Tier 1

Tier 1 traffic is dropping, but not as much as we reported last month. It turns out that Similarweb refined its algorithms late last year, impacting SWMS analysis published Jun. 28. We reported that, of the 15 Tier 1 titles we tracked, only Axios grew its global audience year over year. The correct figures show that Bloomberg and Fortune grew year over year as well.

VC firm Andreessen Horowitz is building what you might call its own Wired -- a pro-tech media brand appealing both to consumers and business. It's unnamed as yet, but A16Z is hiring fast. So far, at least, parts of it appear to be pitchable.

Few topics captivate reporters more than the future. SWMS this week studied the past two "The Future of Everything" reports in the WSJ -- and a dozen stories in Fast Company's The Shape of Tomorrow section -- to identify pitch approaches that might work for you. 

Are you struggling to interest Tier 1 reporters in lesser-known clients? So is Jason Calacanis. The former journalist and well-known investor and podcaster sounded off Jul. 7 to CNBC’s Jon Fortt and two other hosts about the trouble he and other VCs have had in breaking through — especially to the New York Times.

The top ten companies gracing this year’s CNBC’s Disruptor 50 list received scant Tier 1 coverage during the previous 12 months. Based on SWMS research, the coverage that companies did receive was overwhelmingly from verticals. We did see three flattering profiles, worth deconstructing to see the elements they required.

Our subscribers long have sought Tier 1 coverage, but these days there's an urgency like never before. As part of this week's SWMS Tier 1 deep-dive, we explore some fascinating numbers from SimilarWeb. Read on for eye-openers that will change the way you think about the edit landscape.