The Secret Sauce of Axios

Today, we speak to the person who keeps us up-to-date on everything media-related, Sara Fischer. Sara is a media reporter at Axios where she writes their excellent Media Trends newsletter, among many other things. She’s become a trusted insider and a key figure in our industry. We explore the traits of great journalists, Axios’ secret sauce, and the quirks of various business models in media. Enjoy!

For the full show notes, transcript, and links to the best content to learn more, check out the episode page here.

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Show Notes

(00:03:59) - (First question) - How she established herself as an industry insider in media

(00:03:50) - Identifying current and future key players in the media industry

(00:09:38) - The importance of time management for journalists

(00:12:24) - Breaking down the value and delivery of Axios

(00:15:26) - How she optimizes work-life balance through autonomy and time management

(00:17:08) - Why media companies should start experimenting with A.I.

(00:20:00) - The mechanics of the Axios CMS and the process behind creating their product

(00:22:29) - Verticals that are being overlooked by media companies 

(00:25:08) - How she leverages the reach of her newsletter to promote niche offerings

(00:30:22) - Media brands that she admires for their focus on helping professionals

(00:32:32) - The unifying themes in the media industry 

(00:36:20) - Lessons learned about funding new media businesses

(00:38:28) - Why brand trust will be crucial in the era of A.I.-powered commerce

(00:40:37) - The impact of personal brands associating with authoritative media companies

(00:43:03) - How brands should navigate social media as a marketing tool

(00:45:19) - Her perspective on the power of LinkedIn as a social media channel

(00:46:48) - What success in the media industry looks like to her

(00:48:11) - The importance of email open rates in maintaining relationships with advertisers

(00:49:28) - Comparing so-called conceptual scoops and traditional scoops in journalism

(00:52:19) - How major American social media platforms are enhancing their news delivery

(00:55:56) - Debrief