Lenfest Institute for Journalism

A successful print-to-digital transition requires digital revenue streams to offset — and ultimately replace — print revenue. Direct sold digital ad sales are similar to print ones, but website options are far more expansive — including website display, newsletters, sponsorships, events and more. As part of the Beyond Print Toolkit, Shira Center offers practical insights and proven strategies from across the industry to help you navigate the complexities of direct sold digital advertising. 

Last October, The Lenfest Institute for Journalism asked me to contribute to a toolkit it was creating in partnership with the American Press Institute that aims to provide practical information, case studies and resources for publishers looking to go through a print-to-digital transition. I jumped at the opportunity to nerd out 🤓 on customer service plans and write about newsroom processes. Beyond those two sections, the toolkit covers communication plans, digital products, print products, digital revenue transitions, print revenue transitions, other revenue streams, manufacturing and finance, and technology systems. I highly recommend checking out the entire guide, but for now here’s a sneak peak at my sections: 🌊 Online self-service: Empowering readers, streamlining operations 🌊 Customer service representative capabilities: Enhancing interaction quality 🌊 Call centres and scripts: Optimizing communication efficiency 🌊 Newsroom capabilities: Innovating content delivery 🌊 Content and workflows: Streamlining for success 🌊 Value propositions: Defining your unique edge 🌊 Audience personas: Understanding and engaging your readers Get the link to the full guide in July’s edition of #TheOtherWave: https://lnkd.in/gSN3CGi8

“Think of your news products as if they were your house. If you were inviting thousands of people over to an event, you’d likely spend a lot of prep time ensuring your house was clean and orderly, that it’s easy to navigate once people enter, and that everyone has a pleasant experience. Think of your website or your mobile app or any other news product similarly. Providing a great experience when people visit your products will likely result in them being happier or more engaged, which means they’ll return frequently.” Shannan Bowen breaks down the fundamentals of user experience and design thinking as part of the Beyond Print Toolkit. Whether you're in the process of a print transition or simply looking to refine your website — this resource is a must-read. Learn more about how you can elevate your digital strategy and deliver top-notch experiences to your readers 🌟

Long-term print subscribers are often newspapers’ most loyal consumers. As you plan a print-to-digital transition, you need to retain as many of those customers as you can. In the Beyond Print Toolkit, Richard E. Brown shared tips to help you keep your loyal subscribers engaged and satisfied, especially as print is reduced. While print may still be profitable at many organizations, that won’t last forever. Dive into the Toolkit and discover how you can ensure your current print subscribers remain loyal for years to come ⬇️

🔊 🎤 Looking for a job in audio? 🗣 🎙 Another season = Another Audio Jobs doc. Listings for producers, reporters, editors, executives, engineers, business, etc. Feel free to leave comments or let me know if there's a gig I should list. https://lnkd.in/ehtWQCEN

As news organizations make product and workflow changes to enable their print-to-digital transition, they’ll need to ensure that their technology is able to support the changes. In the Lenfest Institute for Journalism/American Press Institute Beyond Print Toolkit, Adam Schweigert walks through key frameworks news organizations can use to assess which platforms — including content management systems, email service providers, payment processors, and more — make sense for them. (Don't tell anyone because it's The Beyond Print Toolkit, but the strategies shared here are relevant for all publishers, even if you don't have a print product.)

We're excited to gather with members of the Philadelphia Media Founders Exchange and other partners from across the Philadelphia News Ecosystem today to learn more about building sustainable, community-centered media organizations 🌆💸💡

The Audience Community of Practice is meeting on Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m. EDT / 11 a.m. PDT for a discussion with FT Strategies, a consultancy which works with news and media organizations globally to help them address strategic challenges, drive sustainable growth, and innovate using technology, data, and AI. The team will share data on current trends in referral traffic and how this can inform publishers’ strategies.

Introducing the Beyond Print Toolkit, a new resource to help local newspapers reduce their reliance on print and create sustainable digital revenue streams in support of their journalism. Created by The Lenfest Institute and American Press Institute, the Toolkit features proven strategies, insightful case studies, and practical templates for publishers of all sizes based on years of research and experimentation with newspapers across the globe.