as well as long-term guilt,” says Subbalakshmi. “This leads to a higher frequency of negative emotion words.”
Read more at Mental Floss
E-books' popularity is rewriting the sales story
"It's been a watershed year for e-books," says Tina Jordan of the Association of American Publishers. "Any publisher will tell you that a best-selling title from a branded author can run upwards of 30% to 40% in digital sales."
Despite surges in new technology and strong e-reader and e-book sales, print books are holding their own; publishers see them as key for the future. They want consumers to have many choices in reading formats and ease of buying.
Read more at USA Today
Despite surges in new technology and strong e-reader and e-book sales, print books are holding their own; publishers see them as key for the future. They want consumers to have many choices in reading formats and ease of buying.
Read more at USA Today
Monday, September 5
Book Challenges
US schools have banned more than 20 books and faced more than 50 other challenges this year, the American Library Association reports, and many more are expected this fall.
Read more at USA Today
Read more at USA Today
Spotting the pirates
Since 2000, when the file-sharing service Napster first became popular, digital piracy has dogged the media industry. As broadband speeds have increased, pirates have gone from downloading single songs to grabbing artists’ entire catalogues. Yet piracy has not exactly swept the world. It is endemic in some countries but a niche activity in others. Media piracy is more common in the developing world than in the rich world. The most piratical countries are places like China, Nigeria and Russia, where virtually all media that is not downloaded illegally is sold in the form of knock-off CDs and DVDs.
Read more at The Economist
Read more at The Economist
Sunday, September 4
Newspaper Revenues Slip 7%
The latest figures from the Newspaper Association of America show total newspaper advertising revenues (including print and online) decreasing 6.9% from $6.43 billion in the second quarter of 2010 to $5.99 billion in the second quarter. This is the 20th straight quarter to see year-over-year declines in total advertising revenue.
Online advertising continued to enjoy a healthy growth rate. However, the proportion of total revenues derived from online advertising remains relatively modest, at 15.5%, up from 11.6% in the same quarter of 2010.
As in previous quarters, the revenue declines were spread fairly evenly across the major advertising categories.
Read more here
Online advertising continued to enjoy a healthy growth rate. However, the proportion of total revenues derived from online advertising remains relatively modest, at 15.5%, up from 11.6% in the same quarter of 2010.
As in previous quarters, the revenue declines were spread fairly evenly across the major advertising categories.
Read more here
Winners and Losers: The Changing Media Ad Landscape, 1980-2011
Anyone who follows the media business cannot fail to be impressed by how much -- and how fast -- the media landscape has changed in recent decades. In addition to the rapid evolution of media technology and consumption habits, one of the most remarkable trends has been the upheaval in the advertising landscape.
They include the rise of the Internet, the continued expansion of cable TV, and the dramatic decline of print -- especially newspapers. Plus, broadcast TV and radio are struggling to hold on to their share, in a situation where the only certainty is further change, as a continuing economic downturn accelerates long-term secular shifts.
The following is a quick overview of the changing media landscape, including winners, losers and everyone in between.
Read more here
They include the rise of the Internet, the continued expansion of cable TV, and the dramatic decline of print -- especially newspapers. Plus, broadcast TV and radio are struggling to hold on to their share, in a situation where the only certainty is further change, as a continuing economic downturn accelerates long-term secular shifts.
The following is a quick overview of the changing media landscape, including winners, losers and everyone in between.
Read more here
Thursday, September 1
Google and Facebook Top Web Brands
Initial Nielsen results for its new "Total
Internet Audience" metric, which looks to aggregate usage at home, work
and elsewhere, shows Google led Facebook handily in unique users in
July. Add Google with sibling YouTube and that figure is not far from
doubling Facebook.
Facebook, however, topped other sites in the top 10 in time spent per person, with an average of five hours and 19 minutes, a figure Nielsen said is actually under-reported due to an alteration in data gathering. The next closest was AOL Media Network at two hours and 18 minutes.
Read more here
Facebook, however, topped other sites in the top 10 in time spent per person, with an average of five hours and 19 minutes, a figure Nielsen said is actually under-reported due to an alteration in data gathering. The next closest was AOL Media Network at two hours and 18 minutes.
Read more here
Wednesday, August 31
Tablets Trump Smartphones For M-Commerce
Smartphones may be good for mobile shopping, but tablets are where buying gets done. That's the implication of new research from e-commerce software firm Ability Commerce, which shows the iPad has driven more revenues for retail clients than smartphones, even though handsets account for the bulk of their mobile traffic.
Read more here
Google and Facebook Top Web Brands
Initial Nielsen results for its new "Total
Internet Audience" metric, which looks to aggregate usage at home, work
and elsewhere, shows Google led Facebook handily in unique users in
July. Add Google with sibling YouTube and that figure is not far from
doubling Facebook.
Facebook, however, topped other sites in the top 10 in time spent per person, with an average of five hours and 19 minutes, a figure Nielsen said is actually under-reported due to an alteration in data gathering. The next closest was AOL Media Network at two hours and 18 minutes.
Read more here
Facebook, however, topped other sites in the top 10 in time spent per person, with an average of five hours and 19 minutes, a figure Nielsen said is actually under-reported due to an alteration in data gathering. The next closest was AOL Media Network at two hours and 18 minutes.
Read more here
Tuesday, August 30
Study Reveals Facebook Age Gap: Older Users Don't 'Like' It, But Are More Likely To Click Through
Don't expect Facebook users age 50+ to "Like" a product or service in an ad, but do expect them to click through to the landing page or Web site, according to a new study.
The study from SocialCode... shows that for ads with a "Like" button, older Facebook users tend to click through to the Web site, while younger users tend to "Like" something in the Facebook ad. Consumers age 50 and older, the oldest segment in the study, are 28.2% more likely to click through and 9% less likely to click "Like," compared with those ages 18 to 29, the youngest group monitored.
Think about the goals of the brand. If the brand appeals to younger men, and the marketer wants to build up a Fan base, (the study) suggests deploying the "like" technology. When doing that know a more mature female audience will not likely respond to this type of ad, she said. Age influences CTRs for women much more than men.
It may take longer for the older audience to become comfortable with this technology. They seem to take more time and consider the offer before acting on it."
Read more here
The study from SocialCode... shows that for ads with a "Like" button, older Facebook users tend to click through to the Web site, while younger users tend to "Like" something in the Facebook ad. Consumers age 50 and older, the oldest segment in the study, are 28.2% more likely to click through and 9% less likely to click "Like," compared with those ages 18 to 29, the youngest group monitored.
Think about the goals of the brand. If the brand appeals to younger men, and the marketer wants to build up a Fan base, (the study) suggests deploying the "like" technology. When doing that know a more mature female audience will not likely respond to this type of ad, she said. Age influences CTRs for women much more than men.
It may take longer for the older audience to become comfortable with this technology. They seem to take more time and consider the offer before acting on it."
Read more here
First Circuit upholds right to record public police action
The United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that there is a clearly-established First Amendment right to film police officers performing their duties in a public space.
Read more here
Read more here
Monday, August 29
Hispanic media faring better than mainstream media
Hispanic newspapers overall — weekly and daily — lost circulation in 2010, but not nearly to the extent of the English-language press, reports Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. Spanish-language television had an even more positive year, with Univision now competing with — and in some timeslots outpacing — audiences for ABC, CBS and NBC. On the digital front, while Hispanic Americans don’t access the Internet at the same rates as other Americans, there is growth, and bilingual Latinos are already heavily online. Hispanic radio and magazines also showed growth, according to the PEJ study.
Read more here
Read more here
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