Chuck Lapointe’s Post

We're proud to spotlight our customer, Reuters—one of the world’s largest and most trusted news agencies—for their remarkable growth on TikTok! Since the start of 2023, they've skyrocketed from 1,000 to over 186,000 followers, becoming the fastest-growing news publisher on the platform. 🌟 📈 Connecting with and building an audience on TikTok is not an easy task, but Reuters has risen to the challenge, setting a powerful example for the industry. Read the full story here: https://hubs.la/Q02Lt3TQ0 For publishers looking to strengthen their presence and engage audiences more effectively, don’t miss our article on how to craft an effective short-form video strategy: https://hubs.la/Q02Lt3rP0

Since NewsWhip is at least partly in the business of prediction, here's me putting my money where my mouth is with five about news and social media for 2025. 1. Publishers lean into the fracturing news ecosystem: News consumers can build their own bubbles now and get news from whatever corner of the internet they choose to spend their time on. For a long time, publishers were able to focus their attention on the biggest players, losing ground to creators who produced news-adjacent content natively. In 2025, publishers will have strategies for everything from TikTok to Discord and beyond, focusing on brand building rather than trying to drive website clicks exclusively. 2. AI helps reporters in news deserts: AI is scary for reporters, I get that! One place where I think it could help is where local coverage has collapsed due to a lack of funding. Summarization of publicly available documents (court transcripts, council meeting minutes etc.) could save dozens of hours of research time and help stretched reporters find and follow reporting leads faster. 3. X goes nowhere: "Everyone's moving to Bluesky!" Sure, that might be true to you an extent, but the point of X has never been to have a critical mass of people, it's to be the platform of choice for a few influential people. As long as Elon Musk is both the owner of the platform and playing a vocal, public, influential role in the Trump administration, I just don't see it going away to the extent that people are predicting. Bluesky might well become a parallel institution of a kind, but I doubt it replaces it. 4. Instagram is recognized as a mainstream news source: This one is more to do with recognition than an actual contextual change, because I think Instagram is already a massive news source for millennials and younger. Mainstream news publishers frequently get the highest engagement there of any platform, and if we're talking about awareness, more and more people will see it as their key source of news. 5. TikTok isn't banned: This one's a bit of a swing — I'm not a legal expert, but the January 19th deadline being one day before the inauguration alongside Trump's newly positive noises about the platform just gives me a feeling. If I'm wrong, be ready for YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels to get an immediate short-term boost. That's your lot from me, tell me why I'm wrong, or throw any other good ones at me in the comments!

"The great platform reset": worrying trends in online news and journalism I often worry how we are going to find and agree on solutions to complex societal problems when people just watch TikTok, don't get reliable news, and don't want to pay. The latest report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism confirms once more the challenging environment across many countries. Here are some of the most relevant quotes from the summary: "In these troubled times [of wars and elections], a supply of accurate, independent journalism remains more important than ever, and yet in many of the countries covered in our survey we find the news media increasingly challenged by rising mis- and disinformation, low trust, attacks by politicians, and an uncertain business environment." "...layoffs, closures, and other cuts due to a combination of rising costs, falling advertising revenues, and sharp declines in traffic from social media. In some parts of the world these economic challenges have made it even harder for news media to resist pressures from powerful businesspeople or governments looking to influence coverage and control narratives." "...power and changing strategies of rival big tech companies, including social media, search engines, and video platforms. Some are now explicitly deprioritising news and political content, while others have switched focus from publishers to ‘creators’, and pushing more fun and engaging formats – including video – to keep more attention within their own platforms. These private companies do not have any obligations to the news,..." "...rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are about to set in motion a further series of changes including AI-driven search interfaces and chatbots that could further reduce traffic flows to news websites and apps, adding further uncertainty to how information environments might look in a few years." "Concern about what is real and what is fake on the internet when it comes to online news has risen..." "Trust in the news (40%) has remained stable over the last year,..." "...we find a rise in selective news avoidance. Around four in ten (39%) now say they sometimes or often avoid the news – up 3 percentage points on last year’s average ..." "...sources that people pay most attention to when it comes to news on various platforms, we find an increasing focus on partisan commentators, influencers, and young news creators, especially on YouTube and TikTok." "...as online platforms have brought great convenience for consumers – and advertisers have flocked to them – they have also disrupted traditional publishing business models in very profound ways. " "just 17% saying they paid for any online news in the last year," "...a large proportion of digital subscriptions go to just a few upmarket national brands – reinforcing the winner-takes-most dynamics..." https://lnkd.in/epzBPazB

