WAN-IFRA_TechGuideDirectory_2021
The fallout of the ongoing pandemic for the news media industry remains a bit of a mystery. But its initial impact is clear and has been well-documented: a brutal decline in advertising revenue (already tipping that way pre-pandemic) – particularly in print.
So we won’t dwell on that in this publication – that would be too easy. Instead, here we will talk about the silver lining(s) that always emerge during a crisis.
It is true that the “Change or Die” or “Now or Never” pleas from news executives and media analysts during the pandemic carry more weight and urgency than they have in the past years.
And I would say those pleas are not falling on deaf ears; in fact, it looks like most news publishers around the world are “answering the bell,” so to speak.
As we have heard from hundreds of news executives and experts during our virtual events over the past nine months, their newsrooms, businesses, production facilities have been tested like never before. But for the most part, they not only adapted quickly during the crisis, they proved to be agile, innovative, increasingly experimental and resilient.
It has also brought more of a singular focus to their core purpose, strategies, content and products. And as always, technology has played a central role in all of that.
As more publishers move to an audiences-first focus, their ability to leverage quality data (increasingly first-party) will pave the way toward a more sustainable business and future. As our report about the tech associated with a reader revenue strategy clearly revealed (see page 8), a comprehensive, coherent data strategy is imperative. And that is critical not only for reader revenue strategies but across the board. That strategy will inform every part of the business.
Product development has taken on an even greater importance during the pandemic as newsrooms and publishers sometimes need to pivot to the right product at the right time, or tweak something that can prove a game-changer. To be able to do that, culture is the key, says Anita Zielina on page 12.
Increasingly, new technologies like AI are playing a role for publishers – whether it be for content creation or helping to surface content for digital subscriptions or predicting churn. But it is also being considered in production. Check out page 14 for the latest hype vs. reality advice.
That’s just a few examples of recommendations we have in the Guide part of this edition. Finding the right technology partners has never been more crucial, and this Directory of our member suppliers should prove invaluable in choosing yours.
– Dean Roper, Director of Insights