In the news: The latest numbers from the Digital Publishers Revenue Index are in, and the news is a mixed bag.

There’s good news and bad news in the Q1 Digital Publishers Revenue Index (DPRI), published by the Association of Online Publishers and Deloitte. Michelle Manafy, of Digital Content Next highlights the report’s key findings. First, the bad news: According to Manafy, display and recruiting advertising were down 22.5 percent and 12.8 percent respectively in the first quarter this year. Nearly 80 percent of publishers surveyed plan to cut costs to offset these losses and others.

But there’s good news too. “Publisher revenue diversification efforts helped offset the ongoing decline in digital ad revenue for publishers,” summarizes Manafy. Many publishers saw subscription and online ad revenue growth, and B2B publishers in particular saw a boost from sponsorship, online video, and subscription efforts. Read more about the DPRI findings here.

Also Notable

Publishers Struggling to Gain Advertisers

The Covid-19 pandemic has made it even more difficult for publishers to court new advertisers. Advertisers are being more cautious than ever given the uncertain economy. Max Willens of Digiday.com sums up the problem in a recent piece: “While ad spending has rallied in several key categories over the past five months, many brands ... worry about going dark for extended periods of time as fall begins and winter looms. Because of the concern, many advertisers seem content to work more closely with publishers they already have relationships with, typically on smaller, cheaper campaigns that can be executed quickly.” This conservative approach is creating revenue problems for publishers whose brands are already strapped. Read more here.

The Growing Unionization Trend in Magazines

More and more newsrooms and magazine staffers are forming unions. What’s behind the surge in organizing efforts? Nicole Cohen of TheFashionLaw.com examines companies whose journalists and editors have recently formed unions. Key issues behind the surge, she says, include protection and voice, diversity and equity, care and solidarity. All this against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic has brought labor issues front and center for a lot of journalists. Per the article: “Nicole Cohen, an Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Toronto, and Greig de Peuter, an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, interviewed 50 media workers and union staff involved in this enduring organizing push for their book, New Media Unions.” Read the full piece here.

Folio: Stops Regular Reporting on Magazines

Several weeks ago, Folio: announced that it would stop daily reporting on the magazine industry. It’s a major shakeup for publishing professionals who have long turned to Folio: for updates on industry developments as they occur. Bill Amstutz writes in his letter to the Folio: community: “Our decision to eliminate regular industry reporting via FOLIO: doesn’t mean we are abandoning the FOLIO: community. It only means that we will be serving it in new ways.” Read the full letter here.

Bon Appétit Names New Editor-in-Chief

After a long summer of turmoil, Bon Appétit magazine has named book publishing veteran Dawn Davis as its new editor-in-chief. Kerry Flynn of CNN Business reports: “Davis is among the few influential Black executives at major publishing houses. During her more than 25 years in the industry, she has overseen the publishing of stories from marginalized voices.” Former editor-in-chief Adam Rappaport left the magazine earlier this summer after allegations of discriminatory behavior surfaced. Soon thereafter, key video talent quit producing videos en masse in protest against glaring pay discrepancies between white and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) on-air talent. The magazine has not posted new content to its popular YouTube channel in over two months. Read more here.

Editor & Publisher Names New GM

This week, Editor & Publisher announced on its website that media veteran Peter Conti is taking over as the magazine’s general manager. Read the press release here.

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