The InPublishing Podcast

James Evelegh talks to Jim Bilton about the results of this year's Media Shapers poll, which asked two questions: 'Which individual do you think is currently having the biggest impact on the shape of the media business - for good or ill' and 'Which companies are leading the industry at the moment?'. They talked about:'terminator wars in media world': publishing in the era of AIthe evolving media perceptions of tech leaders Elon Musk, Sam Altman and Mark Zuckerbergthe growing influence of TikTok and its impact on news mediahow content consumption patterns are changingthe paucity of influential publishing leaders, although Meridith Levien and Joshi Herrmann make the listthe continuing influence of nonagenarian Rupert Murdochthe destructive impact on the media of Vladimir Putinthe significance of influencers like Taylor Swift and Gary Linekerwhich companies are leading the way in each publishing sector: B2B, consumer and news mediahow the Media Shapers survey dovetails with Jim's Media Futures projectand lots more...(This interview was recorded on 13th September.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Jim Bilton about the results of this year's Media Shapers poll, which asked the question, 'Which individual do you think is going to have the biggest impact on the shape of the overall media business in 2023 (for good or ill)? And why?'. They talked about:Jim's belief that it's still people that make things happen in the media businessthe "unprecedented challenges" facing the media businessthe two individuals who topped the poll, neither of whom even appeared in the last surveywhy recent advances in AI mean that "the world of publishing will never be the same again"why Rupert Murdoch appeared in the first poll, this poll, and will probably feature in the next one toohow the opposing leaders in the Russia / Ukraine war "both share a common understanding of the power of the media"the growth of influencers, and how they are becoming more politicalwhy the current culture secretary features in the poll even though she's only been in the job since Februarywhat B2C can learn from B2B and vice versahow the findings of the Media Shapers poll dovetail with Jim's wider benchmarking project, Media Futuresand lots more...(This interview was recorded on 27th April.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Sajeeda Merali, CEO of the PPA, about: the PPA's focus on people, product and audiencehow communication lies at the heart of all successful business transformationsthe evolution of ‘sales' and how it has moved away from selling by platform to selling by audiencethe skill-sets successful sales teams now requirethe PPA's role in “unpacking the complicated stuff”why there is still a long way to go on ED&I but how the publishing sector is well placed to drive changewhy, when it comes to ED&I, everyone can do something, whether you're a multi-national or a team of threehow an executive coach helped her think differently about her careerwhat the PPA hopes to achieve with its upcoming hackathonthe state of play regarding the ‘digital markets unit' and the ‘online safety bill'and, why despite the challenging outlook, she remains optimistic about publishing's future: the surfeit of “misinformation and fake news highlights the value of good journalism”and much more...(This interview was recorded on 7th October.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Claire Hodgson, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan UK, about: why putting the finishing touches to their 50th birthday issue was a “pinch-me moment”how they went about growing their digital audiencewhy print remains a key pillar for the brand: “it's a shop window and has a huge halo effect on the rest of what we do”embracing the new and being excited about changewanting Cosmo to be its audience's “best friend”the importance of data, but why it can never replace the work of skilled editorial teamswhy she insists on their entertainment coverage being fair, considered and fact-checkedthe importance of sincerity: “our audience does not have time for performative behaviour and can smell it a mile off”why magazine brands have to be clear about what they stand for and believe in itwhy, in today's gender-fluid, non-binary world, there is no such thing as a “typical” Cosmo readerwhy they have a responsibility to talk about the “tough stuff”, but also the latest must-have mascara for a Saturday night outhow digital and social success comes from investing in great people; there are no short cutswhy each of a publishing brand's platforms should behave like pureplayshow the secret of e-commerce success is great content and authenticitywhy she's excited about ‘Summerverse', Cosmo's first venture onto the metaverse: “a lot of fun, so much opportunity”and much more...(This interview was recorded on 25th August.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Dave Musgrove, content director, history, at Immediate Media, about: their HistoryExtra podcast hitting the twin milestones of 15 years & 150m downloadshow they're marking the milestones with a new series: '15 minutes of fame'introducing a UGC element to their podcastsdos & don'ts of creating a successful podcasthow the podcast started as a marketing channel but is now a monetisable producthow the HistoryExtra podcast team manages to deliver such prolific outputwhy the Bayeux Tapestry still resonates todaywhy they've put a paywall on the HistoryExtra websitetheir key paywall learnings to datehis thinking on incorporating a more "clubbable element" to the HistoryExtra offeringhis hopes for a possible new lease of life for the newsstand post-pandemicand much more...