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Fighting for journalism and profitable news media
Mike Soutar's leadership lessons from Genghis Khan | Semafor expands in Middle East
Plus New Internationalist crowdfunds magazine back from brink in fifth fundraise
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Good afternoon from the team at Press Gazette on Thursday, 23 July.
🪓 What can modern media leaders learn from Genghis Khan, Elizabeth I and Winston Churchill?
Beheading your enemies is pretty frowned upon in corporate life, as is dictating memos from the bath (as Churchill liked to do).
But I found there are plenty of leadership lessons to be taken from history when I interviewed Mike Soutar on the back of his new podcast for History Extra covering this topic.
I asked for his advice on managing declining (magazine) empires, competing with vastly more powerful (tech giant) opponents and what to do when buffeted by historical forces far outside our control.
I also explained why Napoleon is the figure from history who most inspires me whilst leading Press Gazette’s daily fight for the future of quality journalism in the digital age. If listening to two middle-aged men banging on about history is your thing, you can listen to the latest edition of the Press Gazette podcast here, or else read the key takeaways from the conversation here.
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Despite ongoing conflict in the region, Smith said he is “doubling down” on coverage of the Persian Gulf with a five-strong full-time editorial team and daily newsletter.
[Note to team: The phrase ‘doubling down’ has henceforth been banned from Press Gazette after this outing, retired to the home for worn-out imprecise phrases to spend time with ‘perfect storm’ and ‘going all in’.]
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💷 Crowdfunding has not really worked as a way of funding journalism long-term. But it can still be great for getting something started or getting you out of a hole.
UK-based monthly global affairs magazine New Internationalist raised more than £160,000 in six weeks to save itself from bankruptcy.
We spoke to the co-editor of the co-operatively-owned title Amy Hall about what went wrong and how they are trying to fix things at the 53-year-old newsbrand.
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