by Jim O’Rourke, CEO<\/p>\n
Over the past 18 months, I\u2019ve shared updates on the rapid growth and success of our company and now I\u2019m thrilled to write about David Arkin, an established content leader, joining our talented team of employees as our Chief Content and Product Officer.<\/p>\n
In less than two years, we have acquired 14 publications, which includes digital marketing solutions and print\/design agency. We are acquiring new businesses that are positioned for growth based on their location and market opportunity. We\u2019re focused on PROFIT and PURPOSE (in that order) and bringing a super-talent like David onboard aligns perfectly with our growth strategy and improves our competitive advantage in each of our markets-big-time!<\/p>\n
Arkin will join the company on August\u00a03rd and will assume responsibility for direct oversight of our newsrooms, audience efforts and products across each market.\u00a0All editors will report directly to him and the team will be tasked with growing and engaging our digital audience, continuing to publish vibrant print products, and of course, proactively supporting monetization efforts through bolstering and launching new products as we work to grow and diversify total company revenue. Have I mentioned that timing is impeccable!<\/p>\n
Arkin\u2019s background<\/strong><\/p>\n David has spent more than 20 years in newsrooms as a reporter, editor, consultant, and executive developing transformative digital strategies that have led to significant audience growth. He’s led everything from corporate news divisions to news start-up publications, introducing new forms of storytelling, digital technology, and high-quality journalism along the way. He most recently was the head of digital at an NBC television station in Houston and in eight months, moved the station for its first time ever from third place to first place for biggest digital audience in the market. He has been named the Digital News Innovator of the Year by the Local Media Association, has led newsrooms to national journalism awards and has served on boards for local media associations, including the Associated Press Media Editors, Local Media Association Foundation Board of Directors and Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas.<\/p>\n Here’s what Arkin and the team will focus on\u2026<\/p>\n An obsession\u00a0over data<\/strong><\/p>\n We can\u2019t create content with blinders on. And for too long we have. We know that now more than ever \u2014 as we work to diversify our revenues \u2014 having journalists who understand data and reader interests that can influence what we should do, is absolutely critical. More effectively using data to guide our decisions, improve our current products and launch new products is a centerpiece to our success as we move forward.<\/p>\n Content that helps people and communities that we serve<\/strong><\/p>\n Readers want information they can do something with. They want to stay connected to their community.\u00a0While we will always cover the news, we have to do it now in a way that is more personal through making the information actionable and easy to understand.\u00a0In each market, we\u2019ll establish plans that center the content around what is best for the reader. It will be our focus every day.<\/p>\n We’re going to boldly address news deserts<\/strong><\/p>\n The news deserts are sad. And we want to do something about it through acquiring and launching into new markets. Products \u2014 driven by new ways of thinking about content \u2014 are the future. We want to invest in new markets that are screaming for information. But we don\u2019t want to do this the way it has always been done. We\u2019ll eye a model that centers on visual journalism, quality of life information, and community content presented live in a way that we believe will be a path forward.<\/p>\n Rethinking legacy products<\/strong><\/p>\n We believe there are products that with a little \u2014 or in some cases \u2014 a lot of love, could be very special. We believe the right newsletter could lead to a special business and areas like Shoppers\/TMC\u2019s \u2014 with a content-focused approach \u2014 could become a new model that excites loyal audiences and advertisers.<\/p>\n Listening to our audiences<\/strong><\/p>\n Listening to our audience \u2014 through in-person experiences, asking for their feedback, answering their questions, and understanding our data \u2014 can build products that readers feel like is their own. It takes newsrooms to really understand why this is so important and why readers should be loved for their feedback and willingness to engage. Doing this will be incredibly meaningful for our future.<\/p>\n A healthy distribution of our content<\/strong><\/p>\n We want a healthy distribution of our content in platforms that we are able to monetize. This is about being intentional and putting our content resources in areas that help us diversify our revenue. By having a healthy portfolio mix of onsite, search, newsletters, multimedia, and apps, we\u2019re able to own more of our future, and newsrooms, based on the decisions they make, play a huge role.<\/p>\n Welcome onboard to David Arkin.\u00a0Onward and upward as we continue on our quest to change the game for local community newspaper and media companies!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Jim O’Rourke, CEO Over the past 18 months, I\u2019ve shared updates on the rapid growth and success of our company and now I\u2019m thrilled to write about David Arkin, an established content leader, joining our talented team of employees as our Chief Content and Product Officer. 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