(This interview was recorded on 23rd June.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Alex White, MD (Food and Parenting) at Immediate Media, about: what it takes to create a great publishing brandhow data is the engine room at Immediate Mediathe brilliance of the BBC Good Food editorial team at identifying and anticipating audience moodtesting the water with paid-for content through their new appthe multiple opportunities that have arisen from their busy Facebook communitythe editorial challenge of moving from one global crisis to anothermaking loyalty & engagement their strategic prioritiesthe keys to success in the competitive parenting market their diversity initiatives ("we're on a journey but our content is much the better for it")her experience as founder director of the AOPwhat excites her most about the future of consumer mediaand much more...(This interview was recorded on 28th April.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Emily Ferguson, Ecommerce Director at Marie Claire, about: the recent launch of Marie Claire Edit USAthe key pillars of ecommerce successwhy the tech you use will either "make or break" your ecommerce operationwhy adopting an agile approach, based on test and learning, is so importanthow successful ecommerce relies on lots of different things (SEO, on-site optimisation etc) working in harmonywhy she makes sure she is looped into all customer servicesher advice for publishers starting on the ecommerce journey ("start small, start slow")and more...(This interview was recorded on 24th March.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Gavin Thompson, Newsquest's regional editor for Wales, about: their decision to launch The National last year (in part due to London-based news media not fully understanding Welsh needs)about its mission to promote a sense of Welsh identity and pride in the countryits three core content pillars (Welsh culture, the devolution settlement & social justice)how print was an important part of their launch, and might be an important part of their future, but for now, is a distractionhow the new title fits in with Newsquest's existing Welsh titlesits dual focus on growing digital subs and audience reachhow newsletters will play an important role in subscriber retentionwhy they (indeed all journalists) need to get better at "talking about ourselves"how regional media has reached a tipping point and is becoming a growth business againwhy audience performance is such a key driver of business successthe importance of "feet on the ground" as opposed to reporting from a bedroom 200 miles awayand much more...(This interview was recorded on 6th January.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Rosie Nixon, editor-in-chief of HELLO! Magazine, about: her new book 'Be kind' ("my lockdown baby")why HELLO! wears its kindness as a "badge of honour"why she has no hesitation in blocking toxic online comments; "they don't have a place in our world"how HELLO! responded to Covid, when glossy photo-shoots were harder to come bymaking royal coverage their USPwhy HELLO! is a multi-platform brand, but "print still sets the tone"making HELLO! a 24/7 brand and engaging with younger readers through Tik Tok et alwhy depth and exclusivity are what separates their content from the huge volumes of celebrity content available onlinewhy the office environment is still important ("as a journalist, you need to be seeing other people")why the future of publishing must be underpinned by a deep understanding of audience needs and... being agileand much more...(This interview was recorded on 30th November.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Tabitha Stapely, founder & director of Social Streets, about: • being a digital first publisher launching a print magazine• their 'minimum viable product' approach• the hyperlocal community-led journalism model• the importance of community outreach and her aim to get people to fall in love with the place they live in• trying to become financially sustainable as a 'community interest company'• her journey from GQ intern to independent local publisher• her ambition to increase UGC and make 'Roman Road London' and their other sites, platforms for the whole community• the tech challenge facing all hyperlocal sites• why hyperlocal publishers should unite to facilitate ad selling across sites• why she thinks values-based publishing might be the way forward for the consumer magazine sector she used to work in• and much more(This interview was recorded on 18th November.