Summary: Prehistoric cave art shows the human instinct to create. Tens of thousands of years ago, our ancestors made art in hard-to-reach places, illustrating the enduring desire to express themselves. In this light, should AI be seen as a tool rather than a threat? Can businesses, including publishing, help customers harness AI to create unique…
Summary: The article discusses a controversial incident in which Microsoft’s AI-generated poll accompanied a news story about a young water polo coach’s death. The poll asked readers to speculate on the cause of her death, leading to public outrage. The author highlights the problem of inappropriate or insensitive AI responses and suggests potential solutions: review…
Summary: E-newsletters are gaining popularity among digital publishers for engaging readers and monetizing audiences. Subscribers who also subscribe to premium products are 50% more likely to stay subscribed for 12 months. E-newsletters create a personal connection with readers, but their value often aligns with the publisher’s interests. Regularity and convenience are crucial, as many readers…
Summary: Google is offering to cover legal costs for AI users facing copyright lawsuits, sparking speculation about its motives. Some believe Google’s confidence in winning lawsuits or legislative support drives this, while Dominic Young sees it as a game of chicken. Another perspective suggests that Google’s mission to make information universally accessible challenges copyright and…
There’s this thing called “last-click attribution” where you assign a sale to the last click a person takes before the purchase. If you think about your own buying behavior, you’ll quickly realize that model probably only works for a very small percentage of your purchases, and that it gets less and less valuable as the…
Summary: The article discusses the ongoing dispute between publishers and artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of copyright law. It highlights the historical influence of copyright anarchists on the internet, emphasizing Google’s bias towards free content. The benefits of copyright law are outlined for individual creators, corporations, and society, while also acknowledging the importance of…
Summary: In the future, AI will play a significant role in content creation and information consumption. People will access information through 24/7 AI personal assistants, customized books, and other content. Human creators’ roles will diminish, with AI handling most tasks, but scholars will monitor and fine-tune the AI. Education will primarily be AI-driven, with limited…
Summary: The article discusses the challenge that artificial intelligence (AI) poses to publishers, as AI can provide answers and content similar to what traditional publishers offer. The author suggests steps for publishers to respond, including denying AI access, protecting their content, and characterizing AI answers as unreliable. It also addresses the issue of users uploading…
Summary: The article discusses the declining trust in traditional media and the potential rise of independent journalists as a challenge to established media brands. It mentions that some journalists, like Bari Weiss, are moving to platforms such as Substack to operate independently. The article suggests that independent journalists could form their own collective brands, offering…
Summary: What are the best engagement metrics for subscription models? This article emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between content engagement and propensity to subscribe, with actions like e-newsletter sign-ups and registration being key. Exposing readers to diverse topics and authors is encouraged, along with increasing time spent on the platform. The ultimate goal is to…
Summary: Axios co-founder Jim VandeHie offers advice on “smart brevity” in writing, emphasizing the importance of considering the audience, starting with the key point, simplicity, visual aids, conversational tone, and delivering essential information. This approach aligns with the inverted pyramid model. VandeHie focuses on attracting the average reader’s limited attention span. Krehbiel wonders if this…
Summary: The challenge publishers face in growing and engaging audiences due to platforms like Facebook no longer promoting their content. The article questions whether the focus on building audiences for advertisers is mismatched with the goal of finding paying customers for subscriptions. The article emphasizes the need to offer valuable content to the right audience…
Summary: The article discusses the challenges and possibilities for the future of print media. It acknowledges the economic difficulties in print publishing due to high printing and mailing costs and downward price pressure. However, it emphasizes that people, including younger generations, still like print products. The author suggests options such as outsourcing printing to China,…
Here’s my summary of a very interesting talk by Roger Martin on Harvard Business Review. He raises the question, “what is the difference between planning and strategy?” Strategy, he says, is 1. an integrated set of choices 2. that position you on a playing field of your choice 3. in a way that you win….
When you’re dealing with vendor negotiations and tech evaluations, miscommunication is a big problem. It can lead to an incorrect evaluation of possible solution, and it can cost you money. In today’s podcast I will explain five scenarios where a vendor might initially decline a client’s request, and how both parties can turn this into…