Around The Bloc

John Byrne

John Byrne of Writers Bloc gets to talk to experts and thought leaders in the ever-evolving world of media. We share the best insights here. Looking at how Media is shifting in modern times: - How can journalism survive in the age of free information? - What traditional media can learn from influencers and content creators? - The ongoing battle between attention and reputation in the media industry. - How news readers navigate disinformation in a media-saturated world. Stay ahead of the curve with discussions on the shifting media landscape and the future of journalism. New episodes drop every second Friday. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast—it really helps us grow!

Episodes

  1. Why Media Can’t Ignore AI — And Why AI Needs Real Journalism With Brooke Hartley Moy

    Mar 20

    Why Media Can’t Ignore AI — And Why AI Needs Real Journalism With Brooke Hartley Moy

    Brooke Hartley Moy, CEO of InFactory AI, unpacks the rapidly changing relationship between artificial intelligence and the media industry. She brings rare perspective from across Silicon Valley and publishing, having worked at Google and Slack before co-founding an AI infrastructure company focused on helping publishers navigate the AI era. We discuss: Why AI companies increasingly depend on human-generated journalismHow search and social platforms captured most of the value in mediaWhy publishers are being pushed to think like data businessesThe trust gap between newsrooms and tech companiesHallucinations, misinformation, and model decayWhy waiting for regulation is not a strategyWhat happens if media companies do nothingSubscribe to the podcast or our YT channel for biweekly episodes. If you enjoy please leave a rating/comment/share with a friend, it helps us out big time!

    51 min
  2. How Publishers Turn Readers Into Members — With Madeleine White

    Mar 6

    How Publishers Turn Readers Into Members — With Madeleine White

    Madeleine White from The Audiencers and Poool unpacks how publishers build sustainable reader revenue. Recorded live in Paris, this conversation explores how media companies move audiences from casual readers to loyal members and subscribers. We discuss: How paywalls actually workFreemium, metered, and dynamic modelsWhy most readers never convertMembership vs subscriptionsCommunity-driven journalismRetention vs acquisitionBalancing public interest with revenueWhen to automate — and when not toMadeleine shares real-world examples from publishers including The Guardian, Financial Times, The New York Times, Le Monde, El País, and Daily Maverick. Subscribe to the podcast or our YT channel for biweekly episodes. If you enjoy please leave a rating/comment/share with a friend, it helps us out big time!

    41 min
  3. Marcela Kunova on Propaganda, Broken Trust, Rebuilding Credible Reporting & More

    Feb 20

    Marcela Kunova on Propaganda, Broken Trust, Rebuilding Credible Reporting & More

    In this episode of Around the Bloc, we’re joined by journalist and editor Marcela Kunova to discuss the growing crisis of trust in media. We talk about: Why public trust in journalism is collapsingMedia ownership and political influenceHow algorithms fragment realityThe dangers of activism and propagandaLow journalist pay and industry pressureHow to rebuild pride and credibility in reportingWhether journalism can survive financiallyFrom Slovakia to the UK, Marcela explains how democracy, media freedom, and business models shape what we read — and what we believe. 🎙️ A deep dive into journalism, media ethics, and the future of news.

    52 min
  4. Styli Charalambous on Why Paywalls Don’t Work for Public-Interest Reporting & How Newsrooms Thrive Despite Corruption and Funding Crises

    Feb 6

    Styli Charalambous on Why Paywalls Don’t Work for Public-Interest Reporting & How Newsrooms Thrive Despite Corruption and Funding Crises

    How do you build a serious newsroom in one of the hardest media environments in the world? In this episode we speak with the Daily Maverick's Styli Charalambous about building a public-interest journalism organization from a five-person startup into a 100+ person newsroom — while navigating political corruption, market collapse, and constant financial pressure. The conversation explores what it takes to sustain investigative journalism in South Africa, where democratic institutions were under threat and media economics were rapidly deteriorating. We discuss how Daily Maverick survived political turbulence, industry disruption, and repeated funding crises — and why purpose, strategy, and community became central to their survival. Topics include: Growing a newsroom during political and economic instabilityWhy journalism should be treated as a public goodHow the Gupta Leaks changed South African politicsBuilding a voluntary membership model at scaleDesigning journalism for real-world impactFighting misinformation in a broken information systemWhy paywalls don’t work for public-interest reportingThe limits of “better business models” in weak marketsWhy market context matters more than management skillWe also explore how Daily Maverick built a powerful reader community that contributes expertise, resources, and long-term support — creating a sustainable alternative to traditional media funding. Subscribe to the podcast or our YT channel for biweekly episodes. If you enjoy please leave a rating/comment/share with a friend, it helps us out big time!