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Rory Brown, co-founder & CEO of AgriBriefing, about: • how good media is user-centric, not platform-centric• their journey from traditional B2B publisher to data business• how selling high value corporate subscriptions requires a different mindset• how success in the commodity pricing market is based on trust• why "volatility is our friend"• why he sees AgriBriefing being an integral part of the agri industry, not just a media company reporting on it• how his career has come full circle and how what was not fashionable in the early 90s is now• why B2B is all about helping the audience do their job better• his ambition to be one step ahead of his customers, offering them things they don't yet know they need• their ambitions to be a dominant player in the commodity pricing market• why good strategy is as much about what you don't do, as what you do do• why being a magpie and a collector of good ideas will always serve business leaders well • and much more(This interview was recorded on 4th November.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Uwern Jong, founder & editor-in-chief of OutThere, about: • why his preferred title is 'experientialist-in-chief'• why publishing should be as much about delivering inspiration, as information• why he's still in love with print ("there's nothing as tactile or experiential")• his approach to the pandemic ("I'm a glass half full type of person and not one to wallow in doom & gloom") and helping his audience to #keepyourmindtravelling• how the pandemic gave them a chance to take stock and work out what's really important for OutThere• how the publishing world is taking steps to become more inclusive, but "there's still a long way to go".• why every company should have a diversity strategy• how travel helps expand your horizons and make you a better person• his most memorable travel experience and which two destinations are top of his bucket list• why he believes that publishers should focus on creating outstanding content and ditch the clickbait• and much more(This interview was recorded on 21st October.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Will Page, author and former chief economist at Spotify, about: • what publishers can learn from his book 'Tarzan Economics: Eight Principles in Pivoting Through Disruption' • how the music industry was the first to suffer and the first to recover• how consumption is not the problem, monetisation is• how industries, when they face disruption, shouldn't fight change, but build something that's better than before ... "change is happening regardless"• how tech kills friction ("publishing still has a lot of friction")• how the future of publishing might be catering to the extremes: bargain & luxury• what lessons publishers can take from the rebirth of vinyl• how publishers need to aim much higher as their current subs numbers are "missing zeros"• how publishers can rethink the challenges they face• how the redesign of King's Cross station was publishing's "Napster moment"• why we should actually listen to customers: "customers have pulses, dashboards don't"• and much more…(This interview was recorded on 4th October.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Jo Allan, chief executive of Newsworks, about: • why the news media sector needs to tell a consistent and unified story• why younger readers have often turned to mainstream news brands during the pandemic• the industry's largest ever collaboration and the opportunities it presents in the future• Newsworks' efforts to raise awareness of blocklists (a "blunt tool")• their latest ad effectiveness research and how they're targeting brands who are under-investing in news media• how their biggest challenge is shifting perceptions in younger media planners• what news media can learn from the success of the big social media platforms• why the industry's efforts to improve diversity and inclusion are so important• and much more…(This interview was recorded on 21st September.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Helen Fish, group chief executive of Executive Grapevine, about: • their transition from traditional publisher to marketing services company focused on lead generation• the importance of research and understanding your readers: "you've got to walk the steps with your readers".• how GDPR was the biggest opportunity to take market share• why 'time on page' is the key metric• why the future is in personalised content (though the audience might not be ready for it yet)• delivering an outstanding experience to all stakeholders through putting people first• the constant search for improvement: "I don't believe in relaunches; change happens daily".• why she has no intention of going back to being an office based business• her thoughts on the future of events - virtual vs in-person• the critical importance of having unique, sticky content: "invest in your journalists and you will reap the rewards".• and much more…(This interview was recorded on 12th August.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Alex Kersten, editor-in-chief of Car Throttle, about: • passing the 3m subscriber mark on YouTube and becoming desensitised to the numbers• how they specialise in “relatable content”, videos their millennial audience can “watch on a Friday and replicate on a Saturday”• why the secret of successful branded content is “knowing your audience and not alienating them with branded content they're not going to be interested in, no matter what the monetary reward”• what other journalists thinking of stepping in front of the camera need to do: “know your audience and speak to them on their level, and… research the hell out of the subject” (and “be you, but on a really good day”)• why you need to be ruthless when editing and cut the waffle. If you think something's funny, listen back to it three times to make sure.