The past month has been a bloodbath for journalists and anyone working at traditional media institutions. We've seen considerable job losses at notable organizations such as TIME, Business Insider, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, and the Los Angeles Times.
This challenging time has undoubtedly put a strain on many full-time journalists, prompting a search for new employment opportunities. In the most recent edition of Sefomar’s media newsletter, journalist Ben Smith discusses how a shift in advertising strategies, combined with a lack of innovation and the diminishing returns for billionaires who “saved” certain media outlets years ago, is impacting the industry.
For journalists who want to stay in the business, it is more crucial than ever to enhance their digital skills and adapt to the changing demands of our field.
The rise of independent online content creation offers a viable and increasingly profitable avenue for journalists to explore. Also, the advancement of AI in journalism is another frontier we cannot ignore. Journalists also need to know how to adapt to it and use it to their advantage rather than shy away from it.
At Wishbox Media, equipping journalists and media professionals with cutting-edge digital and storytelling skills is at the heart of what we do. The current challenges in our industry only strengthen our resolve to provide you with the tools and training necessary to excel.
Remember, staying creative and innovative is key to standing out in this competitive market.
Best wishes
Rana F. Sweis
Founder, Wishbox Media
💡 What we’ve been up to
📱 Bringing stories to life! This month, Wishbox Media conducted a digital storytelling workshop for the Canadian embassy staff. The workshop focused on the importance of narratives in social media.
🧑🏻💻 This month, we announced our new collaboration with the International Center for Journalists by launching an online free digital storytelling workshop for journalists and content creators all across Jordan. The sessions will begin in early February.
🎞️ Wishbox Media launched an animated video addressing climate change in Jordan as part of our collaboration with the Qarib program. Every month, we will produce digital media content, which will be published online and in media outlets.
📽️ Our staff took a trip to Yarmouk University to work on a feature story and film an upcoming video about the impact of artificial intelligence on higher education in Jordan. Stay tuned!
🧿 We designed a set of coasters for our clients at the Swedish Dialogue Institute in the Middle East and North Africa to complement the launch of the "Intergenerational Dialogue" booklet. It’s been a pleasure in the past few months to work on a range of communications services for the institute, including an animated video, videography, photography, and more.
👤 This month, we’ve met with new clients from the private and non-governmental sectors to discuss ideas for podcasts, social media services, and more.
🧑🏻💼 Wishbox Media is highlighting filmmaker and videographer Abo Bakr Al Haj Ali, a Syrian video journalist and filmmaker based in Amman, Jordan, who began his career as a media activist in his conflict-ridden hometown of Daraa, later advancing to a documentary filmmaker. It’s a pleasure to work with Bakr on both videos and social media reels for our clients.
🖥️ Please check out our list of communication services to see if we can offer what you need. We’re dedicated to producing meaningful and thought-provoking content, and this month’s exciting collaborations and achievements propel us further on our mission to make a positive impact in the media industry.
🗄️ From the archives
💬 This is a throwback to when we conducted a live interview with journalist and founder of the platform “Motahdaith” Jessy El Murr, in which we discussed public speaking skills and offered tips for anyone who wants to improve their craft.
📨 Drop us a note if you want to collaborate with us on creating compelling content that tells your stories.
📺 Our media consumption
💻 We have been experimenting with a new AI tool, Tugan, which helps creators repurpose their content in various formats, from YouTube videos to a Twitter thread, from an article to a LinkedIn post, and more. Give it a doing, and let us know what you think.
🗞️We enjoyed reading this article in the New York Times, “Billionaires wanted to save the news industry. They’re losing a fortune,” in which authors explore how billionaires like Jeff Bezos, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, and Marc Benioff, despite their initial optimism and substantial investments, are facing similar challenges as others in making digital publications profitable. This piece highlights the complexities and ongoing struggles in the evolving news industry, even for those with significant resources and business expertise.
🤖 We found a lot of insight in this article titled “Navigating a turbulent year: journalism's adaptation to AI and audience shifts in 2024,” which discusses how journalism is grappling with AI's transformative impact and audience behavior shifts amid global political and economic instability.
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