    1h 8m
  5. James Hewes on What Jeff Bezos is Missing in Media, The Sector of Publishing that's Dying & More

    Jan 30

    James Hewes on What Jeff Bezos is Missing in Media, The Sector of Publishing that's Dying & More

    Publishers Stopped Being Media Businesses But Most Still Haven’t Noticed. What business are the in now?  Listen to find out. Ep. 2 of Around the Bloc, with James Hewes, publishing and media veteran. In this episode we discuss: – Why publishers don’t really run “media businesses” any more – they run audience businesses, and what breaks when you ignore that – How smaller, specialist niche media brands can out-earn much bigger players by owning a niche audience instead of chasing every news cycle – Why “print is dead” became lazy shorthand for avoiding hard product, pricing, and positioning decisions – What the Washington Post and Jeff Bezos story tells us about media strategy, newsroom culture, and business model risk – Why The Sun still can’t sell in Liverpool decades after Hillsborough, and what happens when a community decides your brand is finished – How AI, copyright, neighbouring rights, and slow enforcement are reshaping the relationship between publishers, platforms, and tech companies This is the kind of conversation I have biweekly. From the weird to the wonderful with the experts. James is Former FIPP CEO, ex-BBC Magazines, Gulf News, The Art Newspaper, now running Soho Consulting.  James has spent decades inside the media machine, working on subscription growth, audience strategy, magazine publishing, newspaper publishing, B2B media, and digital transformation for publishers. https://www.sohoconsult.co.uk/ Subscribe for full episodes every other Friday. --- Writers' Bloc protects and monetises your content. See where your work shows up online in places it's not supposed to, or without proper credit or payment. Writers' Bloc prevents that from happening, and makes it super simple for anyone to use your work for themselves, ensuring you get the proper credit and, most importantly, get paid. https://writersbloc.eu/click-protect-earn/

    46 min
  6. Abi Spooner on Value vs Discounts, Listening Instead of Copying, The Key Metric in Keeping your Audience & More

    Jan 23

    Abi Spooner on Value vs Discounts, Listening Instead of Copying, The Key Metric in Keeping your Audience & More

    What is a subscriber actually worth — and how should publishers measure it? Joined by Abby Spooner from Atlas Consulting, we break down lifetime value (LTV) in simple terms and explain why understanding subscriber value is critical for digital publishers, news organisations, and media businesses building sustainable subscription models. We also explore how LTV and the LTV:CAC ratio help publishers make smarter decisions about acquisition, retention, pricing, and audience growth — without drowning in jargon or vanity metrics. We discuss: What lifetime value (LTV) really means for subscription businessesHow the LTV:CAC ratio works in plain EnglishWhy acquisition and retention teams often pull in opposite directionsHow publishers can focus on subscriber quality, not just volumeThe difference between price and value in media subscriptionsWhy understanding your audience matters more than copying competitorsSubscribe to the podcast or our YT channel for biweekly episodes. If you enjoy please leave a rating/comment/share with a friend, it helps us out big time!

    1h 12m
  • 6 Episodes

About

John Byrne of Writers Bloc gets to talk to experts and thought leaders in the ever-evolving world of media. We share the best insights here. Looking at how Media is shifting in modern times: - How can journalism survive in the age of free information? - What traditional media can learn from influencers and content creators? - The ongoing battle between attention and reputation in the media industry. - How news readers navigate disinformation in a media-saturated world. Stay ahead of the curve with discussions on the shifting media landscape and the future of journalism. New episodes drop every second Friday. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast—it really helps us grow!

Information

  • Creator
    John Byrne
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Around The Bloc
  • Show Website
    Around The Bloc