• his new responsibilities as editor-in-chief, that include better aligning the three pillars of the brand: YouTube / web / social• Car Throttle's plans for the future: “there's no limit to how big it can get”• the secrets of success on social media, including posting consistently to ensure you remain top of people's feeds, showing a personality that people can relate to, and collaboration – “caring is sharing, especially online”• and much more…(This interview was recorded on 5th August.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, Air Business, a market-leader in distribution and subscription management services for the publishing industry. Its end-to-end service includes subscriber acquisition and marketing strategy, worldwide distribution, digital, mail and e-commerce fulfilment, and warehouse and freight logistics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Marie Davies, managing director at Immediate Media Co, about: • why subs and recurring revenues are the key to success and the bedrock of their business• why affiliates offer an exciting new revenue stream with the challenge being to create a seamless user experience• how their craft titles have helped alleviate mental health issues during lockdown• how the subs file on their craft titles has grown 45% in the last twelve months, partly on the back of new millennial crafters• the strategic thinking behind the merging (digitally speaking) of all their craft brands into their new site, gathered.how• their new weekly newsletter strategy• how, for a specialist title, readers have a sense of ownership. The titles "belong to them".• the importance of setting clear objectives and KPIs for social media activity• why video will play an increasingly important role in the future of their craft titles• why she's excited about the future: "I think the entire business is a really exciting place to be; there's always something new to learn".• and much more...(This interview was recorded on 1st July.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Jim Bilton, creator of the recent mediaONmedia survey, about: • how rewatching Citizen Kane during lockdown got him looking into what other media films were out there• how what started out as a bit of "lockdown fun" has thrown up fascinating insights into the present state of the media sector• why a film from the 1970s encapsulates what journalism is all about• which recent news media events might make good material for a future film• why the newsroom provides such fertile ground for TV gold• why former Sunday Times editor Harold Evans dominates the book lists• the enduring appeal of Evelyn Waugh's Scoop• why he added a supplementary question about the "most influential people in the media" and the interesting people it threw up• how someone described by one survey respondent as "clueless and conscious-free" dominates world media today• the prospect of Trump, the media mogul• and much more...(This interview was recorded on 10th June.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Sharon Cooper, chief digital officer at The Economist Intelligence Unit, about: • the nature of organisational change: people want change until they actually have to make the change• why she sees her role as not automating people out of a job, but automating them into a better job• how EIU's new Viewpoint product focuses on the user experience, allowing for both 'deep dive' and 'horizon scan' usage• how expectations of website design have changed: users now expect everything to be as simple as the best B2C experience• why business information providers should avoid getting "too fancy"• how, with clients increasingly being able to access the data themselves, business information providers need to remain laser focused on where they add value• the rise of real-time data and how to avoid data overload• how to embed yourself into a client's workflow without getting in the way• why there's nothing necessarily wrong with legacy tech, just legacy tech that's not looked after• why clients and users are both the biggest threat and the biggest opportunity to business information providers• and much more... (This interview was recorded on 27th May.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Ed Walker, audience and content director (regionals) and editor-in-chief of InYourArea.co.uk, at Reach PLC, about: • what he learned working in some of Reach's regional newsrooms• quickly growing a digital audience in Birmingham• how InYourArea grew exponentially during lockdown• why local journalists shouldn't always stand back and observe, but offer solutions too• Reach's plans for every county to have a 'Live' site by the end of next year• why we should never stop experimenting; the day we do, we're in trouble• why the best bit about being a journalist is seeing the difference you make• why we should never be complacent; as in Formula 1, we can always make another tweak to enhance performance• why a sustainable future lies through getting closer to your readers and by being relevant• and much more... (This interview was recorded on 13th May.