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Why publishers should start experimenting with blockchain — whatsnewinpublishing.com

If you have no idea about blockchain's potential role in publishing, you are not alone. Although a majority of the publishers in a recent survey said that blockchain has the potential to transform news media, less than 10% have incorporated it into their strategy.

The technology allows users to record information in a way that is almost impossible to hack, cheat, or alter. Opportunities identified include combating disinformation, content rights management, democratising content creator revenue, simplifying payments, combating ad fraud, and boosting audience engagement.

But until more publishers start using it, it's not clear exactly what value it will bring. The authors of the INMA report, “Exploring Blockchain’s Potential to Transform Media" takes that as their starting point, saying: “Although blockchain has the potential to disrupt the news media industry, at the moment it’s not clear exactly what that will mean.”

Why publishers are introducing product box programs — digiday.com

InStyle and The Cut have created their first product boxes this month. InStyle is experimenting with the initiative as a revenue generation excercise, but for the Cut it's a charitable undertaking to highlight beauty brands from diverse founders. Elsewhere, Group Nine has built a seven-figure business from its branded product box ad program and Eater is expanding its subscription box following feedback from subscribers.

Staff cuts warning at Daily Mail owner as energy and distribution costs bite — www.pressgazette.co.uk

Daily Mail owner DMGT has warned of cost cuts following the release of its financial results for the year to the end of September 2021. The news comes as Lord Rothermere finalises plans to take the group private, Daily Mail editor Geordie Greig leaves the paper and former editor and group chair Paul Dacre exits, thankfully not to go to Ofcom.

Scotland's News: towards a sustainable future for public interest journalism — www.gov.scot

Interesting to see a working group set up by the Scottish government recommending the establishment of a Public Interest Journalism Institute. A member of the working group, Rachel Hamada from the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, told Press Gazette, “We think this is a real chance for Scotland to lead on this at a time that public interest media, a key pillar of democracy, is under threat globally.”

This week's podcast:

FT Strategies MD Tara Lajumoke on building a robust playbook for subscription businesses — voices.media

This week we hear from Tara Lajumoke, Managing Director of FT Strategies, the Financial Times’ consulting firm. We discussed how FT Strategies fits into the FT’s wider goals, what her role involves as MD, and how they’re building a robust playbook for other subscription businesses.

The Great Privacy Reset: Insider, Future and Permutive on the opportunities for publishers — voices.media

In this new Conversations episode, we hear from Jana Meron, Senior VP of Programmatic and Data Strategy at Insider Inc, Nicholas Flood, Future plc’s Global Ad Product and Revenue Operations Director, and Joe Root, Founder of Permutive. They talk about where advertising issues arose from, some of the challenges they face implementing the changes, and how we can all work towards a sustainable advertising ecosystem.