Media expert Antony Young rounds up media news from beyond Aotearoa in a regular column for StopPress. This week Substack has gained over one million new subscribers, it’s been a tough week in the office for Google and WPP has announced a restructure.
Kiwi founded Substack explodes with over one million new subscribers
Subscription based content service Substack co-founded by Kiwi Hamish McKenzie has seen a surge in growth, adding over 1 million subscribers since Donald Trump’s U.S. election win. This is largely due to a wave of prominent journalists leaving traditional outlets like CNN and The Washington Post to pursue independent journalism.
These creators are increasingly turning to Substack as a platform that allows them to bypass legacy media, build direct relationships with their audiences, and earn income through subscriptions. The platform now supports over 5 million paid subscriptions and turned a profit in the first quarter.
Substack’s appeal lies in its ability to empower journalists to own their content and revenue, attracting names like Jim Acosta, CNN’s former chief White House correspondent and Bari Weiss, editor of The Free Press and podcaster.
A tough week in the office for Google
It has been a challenging week for Google, marked by a series of legal and financial setbacks. The company agreed to pay $1.375 billion to Texas to settle allegations of unlawfully collecting user data, including geolocation and biometric information, without consent.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking to dismantle parts of Google’s digital advertising business, arguing that its dominance constitutes an illegal monopoly. Adding to the pressure, Apple announced plans to integrate AI-powered search features into Safari, potentially reducing Google’s search traffic and threatening its lucrative default search engine status. Google’s holding company Alphabet’s stock price is down 16% since the beginning of the year.
Rebrand, restructure and redundancies at WPP media
WPP’s announcement last week to consolidate its media agencies — Mindshare, EssenceMediacom, and Wavemaker into a single operating unit under the banner of WPP Media marks a significant shift in the advertising landscape.
In an internal memo seen by The Drum, GroupM CEO Brian Lesser confirmed the transition to “a single operating model” aimed at delivering integrated services “with one voice in the market,” warning that “difficult decisions” will be necessary to streamline team structures. While WPP asserts that this move is designed to drive growth rather than cut costs, reports indicate that up to 45% of staff could be impacted by redundancies.
Bank adds one million new customers in three years through clever marketing
Worth a read is this interview with the CMO of Trust Bank, a digital-only bank in Singapore that added one million customers in a market of only six million in less than three years. The bank’s referral program, which provided immediate incentives, drove 70% of its customer base and kept acquisition costs at just one-seventh of the industry average. Trust Bank also built brand loyalty through authentic influencer partnerships and unique campaigns, such as a live cash grab event.
The Guardian sees 25% year on year growth
Finally a good news story for a news media outlet. The Guardian is expanding its U.S. presence following a record year of revenue growth, with a 25% year-over-year increase. The newspaper, which derives 68% of its U.S. revenue from reader contributions, plans to hire over a dozen editorial staff and focus on political coverage, including a new U.S. daily podcast and a media reporter.
Additionally, it intends to enhance its soccer (football) coverage ahead of the 2026 World Cup and introduce its product review site, The Filter, to the U.S. The expansion is part of The Guardian’s broader strategy to become more global, digital, and reader-funded, capitalising on the growing appetite for progressive news amidst the U.S. political landscape.
Tough task getting visitors to ❤️ NY again
The US is facing a sharp tourism nosedive as travellers turn away in favour of destinations perceived as more stable or welcoming. This interview with New York City’s CMO Nancy Mammana discusses how she is navigating the current climate.
“We’re dealing with negative press, post-pandemic perceptions, global instability, visa delays and misinformation. People are afraid of being stopped at the border. That’s real,” says Mammana.
To counter this, NYC recently launched an AI-powered chatbot for meeting planners (a consumer-facing version is next), helping users navigate the city in 45 languages and they introduced a ‘hug-a-Canadian’ strategy.
Aussie media industry locked up
Kudos to the media industry’s charity partner UnLtd who are hosting its “Bail Out” event where media and agency executives get to experience a night in the shoes of young people caught in Australia’s juvenile justice system — complete with phone confiscation, processing, and sleeping on cold concrete. Participants help raise awareness and a $1,250 bail each so they can get out of prison.
The initiative highlights the need to reform youth incarceration, and the disproportionate impact on Indigenous children. Perhaps Auckland Prison could open its doors to NZ’s media execs!