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Mike Sewell, managing director of CPL, about: • the thinking behind their recent MBO and his plans for the future• the transition from contract publisher to content marketing agency• why storytelling skills, words and pictures are still fundamental • why membership organisations need to work out what their message is before worrying about the channels• why print still has a vital role to play in the content mix• why the hero / hub / hygiene model still applies• how Covid has accelerated pre-existing trends but also given organisations the opportunity to go back to first principles• the challenges of onboarding new staff during a pandemic (10% of CPL's staff have started during lockdown)• the important role the office has to play in the future• and much more... (This interview was recorded on 6th May.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Georgina Rushworth, head of marketing at Pharmaceutical Press, about: • the challenges of setting up a new team• how the world of subs marketing has changed since she first started ("nothing but everything")• how marketing technology underpins everything they do and her hopes for their new soon-to-go-live marketing automation software• how you should never rest on your laurels and never stop looking for better ways of doing things• her approach to management ("articulate a vision and empower the team")• the differences in marketing an academic brand as opposed to a mainstream B2B one• how job satisfaction is found in the numbers, the joy of seeing the impact your idea has had• and more...(This interview was recorded on 29th April.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Daniel Pearce, CEO of TTG Media, an independent publisher specialising in the travel sector, about: • how what started as a “big news story on the other side of the world” turned their business upside down, but also led to positive change• their #savetravel and #onetravelindustry campaigning on behalf of the badly hit travel industry• embracing Stoicism and quoting Winston Churchill• switching print frequency from weekly to monthly but why he remains a passionate advocate of print• the thinking behind TTG's new membership offering and where to position the paywall• how the new subs model has changed everyone's mindset across the business• the power and freedom of being an independent publisher and able to take risks• why the best businesses are the most diverse businesses• the power of ‘why' and the importance of having a clear purpose• and much more...(This interview was recorded on 1st April.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Marcus Fairs, founder and editor-in-chief of architecture and design magazine Dezeen about:• how getting fired led to launching Dezeen• his global aspirations and $20 initial investment• how Kanye West gave him his first big break• why it's important to have a moral compass• why journalism is undervalued but is something worth standing up for• how they coped with Covid when their business model was collapsing all around them• why he had to mend fences with the Italians• why a design-led website has kept essentially the same design for the last 14 years• why, despite predictions, advertising is still their biggest revenue stream• their MVP approach to NPD• why new owners JP/Politikens are such a good fit• what the future holds for Dezeen• and much more...(This interview was recorded on 25th March.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Emma Callaghan, sales & invention director at Reach Solutions, about• how the "digital ecosystem has changed everything for publishers" although brand loyalty to newspaper brands still exists• Reach's strategy of increasing engagement with, and understanding of, their audience through their successful registration programme• why the close working relationship between editorial and commercial teams is a central part of their pitch to advertising partners• how the Team Nation initiative showed what can be achieved when rival newspapers work together• how their new Mantis brand safety tool is unlocking previously blocked content on their sites• how they've simplified their extensive and complicated portfolio of 9 national newspapers, 110 regional newspapers and 70 online brands into easy-to-understand packages for advertisers• why the industry must commit itself to real change when it comes to diversity and inclusion and not fall back on tick box exercises• how Reach's customer value strategy has provided an energising focus across the entire business• why print is still important, whilst acknowledging that, for younger readers, the route into Reach's brands will be via digital• why she's so keen to get back into the office• and much more...(This interview was recorded on 4th March.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Loma-Ann Marks, editor-in-chief at interiors magazine Reclaim, about why the recycling and repurposing that is at the heart of her magazine is now in vogue, how Instagram has been central to her community building efforts and why she makes a point of responding to every comment, why “finding your voice” is the secret to successful magazine publishing, why she always likes to put a window on her front covers, how the tone of coverlines has evolved since lockdown started, why BLM has prompted her to take a more proactive approach to diversity and the positive impact this has had on the magazine, why micro-managing talent is counter-productive, and why, certainly for aesthetically-led subjects like interiors and fashion, print is here to stay (even though she's got loads of digital plans), and much more…(This interview was recorded on 25th February.