The Turning Point is a new podcast series brought to you by FT Strategies in collaboration with the Google News Initiative: a partnership born from the shared mission to digitally transform and work side by side with publishers and journalists to help strengthen their work in the digital age.
In each episode, we’ll uncover the defining moments faced by leaders in news publishing and unpack the strategies adopted - and capabilities built - in order to continue delivering and sustaining journalism and news in the digital age. We’ll explore how they’re not just surviving but in some cases thriving.
To jump to an episode click the links below:
Episode 1: Daily Maverick
Daily Maverick is a trailblazing South African news publication with a reputation for investigative journalism. Its audience grew significantly after it began publishing the Gupta Leaks in 2017, a series of investigations that revealed the extent to which the wealthy Gupta family influenced the then-Zuma government. In this episode, FT Strategies' Director Aled John is joined by Daily Mavericks' Operations Manager Katherine Kotze, Audience Development Manager Alet Law and Global Lead and Co-founder of Google Insights tools Valentin Cornez, to discuss how Daily Maverick maintained the spike in traffic it experienced during the pandemic and how they then went on to double that audience.
Daily Maverick participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Data and Insights launchpad, a programme designed to accelerate data capabilities and solve real business problems. We speak about the impact this had on their business and some of the key outcomes from the experience, particularly around the transformation of their newsletter as an essential touchpoint to users becoming a subscriber.
Episode 2: Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is one of Germany’s largest and most influential news magazines with a weekly circulation of over one million. The publication is known for its investigative journalism and revealing political misconduct and scandals, including the Spiegel scandal in 1962 and the Flick affair in the 1980s. In this episode, FT Strategies' Managing Director Tara Lajumoke is joined by Der Spiegel's Managing Editor of Strategy & Operations Philipp Lowe, Senior Manager of Testing & Growth Valentin Espagné and Google News Initiative's Head of Innovation Ludovic Blecher, to discuss Der Spiegel’s growth strategy over the last few years and the key role that subscriptions have played.
Der Spiegel participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Subscriptions Academy, an intensive eight-month programme designed to help publishers define an ambitious vision for their digital subscription business and build the engine to get them there. We speak about the impact this had on their business and some of the key outcomes from the experience, particularly around how Der Spiegel advanced its subscriptions strategy.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 3: Expresso
Expresso is a prominent Portuguese publisher known for its influential newspaper and digital platforms. Established in 1973, Expresso has emerged as one of the leading media outlets in Portugal, delivering news, analysis, and opinion on various topics to a wide readership. In this episode, FT Strategies' Managing Director Tara Lajumoke is joined by David Dinis, Associate Director at Expresso and Ana Rocha de Paiva, Manager, News Ecosystem and Innovation Programs at Google to discuss Expresso's audience diversity strategy.
Expresso participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Audience Diversity Academy, an ambitious five-month programme aimed at helping publishers attract new audiences while building an internal culture that prioritises diversity.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 4: Der Standard
In this episode, FT Strategies' Deputy Managing Director, Aled John is joined by Head of Product and Deputy Director of Digital Publishing at Der Standard Florian Stambula to discuss Der Standard's focus on building a data-driven framework to understand, measure and increase community engagement.
Der Standard is a prominent Austrian publishing company renowned for its comprehensive coverage of national and international news. Founded in 1988, it has established itself as a leading source of quality journalism in Austria.
Der Standard participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Data and Insights Launchpad programme, an ambitious three-month programme aimed at empowering publishers by demonstrating the value & impact of data & insights.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 5: Blankspot
FT Strategies' Deputy Managing Director, Aled John is joined by Brit Stakston, CEO & Co-Founder of Blank Spot Project and Vincent Ryan, News Lab Training Manager at Google to discuss Blankspot's focus on building a sustainable digital revenue model.
Blankspot is a pioneering Swedish publisher at the forefront of independent journalism, breaking new ground in investigative reporting and long-form storytelling. Founded with a mission to shed light on untold stories and neglected issues, Blankspot fearlessly tackles subjects that mainstream media often overlooks.
Blankspot participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Digital Immersion programme in 2021, a one-week programme aimed at empowering publishers to accelerate their digital transformation journey.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 6: Observador
Observador is a digital-only Portuguese newspaper founded in 2014. It has quickly become one of the most influential and respected newspapers in Portugal, covering a wide range of topics such as politics, economy, culture, and international affairs. The newspaper's mission is to provide its readers with accurate, balanced, and independent news, analysis, and opinion pieces.
In this episode, FT Strategies' Director, Lisa MacLeod is joined by Leo Xavier, Director of Product at Observador, and Nicholas Holmes, Ecosystems Strategy Manager for Google News Partnerships in EMEA, to discuss Observador's major focus on developing a data-driven mindset.
