The hottest Media Trends Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Old Media Finally Wakes Up from a Coma

The Honest Broker • 31251 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
📰 News Media Trends Journalism Digital Platforms Public Discourse Audience engagement
  1. Old media is realizing that it needs to change in order to survive. They can't continue doing things the same way as before.
  2. Influencers and new media figures like Joe Rogan and Elon Musk are now more powerful than traditional journalists. Their ability to reach large audiences is forcing old media to adapt.
  3. Legacy media organizations, like CNN and the New York Times, are starting to imitate the styles and formats of new media to attract viewers. They are trying to be more conversational and engaging.

The paywall dilemma

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 399 implied HN points • 12 Feb 25
💼 Business Media Trends Creator Economy Subscription Models Digital Platforms Content Strategy
  1. Hiding articles behind a paywall can lower subscription rates. Many readers feel they've gotten enough info from just the headline and first few lines, so they don’t feel the need to pay.
  2. The creator economy is growing, with many people earning six-figure incomes from smaller audiences. This means that you don’t need a huge following to be successful anymore.
  3. Media companies, like BuzzFeed, are shifting to build their own social networks. This helps them keep audiences engaged on their own platforms and improves their chances of future success.

Does Opinion Have A Point?

Castalia • 439 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Trends Public Discourse Political Commentary
  1. Opinions in media are becoming more common, replacing traditional news reporting. This shift has made journalism feel more like a noisy argument rather than a calm exchange of facts.
  2. There are different ways to view opinion writing: as a policy statement, a persuasive tool, or a personal expression. Each approach serves its own purpose and can impact how people think.
  3. It's okay for opinions to be more casual and conversational. They don't always have to aim for a specific conclusion or action, allowing for a more relaxed way of sharing ideas.
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✅ Five trends shaping the future of the corporate communications function

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 29 Apr 24
💼 Business Communications Public Relations Corporate strategy Media Trends AI Integration
  1. Organizations need to manage the overload of information so they can provide real value to their audience. It's important to focus on what really matters and make content that stands out.
  2. AI is changing how communications work, so leaders should learn about it and train their teams. Embracing AI can help improve efficiency and effectiveness.
  3. The workforce is shifting, and companies must adapt to these changes. This means rethinking hiring practices and engaging a diverse range of talents to meet future needs.

The movie business changed. Why haven’t the Oscars?

Jon’s Newsletter • 79 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Film Industry Streaming services Media Trends
  1. The Oscars haven't changed much, even though the movie industry has, primarily due to the rise of streaming services. Many people are not going to theaters like they used to.
  2. Some industry leaders believe that theatrical releases still hold value because they create buzz and marketing benefits for films. However, there's a shift towards focusing on profitability instead of just subscriber numbers for streaming services.
  3. Streaming platforms see the Oscars as a way to gain credibility and visibility in Hollywood. Some are investing in theatrical releases to strengthen their case for Oscar relevance.

The "Great Awokening" Is Winding Down

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 39 implied HN points • 08 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Social Issues Cultural Shifts Workplace dynamics Media Trends
  1. The period of intense social change and activism known as the 'Great Awokening' that began after 2011 appears to be losing momentum, with shifts in discourse, norms, and outputs slowing or reversing in knowledge economy fields and institutions.
  2. Knowledge economy professionals became more socially and politically radical over the past decade, leading to significant changes in protest activity, workplace dynamics, media content, and political alignments in the U.S.
  3. There are indications of a cultural shift away from intense focus on social justice issues among younger generations, resulting in reevaluation by multinational corporations, universities, and social media platforms of their involvement in culture wars and identity politics.

✅ Monday briefing: WaddsCon, media challenges, COVID-19 lessons, timesheet debate, value of public relations, B Corp and big business, shit posting, anti social strategy, non apology, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 30 May 22
💼 Business Public Relations Media Trends Crisis Management Corporate strategy Industry insights
  1. Building good relationships with journalists is important for public relations. Learning how to pitch effectively can make a big difference in communication.
  2. Public relations played a crucial role during COVID-19, helping organizations manage crises and support transformations. This has increased the value of PR in many businesses.
  3. Some companies are criticized for being B Corp certified, but it's actually a positive step towards driving change in the business world. Large companies can still have a big impact.

✅ Monday briefing #14: Beating ennui, Blockbuster moment, CIPR election, local people Ofcom data dump, Social Dilemma rebuttal, Facebook groups boom...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 05 Oct 20
🕹 Technology Social media Digital Tools Media Trends Online Communities Data Privacy
  1. People are feeling a bit down due to the ongoing crisis, but experts say this feeling will pass with time.
  2. Cinemas are closing in the UK, which is a big loss for communities that enjoy the shared movie experience.
  3. Facebook groups have become super popular, with 1.8 billion users connecting through them during the pandemic.

In praise of the internet's house parties

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 19 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Social media Internet culture Online Communities Influencers Media Trends
  1. Mastodon is a social media platform that offers a different experience from Twitter, focusing on small community interactions and lack of performance pressure.
  2. Twitter and Mastodon have distinct differences in their approach to user engagement, with Mastodon being more about community and less about chasing popularity.
  3. The internet landscape is evolving, with trends like declining social media usage and changes in online media consumption, signaling a shift towards new platforms and content styles.

✅ Monday briefing: Threadbare

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Social media Artificial Intelligence Data Privacy Digital Culture Media Trends
  1. Meta launched a new app called Threads, similar to Twitter, and it quickly gained 90 million users. It's seen as a part of the ongoing rivalry between tech billionaires Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
  2. Meta is collecting a lot of user data through Threads, which could help improve their AI tools. People should be careful about what they share on the platform.
  3. There’s a noticeable trend in media where AI is being tested for editorial tasks but needs to be combined with human input for the best results. Relying solely on AI can lead to errors.

✅ Monday briefing: Waddscon on AI in PR, issues radar, Google Analytics switch, GPT3 Google docs, TikTok for text, IP overreach, British Gas fury, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 06 Feb 23
🕹 Technology AI Tools Media Trends Data Analytics
  1. Waddscon is an event focused on how AI is changing public relations and marketing. It will feature experts discussing tools and the future of work.
  2. Google Analytics will switch to GA4 soon, and users need to set it up to avoid automatic changes. It's important to take control of your data tracking.
  3. A new app called Artifact is like TikTok but for text, helping users discover and read articles based on their interests.

✅ Media Briefing #24: Characterising COVID-19 impact, internal NHS comms, PR planning, news shakeup, AI editorial fail, thematic text analysis, AI incidents database, and more

Wadds Inc. newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 20
💼 Business Public Relations Media Trends Communication Health Impact AI Ethics
  1. COVID-19 has hit the PR industry hard, causing a decline of about £1.6 billion in 2020. Many entry-level jobs and diversity efforts have been affected.
  2. To combat misinformation in health and science, it's important for journalists to understand science better and for scientists to be aware of how media works.
  3. Social media platforms are facing calls for change, like banning anonymity to hold users accountable for their behavior online.