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Evelegh talks to Ivor Eisenstadt, managing director of healthcare publisher MGP, about why 2020, despite being a “horrific” year in so many ways, was a year of great progress for many publishers, how a successful brother tempted him to switch from a career in pharmaceuticals to one in publishing, the benefits of having a business partner (in his case, his wife Rosie) with complementary skill sets, how MGP managed to convert a free event into a paid-for one, his top tips for putting on virtual events and why they are here to stay, the plusses and minuses for his business of having everyone working from home, why he puts great store on a “no-blame” company culture, why there's such a huge opportunity for B2B in publishing trustworthy and insightful content, the imperative of employing bright, committed and adaptable people, the identify of his favourite all-time Spurs player, and much more…(This interview was recorded on 18th February.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Esther Newman, editor of Women's Running, about why editing Women's Running is a “massive responsibility and a huge privilege”, why ‘production' is a great starting place for editors, why achieving publishing success is much harder for women, why her title is all about kindness and support and not losing five pounds (“we're not telling women that they look wrong”), her views on the “poisonous messaging” women are often exposed to and why her aim is to “make sure every woman feels great”, why improving inclusion and diversity is so important (“you don't need to be a particular type of woman to run”), why the print magazine is the bedrock, but web and social is where the excitement is, how Covid has proved a “tough but good learning curve”, how the Women's Running podcast series (“my little baby”) came about and much more…(This interview was recorded on 15th December.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Mark Sennett, CEO of Western Business Media, about the rollercoaster ride of completing an MBO a few months before Covid struck, their “phenomenal” first year (not one argument with his new business partners), how they've survived Covid (strict cost control, cutting “frivolous activities” and innovating), the importance of getting staff buy-in and achieving a shared sense of ownership, why B2B matters (“what we write about makes a difference”), why the ad-funded controlled circulation model still has legs (as long as you're ABC audited), and his growth plans for the future (more CPD, jobs boards, digital conferences, and, acquisitions) and more…(This interview was recorded on 10th December.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Owen Meredith, CEO of the PPA, about the changing nature of magazine publishing and why it's such an exciting sector, the role and future of the PPA, the impact of Covid, the long running but ultimately successful VAT battle, the secrets of successful lobbying, the challenge posed by the big tech platforms, what government can do to help the events sector during the pandemic and much more. (This interview was recorded on 24th November.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Luke Nicholls, edie content director at B2B publisher Faversham House, about the invaluable digital marketing lessons picked up in his carpool, the importance of creating the right team culture based on honest and open two way feedback, why publishers need to bridge the gaps between content, sales, marketing and events, how the ‘mission possible' initiative re-energised the edie brand, the benefits of a membership model and much more.(This interview was recorded on 13th November.)We would like to thank our podcast sponsor, AdvantageCS, a leading global provider of subscription and membership management software. Capabilities include marketing, sales, payments and customer relationship software for publishers, membership associations and information providers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Dominic Carter, group chief commercial officer at News UK, about the “story telling business” we're all in and how the future is based on driving innovation and encouraging collaboration.Dominic describes how this year has been the toughest ever as advertising virtually disappeared for two months, but that his message to advertisers is, “being absent from the market will hold back your growth when the pandemic is over”.By focusing on audience reach, the newspaper sector has a positive growth story to tell. Driving better engagement with, and understanding of, consumers, establishing full funnel attribution metrics and making advertising easier to buy, will all enable newspapers to compete effectively for a greater share of the advertiser wallet. The newspaper sector has changed hugely in the thirty years he's worked in it, Dominic tells Ciar, but it remains an incredibly exciting place to work.