Observador participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Subscription Academy programme in 2022. The programme is designed to strengthen and accelerate the growth of the subscription businesses and help publishers deliver customised plans such as optimising the sales funnel and developing new monetisation strategies.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 7: New Vision
Founded in 1986, New Vision is a prominent publisher based in Uganda, recognised for its comprehensive coverage of news, current affairs, and culture. With a strong history, it's a trusted source for in-depth reporting on politics, economics, and social issues. Through newspapers and digital platforms, New Vision significantly contributes to local and regional understanding of events, playing an essential role in fostering informed conversations.
In this episode, FT Strategies' Interim Managing Director, Aled John is joined by Barbara Kaija, Editor-in-Chief at New Vision, and Eero Korhonen, Head of News and Publisher Partnerships for EMEA at Google, to discuss New Vision's transition to a digital revenue model.
New Vision participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Digital Revenue Launchpad programme in 2022. The programme is designed to guide publishers in their early stages of defining and developing a reader revenue model with 1:1 support at every step of the way from discovery to actual testing.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production. The Google News Initiative and FT Strategies are not involved in New Vision's editorial strategy and do not endorse any of New Vision's news coverage or other editorial content.
Episode 8: The Lincolnite
The Lincolnite is an independent news and events website for Lincolnshire, founded in 2010 by Daniel Ionescu and is now the most read news website in the county. The Lincolnite covers local news, sport, politics, business, and entertainment, with a strong focus on community engagement. It is committed to providing high-quality, impartial journalism that is relevant to the people of Lincolnshire.
In this episode, FT Strategies' Managing Director, Tara Lajumoke is joined by Daniel Ionescu, Founder of Stonebow Media and the Managing Editor of The Lincolnite, and Benedicte Autret who is the Head of News Partnership - UK/IE/Northern Europe at Google, to discuss The Lincolnite's transition to a digital revenue model while focusing on engaging their local community.
The Lincolnite participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Digital Revenue Launchpad programme in 2022. The programme is designed to guide publishers in their early stages of defining and developing a reader revenue model with 1:1 support at every step of the way from discovery to actual testing.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 9: Premium Times
Premium Times is a renowned Nigerian digital publisher that has established itself as a trusted and influential source of news and information since its inception. Founded in 2011, the platform has gained widespread recognition for its commitment to delivering accurate, in-depth, and independent journalism across various sectors, including politics, business, entertainment, and sports. With a reputation for upholding journalistic integrity and uncovering critical stories, Premium Times continues to play a pivotal role in shaping public discourse and driving positive change in Nigeria and beyond.
In this episode, FT Strategies' Director, Lisa MacLeod is joined by Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-in-Chief at Nigeria's Premium Times, and Carlos Daré who is a News Consumer Insights Lead at Google, to discuss Premium Time's transition to a digital revenue model while focusing on using analysis and insights to understand their reader base and build a compelling proposition.
Premium Times participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Digital Revenue Launchpad programme in 2023. The programme is designed to guide publishers in their early stages of defining and developing a reader revenue model with 1:1 support at every step of the way from discovery to actual testing.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 10: Boom Saloon
Boom Saloon stands as a dynamic and innovative UK magazine, serving readers seeking to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of youth culture, music, fashion, art, and lifestyle. Through compelling journalism and captivating imagery, Boom Saloon curates emerging talents, identifies influential trendsetters, and offers authoritative insights into the ever-evolving global landscape. Whether exploring backstage access to music festivals, decoding fashion movements, or delving into the minds of visionary artists and influencers, this magazine inspires and empowers readers to navigate the currents of contemporary creativity with confidence and finesse.
In this episode, FT Strategies' Director, Lisa MacLeod is joined by Rachel Arthur, Founder and Editor at Boom Saloon, and Yuliya Sobakar Grati who is the Head of the Southern Europe OPG (Online Partnerships Group) in EMEA, to discuss Boom Saloon's unique digital revenue model and approach to ensuring organisational strategic alignment.
Boom Saloon participated in the Google News Initiative and FT Strategies Digital Immersion and North Star Foundation programmes. Digital Immersion is a programme designed to activate & accelerate publishers’ journey towards sustainable digital reader revenue, whereas North Star Foundation is a hands-on programme that guides publishers through each step of the North Star, facilitated by FT and Google experts.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
Episode 11: The Privacy Sandbox
The Privacy Sandbox is a collaborative effort designed to build technologies that both protect people’s privacy online and give companies and developers tools to build thriving digital businesses, supported by advertising. Google partners with the digital advertising industry to build, test, and optimise new privacy technologies that will reduce cross-site and cross-app tracking while helping to keep online content and services free for all.
In this episode, FT Strategies’ Consulting Director Lisa MacLeod was joined by Alex Cone, Senior Product Manager of the Privacy Sandbox and Tom Pickworth, Director of Technical Operations at MailOnline. They discussed the phasing out of third-party cookies in Chrome, and its impact for news publishers, specifically focusing on the possibilities of the Privacy Sandbox’s technologies.
Listen now to delve into the complexities of a cookieless future, exploring the intersection of online privacy and news publishing.
The FT newsroom is not involved in its production.
