March 28, 2016 | Vol. 69 No. 12 Read more at: minonline.com Steve Smith's Eye on Innovation: 3 NowThis Is Big On Social Distri- bution, Short On Attitude Media Survival Tips From SxSW 6 CNet Successfully Translates The devil, as they say, is still in the details. Digital to Newsstand Money has never been the problem. When major media companies ponder sustain- able business models for a digitally driven future, it's already clear that the money 7 A Dozen Top Print Audience is there… somewhere. The problem for legacy brands like The Washington Post, Performers Associated Press and even digital natives like hot property Vox (Verge, SB Nation, 8 Relaunched Playboy Soars in Re/code) is getting a sustainable share of that flow when a few major players Instagram Followers, Sinks in Posts (we’re looking at you Google and Facebook) amass the overwhelming majority of revenue and countless other brands, old and new, scramble for the rest. “There is 10 National Geographic 'Photo Ark' lots of money to go around, and it is growing,” said Jed Hartman, CRO, The Wash- a First For NGP-NGS ington Post at last week’s OMMA@SxSW in Austin. The panel question was, “Can Digital Really Sustain Media?” Continued on page 4 Harper's, TV Guide Bid Adieu to Editors-in-Chief Both depart after less than a year on the job. Lengthy tenures by editors were once the norm at the two venerated brands (Harper's has published since 1850; TV Guide, since 1953), but job insecurity appears to be the norm in 2016. At Harper's, Christopher Cox lasted just three months before being fired in February by publisher Rick MacArthur over the proverbial "disagreement in editorial direction." At TVG, Michael Schneider was dismissed after less than one year in advance of a redesign that'll be unveiled in June. This continues the overhaul by owner NTVB Media—which acquired the biweekly from OpenGate Capital in October 2015—after the departures of CEO David Fishman and CRO Grayle Howlett. By contrast, MacArthur has been at the helm of Harper's since 1980. He worked with EIC Lewis Lapham (who joined in 1976) through 2006, when Lapham left to start Lapham's Quarterly. Continued on page 2 Two Drawings to Remember Grief needs no translation. Cartoonist Jean "Plantu" Plantureux's depiction of the shared grief by the French and Belgians over terrorist attacks published in the French newspaper Le Monde rapidly went viral on Tuesday with more than 15,000 shares on Twitter. Belgian artist Marc "Marec" de Cloedt's image of a hand holding a cone of French fries in the style of the Statue of Liberty holding the torch also spread across social media. While we are a business that prides itself on words, at times when hearts are heavy, such images encapsulate our collective grief, anger and feelings of solidarity better than the written word ever could. © 2016 Access Intelligence, LLC. Federal copyright law prohibits unauthorized reproduction by any means and imposes fines of up to $150,000 for violations. minonline.com Harper's, TV Guide EIC Instability (continued from page 1) Media Industry Newsletter Roger Hodge and Ellen Rosenbush succeeded Lapham, with Rosenbush back on an interim Editor-in-Chief: basis until James Marcus starts on June 1. Steven Cohn ([email protected]) Newly promoted TVG editorial director Nerina Rammairone is the fourth to take charge in 203/899-8437 two years after Debra Birnbaum (now at Variety), Doug Brod and Schneider. The gold standard Digital Media Editor: was set by David Sendler, who served from 1976 through TVG's 1989 sale to News Corp. by Steve Smith ([email protected]) the late founder Walter Annenberg. 302/691-5331 min Editorial Director: Michele Shapiro Bonnier's Nissan-Partnered 'Expedition: Hero' ([email protected]) 646/745-4152 For one veteran, the adventure will be the ability to walk again. Group Editor: Caysey Welton ([email protected]) This spring, Bonnier Corp. is releasing a series of "Expedition: Hero" videos in which U.S. 203/899-8431 military veterans share in adventures endemic to Bonnier's enthusiast brands. The Field & Editorial Assistant: Jameson Doris ([email protected]) Stream video, already released, took vets on a whitetail deer hunt in Texas. Upcoming are Out- VP/Publisher: Amy Jefferies door Life's buffalo hunt with the Crow tribe in Montana; Wakeboarding in Lake Havasu City, ([email protected]) Ariz.; Dirt Rider in the California wilderness; and Salt Water Sportsman in Cabo San Lucas. Director of Market Development: Laurie M. Hofmann All should give plenty of exposure to sponsor Nissan's Titan XD truck. But perhaps Popu- ([email protected]) lar Science's program won't, when a veteran is fitted with an artificial limb built with cutting- Senior Marketing Manager: Danielle Sikes edge technology. Appropriately, the