(This interview was recorded on 17th November.)We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Paul McNamee, editor of The Big Issue, about his early career “going where the work was”, why the triumvirate of editor, deputy editor and art director is so central to a magazine's success, how he works to make the title “challenging and provocative” but not a “pity purchase”, his 20 ft rule for assessing front covers, some of the great guest editors he's had (Armando Iannucci, Floella Benjamin and Mark Millar), the buzz he got coordinating Mark Hamill (aka Luke Skywalker) interviewing The Kinks' Ray and Dave Davies, the existential threat Covid posed to their street-sale model and what they did about it, and how “driving around Glasgow in the rain, listening to The Blue Nile is one of life's rich pleasures” and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Duncan Tickell, chief revenue officer of Immediate Media, about why he rejoined the company after a short stint away, about Immediate's success in diversifying its business and creating a vibrant culture, his strategies for growing direct to consumer revenues and developing other non-circulation revenue streams like affiliate and, in particular, webinars (sourdough anyone?).Duncan tells us how investment in programmatic capabilities and first party data has led to greatly increased ad yields and how ad-blockers are not the existential threat we once feared. And, he welcomes the fact that the publishing sector is now back on the front foot and showing much greater confidence, after the doom and gloom of recent years. It no longer feels like a declining sector, he tells Ciar.We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Hero Brown, founder and editor-in-chief of Muddy Stilettos, the “lifestyle platform for affluent, fun-loving women outside London”, about what prompted her to launch the site, why it tries to be “humorous and a little bit naughty” but also a “happy, positive and feel good space”.They also talk about how Muddy Stilettos, which focuses on things to do and places to see, has coped with Covid and why Hero thinks that the pandemic “might just be the making of us”. And for anyone thinking of launching their own digital business… she says that it is “utterly relentless” but that she “absolutely loves it”.We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Christopher Phin, head of podcasts at DC Thomson, about how this “incredibly intimate medium” allows publishers to “hyperserve” their community and why podcasts are brilliant for brand building and delivering highly engaged audiences.Chris gives us four main strategic reasons why publishers should get into podcasting along with practical advice on launching podcasts and keeping them going. He also tells us which five podcasts he's particularly enjoying at the moment and what's so good about them.We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Peter Johns, MD of WW Magazines (publishers of Waterways World and SelfBuild & Design), about how his training as an economist has underpinned his approach to publishing and his mantra of “test continually and measure everything”, the gradual circulation shift from newstrade to subs for his titles, the thinking behind their recent website relaunch, how Covid has turned revenue trends upside down and how, certainly in the specialist market, content will always be king.We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Mark Allen, chairman of Mark Allen Group, about the three budget plans the group prepared at the start of the pandemic (“the good, the bad and the ugly”), why “cash is king” at the moment, the joys of a diverse portfolio, how to successfully integrate new acquisitions, his ambitions for the group (“we're only half way up the mountain”), how the publishing industry “vastly under prices magazines” and how he's personally spent much of lockdown writing a novel, the title of which was decided by polling one hundred people, and much more…(The interview was recorded on 15 October.)We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Tim Robinson, group content development director at JPIMedia, about his early days on the Bucks Herald and what the story of a downed US WW2 bomber taught him about the nature of local journalism, how his central content team is all about freeing journalists from the shackles of designing pages, the success of their data journalism team and the sterling work of their investigations unit, and, why, despite the challenges, he's optimistic about the future of the regional press, because… “we are needed”.We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Andrea Thompson, editor-in-chief of Marie Claire, about why she chose a career in journalism, how going digital-only has transformed the title, why we all need to do more to increase diversity in media companies and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Richard Butterworth, commercial director at Chemical Watch, about the B2B publisher's successful transition from a subscriptions model to a high value membership model and the accompanying switch from being ‘product-led' to ‘customer-value-led'. Richard describes the journey, the key milestones along the way and the lessons they learnt.We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Nicky Cox MBE, editor-in-chief of First News, about her long standing commitment to