• California Bill Would Require Facebook, Google To Pay “Journalism Usage Fee”

Back in December, after the sudden dropping of a bipartisan bill that would have allowed media organizations to jointly negotiate revenue-sharing agreements with Big Tech companies, there was uncertainty about what the media’s next move would be in this ongoing struggle for fair compensation for the content they create. Last week, a California State Assemblymember took that next step, introducing the California Journalism Preservation Act, which would require platforms such as Google and Facebook to pay a “journalism usage fee” to news publishers in order to use local-based content. 

• The State of Relevant Search and Where It’s Going

Here’s a hard truth: if your search solution isn’t turning around relevant results, it’s hurting you more than it’s helping you. Delivering relevant search is a layered challenge that requires a combination of numerous tools and technologies. 

• AI Startup Finds Ads Have Just 920 Milliseconds To Hook You

Fractal Analytics, a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI) for companies like Pepsi, P&G and Visa, has announced a new framework that uses neuroscience to study how people make purchasing decisions based on ads — offering a solution for ecommerce brands to increase their conversion rates. Fractal says the click-through rate (CTR) of banner ads is at an all-time low, and the company believes it is crucial to understand the thought processes behind consumer engagement with digital stimuli.

• [Report] State of Social Conversational Commerce 2023

People today do everything on their phones. They want to engage with brands on social media in more personalized ways. That’s why conversational commerce on social is quickly becoming a major strategic marketing investment for brands.

• Fountain of Youth: Majority of Young Americans Paying For Their News

Who says young people aren’t paying for news? According to a new report from the American Press Institute, 60% of Americans under the age of 40 are paying for or donating to news in some capacity, including 51% of Gen Z (ages 16-24), 63% of younger Millennials (25-31), and 67% of older Millennials (32-40).

• How Can Publishers Sell More Online Subscriptions? Lower The Price, Survey Says

Cost is the most important factor when consumers are deciding when they are more or less likely to pay for an online subscription, according to new research shared exclusively with Press Gazette. Over a third (39%) of Britons and 42% of Americans reported being tempted by a lower paywall price.

• Research: News Companies Are Overly Reliant On Conversions As A Metric

There are many buzzwords flying around in the digital subscriptions industry. “Conversions” is a particularly common one. But do conversions automatically equal more revenue? No, not really, according to Alexander Kreybig, director of strategic services at Piano. 

• Personalization, Relevancy & the Rise of AI

With 74% of customers feeling frustrated when website content isn’t customized, it’s clear that personalization is a crucial aspect of digital publishing that can’t be overlooked.  With today’s generations expecting relevant content from their experiences, it’s down to publishers to employ personalization tactics that increase engagement and drive business success.

• News Feed: Following the Money in Meta’s Journalism Investments

With so much made of Google and Meta’s stranglehold on digital advertising spend nowadays, anyone who isn’t a media professional or lawmaker could be forgiven for momentarily forgetting about what might be considered the duopoly’s original sin in their relationship with the publishing industry.

• Over Half Of Media Workers Fear AI Will Take Their Jobs: Study

Media workers fear that AI could replace them, according to a study by FreelanceWritingJobs.com. Of the media employees polled, 52% worry that AI will make their profession redundant. In contrast, 35% of all Americans have the same concern. 

• Global Advertising & Marketing Spending Forecast 2023-2027

PQ Media’s unrivaled coverage of the global media economy provides you with media spending and growth pacing for 2023 and our expert insights and forecasts for what’s ahead in 2024-2027, including in-depth coverage of both the advertising and marketing sectors; 15 hybrid traditional & digital media silos; 10 overall digital & alternative media platforms; 45 digital & alternative media channels therein; and 11 traditional media platforms.

• The 2023 State of Pipeline Generation

In a perfect marketing world, we would know exactly what levers we have to pull to drive growth. In reality, many of us are still having a hard time coming up with the perfect marketing mix required to hit our targets while keeping acquisition costs low.

• Publishing in the AI Era: Where Is AI-Generated Content Preferred?

I’ve written about ChatGPT on the Magazine Manager blog before, specifically on how it compares to and might ultimately surpass Google in terms of Search. Now, a new survey asked American adults how they feel about AI-generated content, and across a wide spectrum of media, more than half of the respondents prefer their content made by humans.

• 58% of Enterprise Marketers Plan To Use AI For SEO, Study Finds

There has been much discussion around search engine optimization (SEO) professionals creating content from ChatGPT-type models, but who is planning to use this? Some 58% of enterprise marketers plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) for SEO and to create content in 2023, but only 10% actively use it today to drive content generation, according to data from BrightEdge.

• New Vericast Survey Highlights Advertising Paradox

A recent consumer survey by Vericast validated a paradox about personal data that puts marketers in a tough spot. When it comes to digital advertising, consumers want a custom experience – but not at the expense of privacy. The survey found that consumers want to see targeted ads, but they also want to understand how advertisers use the information they collect. 

• 70% of Publishers See Newsletters As An Area For Investment in 2023

Newsletters are having a moment: this year’s Reuters Institute Predictions report showed that almost 70% of publishers saw newsletters as an area for investment. According to WAN-IFRA, 50% of publishers already offer between one and five newsletters, with the other 50% offering more. For publishers looking to expand their lineup, Twipe’s Matthew Lynes has three suggestions for additional newsletter formats.

• ChatGPT vs. Google — Searching For The Best

The tech world has seen its fair share of Greatest Battles of All Time. But there’s one currently brewing that has captured the attention of industry after industry, with the rewards and consequences having effects on countless aspects of everyday life. It’s Google versus ChatGPT — and the hype is legit!

 

• Publishers: The Business Case For Diversity and Inclusion

One of the first interviews I did for the Media Voices podcast this year was with Richard Reeves, CEO at the UK’s Association for Online Publishers. We spoke for almost half an hour about diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the UK media. The irony of two white men of a certain age discussing the importance of D&I didn’t escape me and I prefaced the interview with a statement saying exactly that.

 

• “Less is More” in Marketing, Fatigued Consumers Say

Marketing fatigue happens when consumers become overwhelmed or disengaged with marketing messages due to the volume or repetition of advertising. It is the feeling of being bombarded with too much marketing content that is often irrelevant or uninteresting, leading to a decrease in response rates or engagement.  

 

• Global Consumer Trends Index 2023

This report digs deep into what US consumers specifically expect from your brand as they look to make decisions with their wallet. The data covers attitudes and trends across email, SMS, mobile behavior, loyalty, privacy, cookies and so much more.