WSJ on Snapchat, Data Journalism, the Times’ Mobile Page One, Condé Nast Digital Innovation Center, TFP’s Infographic Pick of the Week, Adobe Experience Manager Mobile v2016.3 Release

Welcome to Technology for Publishing’s roundup of news and tips for media industry pros! This week, we’re sharing stories about how The Wall Street Journal is approaching Snapchat, the American Press Institute’s guide to data journalism, how The New York Times is succeeding at mobile first, Condé Nast’s plans to open a digital innovation center, and more.

Snapchat image

  • At a Digiday summit, The Wall Street Journal shared details about its early Snapchat successes and what it’s learned so far. With 100 million daily active users, Snapchat Discover is attracting some big-name publishers, with 20 onboard so far. For its part, the Journal initially had reservations about whether the messaging platform would be a good fit, but just two months into its launch, it’s seeing great results, according to social media editor Sarah Marshall. But there have been some lessons learned, Marshall told summit attendees. For one, with only a few seconds of readers’ attention, she recommended viewing each edition as a cohesive whole, instead of having “too many different types of stories that [take] the reader in too many different directions.” Also, she said publishers need to keep in mind that platforms vary greatly—what works on one doesn’t necessarily work on another. Overall, Marshall added, stay focused on the platform’s long-term value rather than immediate results: “This is about new audiences in new platforms. It’s not about gaining subscribers tomorrow.”
  • The American Press Institute released an in-depth look at data journalism, focusing on how it can benefit editorial teams and how to get started or expand its use. Rather than fearing that the application of data analysis in storytelling will replace traditional reporting, it argues that reporters should embrace the emerging practice as a complement or enhancement to what they already do, noting “technology enables journalists to use numbers less anecdotally, more authoritatively, and to uncover otherwise invisible stories.” This practical guide, published as part of the institute’s Strategies Studies series, delves into all facets of data journalism, including its evolution, strategies and best practices, how to avoid pitfalls, and more.
  • Nieman Lab featured a Ken Doctor article on The New York Times’ continuing push into mobile, highlighting how it has successfully reinvented its Page One for the digital age. “For the first time, I see a newspaper-created product that seems utterly comfortable with the digital medium,” Doctor says, noting that the Times’ smartphone products stand as a model of how “mobile can be harnessed to share the day’s news, and works far better to keep us informed than newsprint ever could.” In his post, Doctor looks at how the Times’ print and digital offerings differ in purpose and feel, where revenue is coming from, how its mobile strategy has evolved, and more. In a separate piece, he talks with Steve Duenes, associate managing editor of graphics at the Times, about the key role visuals play in digital news and how the shift has elevated the graphics department from “service desk” to stand-alone.
  • Condé Nast is putting more resources into digital as well, announcing it will open a digital innovation center in Austin, Texas, this summer. The center will serve as an “outpost” for the publisher’s digital teams as well as engineering and product development, according to WWD.  It will initially be staffed with about 50 employees. “As the next generation of consumers looks to be informed, entertained and inspired, we will be sure to make our content available to them in the most dynamic and compelling ways on every imaginable platform and device,” said Fred Santarpia, executive vice president and chief digital officer. The report notes comScore data showing Condé Nast increased its digital audience by 45% in January, with year-over-year mobile traffic reaching 81 million unique visitors and 69 million video views.

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Image: Digiday

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Posted by: Monica Sambataro

Monica Sambataro
Monica Sambataro is a contributing editor and copyeditor for Technology for Publishing. Her publishing background includes work for leading technology- and business-related magazines and websites.
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