In the news: What is data democratization, and why is it important for your publication?

Data democratization, as defined by data intelligence website Alatron.com, is the “process of making digital information accessible to the average non-technical user of information systems, without having to require the involvement of IT.” This week, What’s New in Publishing examines how the practice is crucial to digital publishers.

So how would this play out in the office or newsroom? According to WNIP, “Giving teams widespread access to information -- and keeping it all within the same platform -- is a must for any business that wants to empower its employees to make informed decisions.” In order to be truly democratized, data must be collected and available, easily retrievable, and usable in such a way that it powers decision-making, says WNIP. Structuring staff, developing sound data governance practices, and optimizing technology are key drivers of success. Read more here.

Also Notable

Sports Publishers Partner with Sports Betting Sites

A lot of sports publishers are cashing in on partnerships with sportsbooks, but, as Kayleigh Barber asks in a recent Digiday.com piece, what are the sportsbooks getting out of the deal? “The short answer is they are able to quickly acquire new sports bettors in the U.S. as states continually legalize online sports gambling,” she writes. But there are long-term risks for publishers, who may find themselves competing with sportsbook partners. Barber notes: “Sports bettors are becoming media companies in their own right, and the potential for consolidation could eventually take stacks of revenue chips off the table.” Read more here.

Ebony Reimagined in Digital

Last year, Ulysses Bridgeman purchased both Ebony and Jet, two prominent Black magazines. Ebony had gone out of print in 2019 and relaunched this past March as a digital-only publication. The magazine is charging ahead with a new editorial point of view, reports Andrew Craig of NPR, “evoking [the] spirit of organizing around issues such as abolition, voting rights and opposing racist housing and labor practices with its new focus: ‘Move Black Forward.’” Craig also reports that new CEO Michelle Ghee is emphasizing Black generational wealth: “Ebony isn't abandoning celebrity and entertainment,” he reports, “but is doubling down on content that builds financial literacy and wealth and promotes business ownership.” Read more about the relaunched brand here.

Working from “Roam”

Editors in the UK are exploring the limits of their new remote and hybrid work arrangements. Nicola Smith of Digiday.com examines how UK editors in particular are embracing the global remote work revolution: “Research [2,262 respondents who worked remotely in October 2021] released today from British media and telecom group Virgin Media O2 has revealed that of the top 15 alternative working locations, 27% of British people are logging on from friends’ and family’s houses, and one in ten have worked from the pub.” On the stranger end of the spectrum, some editors are working from “gardens, train journeys, the school run, the supermarket and even while exercising at home.” Read more here.

Top Reasons for Subscription Cancellations

Last week, the Nieman Lab staff examined the top reasons readers ditch their subscriptions. Polling 500 readers, they homed in on the New York Times in particular, which saw more canceled subscriptions than other individual publishers. Money is the number one reason, Nieman Lab says -- either readers canceled at the end of trial or promotional subscriptions or they had to cut the subscription price from COVID-strained budgets. Ideology and politics were another top factor, with readers on both sides of the aisle and in the middle canceling over controversial op-eds and other content complaints. A smaller number of ex-readers cited insufficient time to read and customer service issues as reasons to cancel. Read more about the survey here.

Improving Editorial Workflow

Last week in Poynter.org’s The Lead newsletter, Taylor Blatchford examined the pillars of effective editorial processing. The tips are geared toward first-time editors and reporters but are useful even to veteran publishing executives. Blatford first differentiates between macro and micro editing and then offers a step-by-step guide to editing articles. Read more here.

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