This spring, governments globally have intensified efforts to require tech giants to compensate news publishers. In response, Google has limited access to content from California-based news outlets, and Meta has shut down Facebook News in Australia. Eight months following Meta's news ban in Canada, our research reveals significant impacts. Some initial findings:  - National news outlets on Facebook experienced a 64% drop in engagement, while local outlets saw an 85% decrease. - Nearly half of the local news outlets stopped posting on Facebook within four months of the ban. - Politically oriented Facebook Groups have adapted by sharing news through screenshots. - Surprisingly, six months after the ban, approximately 33% of Canadians still say they use Meta’s Facebook or Instagram for access to Canadian political and current affairs information. Our comprehensive report, due this summer, will expand on these findings and explore news dynamics on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, offering a full view of the digital news landscape. Stay tuned for the full report and in the meantime check out our preliminary findings ! Sara Parker Saewon Park Zeynep Pehlivan Alexei Abrahams Mika Desblancs Taylor Owen Jennie Phillips, Ph.D Aengus Bridgman

Look, TikTok is fun. But for reliable news? Absolutely not. Their algorithm prioritizes catchy videos over truth, making it a minefield of misinformation. Finding the full story on anything important is like searching for a needle in a haystack. At Bravo Scope News and Media Productions, we're serious about news and productions for busy professionals (ages 30-60). We deliver reliable, comprehensive coverage - in just 60 seconds - with trusted sources and expert analysis. No BS, just the facts you need to stay informed. Our content is crafted, not churned out by bots. Frankly, platforms like TikTok don't prioritize real journalism. That's why we're here. If you value getting informed, choose platforms built for accurate information, like Vimeo, Dailymotion, some YouTube channels, and yes, even LinkedIn. Let's be smarter about where we get our news. Ditch the misinformation and choose Bravo Scope News and Media Productions, flash daily news in one minute. Sincerely yours, Bravo Scope News Team

➡️ Yet another reason why data access for research is crucial: In August 2023, Meta banned news content on its platforms in Canada. A new paper by researchers Sara Parker and others shows: This may have decreased the visibility of news content on Meta’s services, but users still debate politics, mainly in closed groups. The company’s move came in protest of a law which forced online platforms to enter negotiations on revenue-sharing agreements with Canadian publishers. The bill’s stated intent was to correct imbalances in the ad market, where platforms generate vast revenues, but publishers and other content creators on platforms may lose out. After the "news ban" was introduced, engagement of users with content from local and national Canadian media declined heavily, leading publishers to stop the posting of content altogether. However, engagement in political groups remained consistent, and users circumvented the ban with screenshots of articles replacing links. This has lowered traffic for news outlets, whereas user engagement on Meta’s services has remained consistent. ➡️ The “news ban” shows that platform decisions come with enormous economic and political consequences. To investigate those, researchers need access to behavioral data from social media firms. In the European Union, authorities must therefore rigorously enforce the Digital Services Act's data access provisions. Link to the paper:

Facebook and Instagram Remove Fact Checking According to the WSJ, Meta is ending fact-checking with independent third parties and removing restrictions on speech across Facebook and Instagram. This highlights the important role that local news sites play in providing reliable, vetted information to their communities. While social media platforms approaches to content moderation are often politically-oriented and vulnerable to bias and manipulation, local news sites and newspapers continue to prioritize accuracy, fairness and accountability. Local news sites provide vital investigative reporting and local news and reflects the values, concerns and aspirations of the communities they serve, providing a protection to the misinformation and partisanship that often thrives in online spaces. Meta’s decision underscores the need for trusted local journalism now more than ever. As social platforms move further away from verified, professional content, local news sites remain dedicated in their mission to deliver the truth, ensuring that communities stay informed and connected. https://lnkd.in/ePkjNji3 #meta #factchecking #localnews #newspapers