video will be released around Memorial Day. ([email protected]) "We are very excited to honor veterans and highlight their service," says F&S editor-in- Marketing Manager: Rachel Feldman ([email protected]) chief and Bonnier Lifestyle Group editorial director Anthony Licata. "It gives great people a Senior Account Executive: great time and shows the country what these guys did and sacrificed for all of us." Tania Babiuk ([email protected]) Production Manager: Field & Stream Mentioned in The New Yorker Sophie Chan-Wood ([email protected]) In the March 14 issue, TNY editor David Remnick wrote that "the editors of the satirical Spy Graphic Designer: Yelena Shamis ([email protected]) covered ['American Demagogue'] Donald Trump with the same obsessive attention that Field Data and Analytics Manager: & Stream pays to the rainbow trout." Stacy Hill "We are honored to be in such distinguished company" with , says EIC Anthony ([email protected]) TNY F&S Licata. The common denominator is Bonnier Corp. communications director Perri Dorset, who Access Intelligence, LLC President & Chief Executive Officer: Don Pazour held that position at TNY a decade ago. SVP, Media Group: Diane Schwartz Chief Operating Officer: Heather Farley Elle Crushed Social Competition During Oscars Subscriptions/Client Services: Elle saw an astounding increase in shares on Instagram BY THE NUMBERS 888-707-5814 during February (+1,107%) compared to last year, according List Sales: MeritDirect, 914-368-1090 Instagram shares ([email protected]) to our Social Media Boxscores (on pages 8 and 9). This can Advertising: 203-899-8498 be attributed to its posting frenzy during Oscar season. Reprints: Wright’s Media, The fashion brand also posted custom graphic designed 1,107% 877-652-5295 ([email protected]) pictures of nominees and past winners surrounded in pastels Editorial Offices: 10 Norden Place, Norwalk, CT 06855; 40 Wall Street, and flowers. And there was certainly no shortage of Leo or Elle took full advan- 50th floor, New York, NY 10005; red carpet coverage on the brand's account. Additionally, the Faxes: 203-854-6735, 212-621-4879; tage of the Academy www.minonline.com magazine posted precisely zero promotional photos. Awards on Instagram. Access Intelligence LLC, 9211 Essence magazine did not talk up the Oscars (-58% Corporate Blvd, 4th Floor, Rockville, MD 20850; Ph: 301-354-2000 Published shares), and rightfully so. It's no secret that the Academy 2016 © by Access Intelligence LLC. Distributed via email and online. For didn't nominate one black actor or director (again) and in turn email and postal address changes, 58% allow 2 weeks notice. Send to: Client the brand largely ignored the awards program. Services or call 888-707-5814. For advertising info contact 301/ 354- Barely a half dozen photos of black celebrities and one of Essence did not. 1629. Contents may not be reproduced in any form without written permission. Chris Rock on stage were posted by the magazine. Unfortu- nately, yet understandably, Essence took a hit last month. Subscription Rate: $1,199.97 Continued on page 8 2 Magazine Media’s Most Trusted Source Since 1947 3/28/2016 minonline.com Steve Smith's App Review NowThis: Keeping It Short... And Everywhere Content is secondary to social integration at this Millennial-targeted app. As media old and new scramble after new distribution methods and news formats to cap- ture that coveted millennial news consumer, what better time to revisit one of the pioneers of the trend? NowThis News was founded several years ago by Huffington Post co-founder Ken Lerer and former CEO Eric Hippeau as a mobile first video news source. It was among the first highly distributed strategies to focus on social platforms rather than its own app. The approach has netted it a news audience that is 68% between ages 18-34. It also inno- vated the super-short video clip and heavy use of audio-off communication via headline. But how has the pioneer fared over time? The core NowThis app is a model of simplicity and flat (the good kind) design. On the surface it appears to be just another aggregated feed of video stories. But the beauty of the app is that it doesn't engage in page loads. The video you choose plays in-line and requires no backtracking to the feed or even tapping that ubiquitous Apple iOS video “Done” button. If you want it full screen, just reorient the phone to landscape and orient it back to portrait to resume the feed scroll. Content organization is basic and uncluttered. Everything in the app is kept oversized to avoid fat finger mistakes. The hamburger menu opens a large menu with five editorial catego- ries as well as a socially friendly “Watched” category that tracks what you have viewed. NowThis has always been about sharing.