Our 2021 Predictions Turned Out… Sorta…
November 29, 2021
7:17 am
One year ago we fielded eight predictions for 2021. How did we do? Not great, honestly. Let’s look at each.
>> Covid-19
CES 2022: Clear as Mud
August 18, 2021
9:14 am
In an SWMS spot check, journalists weigh in on whether CES 2022 is now safe to attend and worth attending, now that show organizers announced that all attendees will need to prove they are vaccinated against Covid-19.
Cheat Sheet: Reporters Who Cover Contact Tracing
June 9, 2020
6:17 pm
Whoever thought this would ever be a beat? Well, strictly spreaking it’s not a beat but part of a broader swath of territory patrolled by journalists covering the path forward from the catastrophe that is Covid-19. Here’s a short list of those who are covering apps that will help detect infection.
What to Expect — Apr. 20-24, 2020
April 20, 2020
3:59 pm
As the Covid-19 crisis moves well into its second month, we’ve noticed a dwindling number of new story approaches to try. Roundups, with their low-payoff SOV, still rule, especially in B2B. This week did spot a few emerging approaches — pretty much special reports — but still providing paths for most tech companies and agencies.
Amanda Orr: Edit Themes for Pitching the Recovery
April 15, 2020
2:22 pm
[PR pro Amanda Orr writes:] Like much of the country, communications teams both in-house and at PR firms have been in a holding pattern. As we look at the Johns Hopkins tracker on a daily basis, watching the numbers of infections and fatalities climb, we knew (at least I hope most of us knew) that this wasn’t the time to send emails or make cold calls…
What to Expect — Apr. 13-17, 2020
April 13, 2020
12:22 pm
Last week we polled B2B contributed content gatekeepers, nearly all of whom wanted the same kinds of pitches they received before the Covid-19 nightmare. Our research echoed what we heard last month from reporters and editors.
Constellation Research’s Post-Pandemic Playbooks
April 9, 2020
5:39 pm
“Pitch the reporters but study the analysts” has been our mantra for a while now. In that spirit, we recently checked in with Constellation Research founder R “Ray” Wang, who has been busy presenting to clients — and listening to them, too.
David Strom: Covid Do’s & Don’ts
April 8, 2020
3:50 pm
David Strom says: “My inbox is overflowing with a virus: all Covid, all the time, with pitches and experts offered from all walks of life. It isn’t just the infosec vendors, either: I’ve gotten pitches from genealogy vendors, and how sports reporters are coping now that there are no professional games being played.”
Contributed Content Gatekeepers: ‘Biz as Usual’
April 8, 2020
2:15 pm
With few exceptions, contributed content gatekeepers are operating the way they always did before Covid-19 — serving the readers who buy products, manage teams and have projects to deliver. Here’s what nine of them said this week.
What to Expect — Apr. 6-10
April 5, 2020
7:42 pm
Last week at this time we saw strategic content from levels high above the reporter level, on “What will it take to get past this coronavirus thing?” Here’s what’s coming this week, and how you can get a piece of it.
YOUR ACCOUNT
FRIDGE NOTES
New Formats for SWMS Cheat Sheets
June 8, 2023
One of the reasons for our upcoming partial hiatus is to explore all the different ways we can bring you additional value. Here’s how future cheat sheets might look — with art and a sidebar.
CNET Rethinks AI — Again
June 8, 2023
Finally, Red Ventures understands that AI is a tool for use by editors, not the shortcut to obscene profit. The Verge’s Mia Sato has the latest.
Insider Goes on Strike…
June 3, 2023
… over healthcare benefits. The shop has always been a high-stress place to work. We’ll see who gives in first. The Wrap broke the news.
NYT Competitor Shellacked… by NYT
May 22, 2023
A thousand words about The Messenger, a well-funded news startup that had a few challenges out of the gate? Read for yourself (password probably required) with an eye toward whether the NYT’s audience is being served.
CNET Is Unionizing
May 17, 2023
Mia Sato at The Verge has the story. Hollywood writers aren’t the only writers with livelihoods at stake.
SWMS Turns 25 Today
May 11, 2023
SWMS turns 25 today — only because our subscribers made it possible. Thank you for all the support over all the years.
Traffic to Stack Overflow Drops; ChatGPT Is the Reason
May 11, 2023
David Carr has the story on the Similarweb blog.
Open Stats for SWMS 5/9 Emailer
May 11, 2023
In descending order: who’s still left at ZDNet and TechRepublic; cheat sheets on SF-based tech reporters and AI in retail; Esther Ajao Q&A; cheat sheets on DEI, AI newsletters, accessibility and podcasts for retail investors; Larry Dignan joins Constellation Research; Robin Wauters podcast; cheat sheet on room videoconferencing systems.
Discover ‘Rest of World’
May 11, 2023
If you’re interested in a truly global picture of how tech is transforming business and society, explore Rest of World, a fascinating newsletter franchise.