John Byrne

Around The Bloc

News EN ↓ 6 episodes

John Byrne of Writers Bloc gets to talk to experts and thought leaders in the ever-evolving world of media. We share the best insights here. Looking at how Media is shifting in modern times: - How can journalism survive in the age of free information? - What traditional media can learn from influencers and content creators? - The ongoing battle between attention and reputation in the media industry. - How news readers navigate disinformation in a media-saturated world. Stay ahead of the curve with discussions on the shifting media landscape and the future of journalism. New episodes drop every...

Author

John Byrne

Episodes

Why Media Can’t Ignore AI — And Why AI Needs Real Journalism With Brooke Hartley Moy 20.03.2026 51:26

Brooke Hartley Moy , CEO of InFactory AI , unpacks the rapidly changing relationship between artificial intelligence and the media industry. She brings rare perspective from across Silicon Valley and publishing, having worked at Google and Slack before co-founding an AI infrastructure company focused on helping publishers navigate the AI era. We discuss: Why AI companies increasingly depend on hum...

How Publishers Turn Readers Into Members — With Madeleine White 06.03.2026 41:28

Madeleine White from The Audiencers and Poool unpacks how publishers build sustainable reader revenue. Recorded live in Paris, this conversation explores how media companies move audiences from casual readers to loyal members and subscribers. We discuss: How paywalls actually work Freemium, metered, and dynamic models Why most readers never convert Membership vs subscriptions Community-driven jour...

Marcela Kunova on Propaganda, Broken Trust, Rebuilding Credible Reporting & More 20.02.2026 51:35

In this episode of Around the Bloc , we’re joined by journalist and editor Marcela Kunova to discuss the growing crisis of trust in media. We talk about: Why public trust in journalism is collapsing Media ownership and political influence How algorithms fragment reality The dangers of activism and propaganda Low journalist pay and industry pressure How to rebuild pride and credibility in reporting...

Styli Charalambous on Why Paywalls Don’t Work for Public-Interest Reporting & How Newsrooms Thrive Despite Corruption and Funding Crises 06.02.2026 1:07:37

How do you build a serious newsroom in one of the hardest media environments in the world? In this episode we speak with the Daily Maverick's Styli Charalambous about building a public-interest journalism organization from a five-person startup into a 100+ person newsroom — while navigating political corruption, market collapse, and constant financial pressure. The conversation explores what...

James Hewes on What Jeff Bezos is Missing in Media, The Sector of Publishing that's Dying & More 30.01.2026 45:42

Publishers Stopped Being Media Businesses But Most Still Haven’t Noticed. What business are the in now? Listen to find out. Ep. 2 of Around the Bloc, with James Hewes, publishing and media veteran. In this episode we discuss: – Why publishers don’t really run “media businesses” any more – they run audience businesses, and what breaks when you ignore that – How smaller, specialist niche media bran...

Abi Spooner on Value vs Discounts, Listening Instead of Copying, The Key Metric in Keeping your Audience & More 23.01.2026 1:12:18

What is a subscriber actually worth — and how should publishers measure it? Joined by Abby Spooner from Atlas Consulting, we break down lifetime value (LTV) in simple terms and explain why understanding subscriber value is critical for digital publishers, news organisations, and media businesses building sustainable subscription models. We also explore how LTV and the LTV:CAC ratio help publishers...