Michael Miller’s recent article raises significant points about the role of news on social media platforms, particularly in the context of the ongoing discussions surrounding Meta and the News Media Bargaining Code. However, it’s essential to clarify what constitutes "core news" as defined under the Code and who is eligible for funding under the Code. If a publisher meets the criteria set out by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) as a registered news business, they should be eligible for funding—full stop. There should be no arbitrary exclusions based on narrow definitions that are subjective or not explicitly supported by the code. Miller’s argument that lifestyle content is not “essential” and does not fall under the "news" seems to misunderstand the Code. The Treasury Laws Amendment (News Media and Digital Platforms Mandatory Bargaining Code) Act 2021, along with the News Media Bargaining Code Guidelines, makes it clear that core news encompasses much more than traditional “public interest journalism.” The legislation explicitly extends core news to include “current issues or events of public significance at a local, regional, or national level.” The ACMA guidelines were comprehensive, with the exception of the somewhat vague definition of “public significance.” However, as laid out in the legislation, the scope of core news is intended to be broad and inclusive. It’s not just about politics, economics, or international relations; it’s about anything that holds public significance, whether it’s technology, culture, or yes, even lifestyle and consumer products. The Broadcasting Services (Regional Commercial Radio — Material of Local Significance) Licence Condition 2014 provides additional context, listing social issues, health issues, local events, and cultural interests as matters of public significance. What’s considered “essential” information is subjective and varies widely among different audiences. While hard news topics are undeniably crucial, lifestyle content plays a significant role in informing and shaping public opinion, culture, and daily decisions. Take a quick look at the homepage of news.com.au and whether all of that information is considered "essential". The lack of a formal definition of "public significance" within the code does leave room for interpretation, but it also highlights the need for a more inclusive understanding of what news can be. Let’s not diminish the value of diverse content that informs, entertains, and engages the public. As the News Media Bargaining Code debate unfolds, it's vital to clarify what constitutes 'public significance.' Ensuring all forms of news, including lifestyle, are recognised and supported will help maintain a vibrant and diverse media landscape, not just funding for a few at the big end of town. https://lnkd.in/gmQwq6vw

Just finished perusing the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism 2024 Digital News Report. Here are my top 5 takeaways for independent nonprofit newsrooms: 1. Video is King: Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are dominating. Two-thirds of people now watch short news videos weekly. While video is harder and more expensive to produce, it’s where our audience is heading and we can’t ignore it. 2. Bye-Bye Facebook: Traffic referrals from Facebook dropped by 48% last year. We need to diversify our sources and not rely heavily on Facebook. 3. TikTok Over Twitter: TikTok (13%) has overtaken Twitter (10%) for news consumption. It’s still a big opportunity to reach new, younger audiences globally, for now. 4. WhatsApp Potential: 21% of people use WhatsApp for news weekly. We should explore how to tap into this growing trend. 5. Trust Matters: With 59% of people worried about fake news, our commitment to accurate and trustworthy reporting is crucial. Platforms like TikTok and X are especially problematic for misinformation. #DigitalNews #NonprofitJournalism #MediaTrends #ReutersReport2024 #BeaconNews

It is alive! 🍾 After nearly a year in the making, Ad Fontes Media is proud to be the news rating solution provider for The Trade Desk’s ground breaking News Navigator that will enable marketers to effortlessly test their way back into advertising in news and then scale after seeing the results! News Navigator helps your team buy more high-quality news content by enabling them to integrate real-time, page-level data from Ad Fontes Media to automatically prioritize high-quality news content in your campaigns. News Navigator also helps you shift spend without limiting your Decision Power. This feature is designed to help your campaigns prioritize opportunities to bid on high-quality news content when you see them, without creating inefficient siloes in your inventory selection or budget allocations. News is valuable for advertising! News content can be more than safe for brands. It can offer value and performance by allowing you to reach engaged consumers, including the 11% who Stagwell's study found consume only news content. So many people to thank here, starting with TTD CEO, Jeff Green who’s stalwart committment to the #OpenWeb and ad supported news journalism made this possible, Ad Fontes Media Founder & CEO, Vanessa Otero, who bet the company on building out the tech that enables News Navigator and Don Hussen, Samantha Jacobson, Adam Markey, Shelby Coon, Brandon M., Moreno Weilenmann, Tom Flanagan, Rafe D'Amico, Kenny Paul and Ian Colley. There are dozens more. #journalismmatters