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How Hearst UK is using emotional intelligence to deliver success for its branded partnerships — whatsnewinpublishing.com

Hearst UK has recently announced record-breaking growth in branded content partnerships. I'll allow a brief eye-roll over the use of 'Emotional Intelligence' - or EQ - in this piece. But the detail is really interesting.

The publisher has used both AI and survey data, including research panels and social listening, to launch a number of 'Hearst Purpose' campaigns which are then sponsored. Since the pandemic, much of the focus has been on positive and uplifting campaigns, which of course brands are more than happy to be a part of.

The EQ-led campaigns, from body positivity to getting into teaching, have had a demonstrable uplifting impact on audiences. But they have also had a tangible benefit to Hearst's bottom lines, helping the publisher to a 12% increase in revenue generated through branded partnerships. Good news can be good business, after all.

Is it safe to go back in the water? Publishers debate in-person vs. online vs. hybrid events — knightfoundation.org

Mark Glaser has spoken to a number of publishers, associations and event production professionals to see where they stand when it comes to in-person gatherings. As expected, there's a real mix of responses, from those desperate to get back to real-life, to those taking a much more cautious approach, especially with what they'll allow their employees to do.

Exclusive ranking: The top 25 most popular US/Canada magazines on Apple News+ — www.pressgazette.co.uk

This is a rare glimpse into some rankings on Apple News+, Apple's premium news and magazine service. People magazine, which currently tops the leaderboard, says AN+ is 'very important' to them despite it only accounts for around 2% of its total circulation, because this new audience is younger, more educated and more diverse.

What publishers can learn about TheSoul Publishing’s road to 1B social subscribers — whatsnewinpublishing.com

A company many may not have heard of, TheSoul Publishing, has outpaced other digital studios being the first to achieve the coveted 1 billion subscribers milestone. Unlike most social-first publishers, TheSoul Publishing produces its own original content which makes it a unique outlier amongst social-first publishers typically reliant on user-generated content.

This week's episode:

Defector's VP of Revenue & Operations Jasper Wang on growing an employee-owned newsbrand — voices.media

This week we hear from Jasper Wang, VP of Revenue & Operations for Defector Media. Defector was formed after a mass staff exodus from former GO Media property Deadspin after an internal dispute about who knew its audience best. Defector is now an employee-owned and operated news site that has introduced measures specifically to ensure its staff have a say in the business, even as they write for its audience.

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