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 AI the evolving media...

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 business the "unprecedented challenges" f...

James Evelegh talks to Sajeeda Merali, CEO of the PPA, about:  the PPA’s focus on people, product and audience how communication lies at the heart of all successful business transformations the evolution of ‘sales’ and how it has moved away from selling by platform to selling by audience the skill-sets successful sales teams now require the PPA’s role in “unpacking the complicated stuff” why...

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 audience why 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 change...

James Evelegh talks to Dave Musgrove, content director, history, at Immediate Media, about:  their HistoryExtra podcast hitting the twin milestones of 15 years & 150m downloads how they're marking the milestones with a new series: '15 minutes of fame' introducing a UGC element to their podcasts dos & don'ts of creating a successful podcast how the podcast started as a marketing c...

James Evelegh talks to Alex White, MD (Food and Parenting) at Immediate Media, about:  what it takes to create a great publishing brand how data is the engine room at Immediate Media the brilliance of the BBC Good Food editorial team at identifying and anticipating audience mood testing the water with paid-for content through their new app the multiple opportunities that have arisen from thei...

James Evelegh talks to Emily Ferguson, Ecommerce Director at Marie Claire, about:  the recent launch of Marie Claire Edit USA the key pillars of ecommerce success why the tech you use will either "make or break" your ecommerce operation why adopting an agile approach, based on test and learning, is so important how successful ecommerce relies on lots of different things (SEO, on-site optimisa...

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 country its three core content pillars (Welsh culture, the devolution settlement & social justice) how print...

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 by making royal coverage their USP why HEL...

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...

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 AgriBr...

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 wallo...

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 ch...

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") •...

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...

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...

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 fil...

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 • whic...

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 'dee...

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...

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 pri...

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 y...

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 W...

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...

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...