In this post we shine a spotlight on seven media news outlets we believe will have increasing influence and power in the travel sector and beyond in 2015. Some are more established than others, but they all have one thing in common: they have become influential through the ground-breaking way they deliver news content by adapting to changes in the way we consume it.
1. Skift
Skift is a US-based online publication about the aviation and travel industry. It only launched in 2012, but has quickly become a respected source of news and claims to be ‘the largest intelligence and marketing platform in travel’. The site identifies emerging trends and offers daily coverage of the global travel industry. It’s read predominantly by strategists, technologists and marketers in travel and has half a million unique users – typically managers from leading brands. As Chris Nurko, Global Chairman of FutureBrand, said: “Best new brand? In travel, Skift for sure!” Visit skift.com
2. Quartz
Quartz is also entering its third year and is prominent in the US – but little-known in the UK. It’s a revered, admired ‘digitally native news outlet’, aimed at business people who consume news on mobiles and tablets. Journalists provide a broad world view of the global economy through ‘obsessions’ – core topics they consider to be vitally important to and resonate with business professionals. For its itinerant readership, Quartz regularly addresses travel-related topics. Hailed as a technological and structural innovator, Quartz now has reporters in New York, London, Paris, Indonesia, Los Angeles and Washington DC and expects to expand quickly to other locations. Check it out at qz.com
3.Huffington Post
Now in its tenth year, The Huffington Post (or HuffPo) is one of the most widely read, linked to and frequently cited media brands, but its UK edition is still a relative newcomer.
Launched in 2011, the UK site is based on HuffPo’s US model, offering a mix of original reporting, content aggregation, blogging and social engagement. The site features original articles and content from regular contributors and bloggers, as well as articles from politicians, celebrities, academics, policy experts and health and spiritual gurus.
With a trophy chest that already includes a Pulitzer Prize, HuffPo’s commitment to breaking important stories is unquestioned, but the site is also where quirkier, niche stories are likely to be aired. Aviation and travel stories are frequently covered and the UK readership is growing, making this a good time to find out what all the talk is about. Visit huffingtonpost.co.uk
4. The Company Dime
A niche business travel news outlet, The Company Dime is a nice example of how the media is coming up with different business models for content consumption. Established by journalists Jay Campbell and David Jonas – both respected journalists in the sector – the site is subscription-only and provides insightful comment and analysis on issues affecting the business travel industry, written specifically for corporate travel buyers in large organisations. The site claims to ‘sell insight’: its philosophy is to leave breaking news to other people and instead to help readers understand deeper trends and issues. Smart. Become enlightened at thecompanydime.com
5. FastFT
FastFT is a subscription-only initiative launched by the Financial Times in 2013, illustrating how a long-established publication can effectively evolve with its readers. More in-depth and authoritative that Twitter, but more succinct than long-form editorial, FastFT gives bite-sized breaking news from the paper’s global, 24-hour reporting team, with informed comment backing it up. Professor of Journalism at City University, Roy Greenslade observes: “It is necessary during this consistently disruptive digital revolution to keep experimenting in order to keep pace with the speed of change.”FastFT shows how this 127-year-old publication is doing just that. Get your media morsels at ft.com/fastft
6. Vice News
This youth-oriented international news outlet appears to be going out to shock, but has a worthy aim, according to CEO Shane Smith. “The overall goal is to be the largest network for young people in the world,” he says. Aimed at the ‘connected generation’, Vice News has nurtured a reputation as a ‘bad boy’ brand since sending cross-dressing basketball star Dennis Rodman to meet the North Korean leader, all in the name of travel journalism. But it’s the outlet’s “unvarnished look at some of the most important events of our time” – covering politics, war, defence, environment, crime and drugs – that is helping Vice News to engage younger people. Last year, Rupert Murdoch invested $70m in the business in return for a 5% stake to support its expansion in Europe and India. He tweeted: “Who’s heard of VICE media? Wild, interesting effort to interest millennials who don’t read or watch established media. Global success.” Visit news.vice.com, if you’re cool enough.
7. Jing Daily
Jing – meaning energy, essence and proficiency – seems a fitting name for this online news outlet that focuses on the business of luxury and culture in China. With its HQ in Manhattan, Jing Daily has a global network of contributors covering business, finance, culture, fashion, lifestyle and technology. The Chinese economy is rapidly changing, innovative and complex, and this site is building up a strong following of business people keen to understand and maximise the potential of the luxury market in China, including aviation and travel. jingdaily.com
