The Community Exchange Podcast by OpenWeb

Louise Story, CEO of Atlas Obscura and former award-winning investigative journalist, discusses her evolution through prominent media roles. She highlights how algorithms altered newsrooms and shares insights on the value of 'new news' in an AI-driven landscape. Challenges in publishing, user behavior shifts, and the necessity for innovation in journalism are central themes. Louise also emphasizes the power of community contributions in storytelling and the importance of authenticity to engage modern audiences.

Bridget Williams, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Hearst Newspapers, has over 20 years of experience in media, including stints at Business Insider and startups. In this discussion, she shares insights on the revival of local journalism and its relevance today. Bridget highlights the integration of AI in reporting, the importance of first-party data for local businesses, and how innovative tools can promote government transparency. She also emphasizes visionary leadership in navigating the evolving landscape of journalism amidst challenges and opportunities.

Lindsay Van Kirk, SVP and General Manager of Decipher at People Inc., shares her journey from AppNexus to innovating in ad tech. She discusses the importance of mentorship and personal growth in her career. The conversation dives into Decipher's cookieless targeting strategies and the critical role of AI in content creation. Lindsay emphasizes the irreplaceable value of human-generated content in a tech-driven landscape and advocates for a future where publishers thrive on first-party data, balancing technology with human creativity.

This is The Community Exchange Podcast, brought to you by OpenWeb: an interview podcast series featuring the leaders building the media ecosystem of the future.This season, our host is industry veteran Matthew Scott Goldstein (a.k.a. MSG). Each episode, he explores our guests’ journeys through the media world, the work they are currently doing, and how they’re shaping the media and publishing industry.Learn more about OpenWeb at ⁠http://www.openweb.com⁠

Jennifer Salant, VP of Global Partnerships & Business Development at Condé Nast, shares her journey through the media landscape. She discusses the evolution of digital media from blogs to influencer content and how Condé Nast has navigated YouTube and FAST channels. The conversation covers the challenges and opportunities AI presents for publishing, innovative content strategies, and the importance of audience engagement. Salant also emphasizes the need for publishers to adapt and future-proof their strategies in a rapidly changing media environment.

In this discussion, Will Lee, CEO of Adweek and former finance executive, shares insights from his journey into media leadership. He discusses the digital transformation of journalism and how AI is reshaping advertising strategies. Will highlights the importance of first-party data for audience engagement and reflects on the evolving dynamics between agencies and marketers. He also recalls nostalgic moments from the 1980s advertising scene, emphasizing the lasting impact of iconic ads and the shift towards data-driven decision-making in modern media.

In this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Gabriel DeWitt, Head of Monetization at Yahoo.In our discussion, MSG and Gabriel cover: Gabriel’s journey from software engineering to ad tech leadership Digital advertising's evolution from direct sales to programmatic Header bidding's rise and its impact on the open internet Challenges of monetization, privacy regulations, and the cookie collapse The ongoing battle between the open internet and walled gardens Yahoo's role in shaping the future of digital advertising The impact of AI and automation on ad tech and monetization strategies How publishers can adapt to a post-cookie world The future of identity and targeting in a privacy-first landscapeAnd more.New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Mike O'Sullivan, Co-Founder and CEO at Sincera. In our discussion MSG and Mike cover: Mike O’Sullivan’s journey from Microsoft to founding Sincera The evolution of programmatic advertising and ad tech Challenges in reporting, transparency, and data management Google’s antitrust cases and its impact on the ad tech ecosystem Unlocking hidden revenue and optimizing publisher monetization The role of first-party data in ad sales and strategy Gaining control over the publisher tech stack and supply chain The future of publishing: mixed media and investing in editorial talentAnd more.New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

Rich Caccappolo, Vice Chair at Daily Mail General Trust, shares his remarkable journey from CTO at iVillage to a top leader in media. He dives into the critical shift towards curated audiences amidst post-cookie challenges and the importance of adapting to AI's influence on content creation. Caccappolo also discusses the transformation of the Daily Mail from print to a digital powerhouse, emphasizing the need for collaboration and audience engagement strategies across platforms like TikTok. This insightful conversation reveals opportunities for publishers within a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Dr. Jonathan Roberts, Chief Innovation Officer at Dotdash Meredith, shares his fascinating journey from physicist to publishing innovator, even serving as the official cartographer for Game of Thrones. He discusses transforming legacy brands like About.com for the digital era and emphasizes the importance of community engagement in publishing's future. Jonathan reveals how audience data is reshaping content strategies and the evolving role of AI in personalizing experiences. He also dives into revenue strategies in a privacy-conscious ecosystem, targeting younger, digital-native audiences.