providing children with a trustworthy source of news and to giving them a platform to discuss issues that are important to them, like climate-change. Children make up, she says, 27% of the world's people but 100% of the future, yet often struggle to be heard. Nicky talks about the 2006 launch of First News and how the title has evolved and grown since then into a multi-platform offering and teaching resource for schools.We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Sam Hailes, editor of Premier Christianity magazine, about his early break at the magazine following some wise career advice from his journalism course, why he enjoys publishing a “broad church” magazine unafraid to challenge Christians, the balancing act of writing for both US and UK evangelicals, the need for journalists to focus on the positive not just the negative, his recent run-in with Google and the increasingly successful multi-platform strategy of his brand, and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Matt Kelly, chief content officer at Archant, about his career break at the Bootle Times, his early years in production journalism, working with Piers Morgan at the Mirror, his current role at Archant and what its recent acquisition by Rcapital Partners means for the business. The conversation touches on the New European, the Project Neon initiative with Google and why he thinks the regional press has suffered from a self-esteem issue in the past, but also why he is so passionate about securing a commercial future for it, and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Ian Murray, Executive Director of the Society of Editors, about why his school teacher thought he would be just right for journalism, what he's most proud of from his long career in the regional press and the challenge of taking over from Bob Satchwell at the SoE, fake news, the funding challenge, press freedom and why we should all be wary of the law of unintended consequences when it comes to over-hasty legislation, and much more…(This interview was recorded on 31st July.)We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Jon Bickley, CEO of Anthem Publishing, about his early days in circulation, heady times at rapidly expanding Future Publishing, setting up Anthem, how the company has evolved and where next for the Bath-based publisher. He also looks at the wider challenges facing the magazine sector and tells us why forging an ever-closer relationship with the reader is so important, and much more…(Paul Pettengale, one of the founders of Anthem Publishing, sadly passed away after this episode was recorded. RIP, 1971-2020.)We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Jo Adams, Marketing Director at New Scientist, about why she chose a career in subs over one in the newstrade, the key drivers of a modern subs strategy and how 'marketing' acts as the voice of the customer in everything New Scientist does, and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Sam Kinchin-Smith, Head of Special Projects at the London Review of Books, about what his ‘special projects' role entails, what he thinks digital can bring to the publishing mix for a title that is likely to remain print-first, and how the LRB archive is driving exciting new content opportunities during the pandemic, and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to John Barnes, Chief Digital Officer at William Reed Business Media, about his journey from editor to CDO, what it takes to succeed in digital publishing, how lockdown has sparked a wave of publishing innovation, and what he sees as the main trends and opportunities in content creation and revenue generation, and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Lucy Brazier, CEO of Marcham Publishing and publisher of Executive Secretary, about how she transformed the Executive Secretary newsletter into a global events, training and consultancy business, how social media and the close relationship she has built with readers have underpinned the brand's growth and why she is so passionate about the future potential of the executive assistant role and much more…We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Acorn Web Offset, the Yorkshire-based specialist A5 and A4 magazine printer. With high speed web offset and sheet-fed printing together with in-house saddle stitching, perfect binding and mailing services, Acorn can cope with the most demanding of production turnarounds. Acorn prides itself on its efficiency and low cost print production. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ciar Byrne talks to Hannah Taylor, editor and founder of independent magazine The Delicate Rébellion, about why she launched the magazine and the predominantly female arts community that runs alongside it, her passion for print and why it works for her, the challenges of being a one-woman band publishing out of a top floor flat in Edinburgh and why there's an accent above the 'e' in 'Rébellion' and much more...We would like to thank our podcasts sponsor – Atex, a software company selling solutions for media-rich industries. Their products include ‘Desk' for content management and publishing, and ‘Cross-Advertising', a cloud-based solution providing end-to-end multi-channel advertising management. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.