Innovation
Facebook teaming up with Ray-Ban maker for first smart glasses in 2021 — www.cnbc.com
Facebook on Wednesday announced a partnership with Luxottica, the maker of Ray-Ban, to release its first pair of smart glasses in 2021. #AR
The New York Times and Facebook launch multi-year augmented reality reporting project — www.axios.com
It’s the first time that The Times has experimented with AR technology at scale. They are teaming up to co-develop augmented reality filters and effects on Instagram.
Quibi New Series ‘Wireless’ Lets Viewer Become Editor — apnews.com
You see different stories if you watch vertical vs horizontal on your phone #innovation #storytelling
Technology
Apple Event 2020: Here’s everything that was announced — www.cnbc.com
Apple announced a new Apple Watch, new iPads, a streaming service for fitness classes and a bundle of its existing digital services.
Trump Signs Off on TikTok Deal With Oracle, Walmart — www.wsj.com
The popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok will partner with Oracle and Walmart to become a U.S.-based company after negotiations that stirred debate over national security and the future of the internet.
Publishing & Media
‘Finding their sweet spot’: How publishers are quickly becoming large global licensors — digiday.com
Meredith, Hearst, BuzzFeed and Conde Nast are seeing their annual sales of branded merchandise increase. Meredith, no. 2 licensor after Disney, sold $26.5 billion in total sales of its branded products.
Introducing Good Morning Vogue, a New Fashion News Show — www.vogue.com
Amazon’s music service is launching into original podcasting — www.wsj.com
The company is looking to attract new listeners with a roster of 70,000 titles including originals from DJ Khaled and Dan Patrick. #podcasting
People are engaging with publisher videos and influencer content during the Covid pandemic like never before. — adage.com
Theories of what’s behind mystery surge include people being free from their bosses and teachers, loneliness, or simply a spike in click fraud.
The Washington Post and Financial Times are teaming up to attract readers in a new subscription offering.
Even in the thick of the digital revolution, landmark newspaper and magazine covers are still a major event. — www.ft.com
Sargent Leaving Macmillan — www.publishersweekly.com
Citing “disagreements regarding the direction of Macmillan,” Holtzbrinck announced that John Sargent will leave as CEO of the company at the end of the year.
Literary Arts Emergency Fund Donates $3.5 Million
www.publishersweekly.com
The fund, jointly launched in response to Covid-19 by the Academy of American Poets, the Community of Literary Magazine & Presses, and the National Book Foundation, will benefit 292 nonprofit literary arts organizations, magazines, and presses.
LSC Communications Printer Announces Sale to Atlas Holdings and Supporting Creditors
NPR adds localized news for 10 cities to its afternoon podcast Consider This — www.niemanlab.org
HT michellemanafy Listeners in 10 regions will hear local news after national stories thanks to geo-targeting technology being used in a new way. via @NiemanLab
Business
Amazon launches ‘Luxury Stores’ to sell high-end fashions; platform debuts with Oscar de la Renta collections — www.foxbusiness.com
Amazon’s high-end shopping experience is available by invitation-only. #Amazon #ecommerce
The Skimm Launches Skimm Well, Focused on Physical and Mental Health — finance.yahoo.com
Skimm Well looks to navigate and advocate for its millennial readers’ health by breaking down complex topics and recommending products.
MTV to pay for printing, postage of ballot applications via its voter campaign websites — www.axios.com
The network has long led the media industry in championing voter initiatives.
Resources & Opportunities
Bertelsmann Launches Round Two of Its #50000Chances Digital Initiative with Another 15,000 Tech Scholarships
RT @Bertelsmann_com We are launching round two of our #50000Chances digital initiative with another 15,000 #tech scholarships in the fields of #cloud, #data, and #artificialintelligence; applications now open #PoweredByBertelsmann #UdacityTechScholars #TeamPRH
Free Diversity + Media Career Summit
centerforcommunication.kindful.com
Attention students and recent graduates: Sign up for this free 3 DAYS Diversity + Media Career Summit. Wednesday, September 30 — Friday, October 2, from 12–3PM ET
Free online NYC Media Lab Summit 2020 Oct 7–9 — www.nycmedialab.org
Congrats to @nycmedialab for getting Andrew Yang as a keynote. The free event looks awesome! With Tristan Harris, Nina Jankowicz, Cory Doctorow, Jay Rosen, and many others.
Mentorship — Latinx in Publishing
RT @LatinxinPub We are taking applications all through #LatinxHeritageMonth for the 2021 cycle of our Writers Mentorship Program, where published Latinx authors mentor emerging Latinx writers! Apply to be a mentee here by 10/15. #lxpmentorship #latinxwriters
AMA phone calls about kid lit — twitter.com
RT @taliabenamy Ok kid lit peeps, let’s do this. Are you new to the world of publishing and looking for answers to your questions? I’m offering 20-minute AMA phone calls the weekend of 10/10–11 to the first 5 people to DM me and donate $50 to the Biden Victory Fund.
WRITTEN BY
Kathy Sandler
Sr Mgr, Content Applications, Penguin Random House * Innovation * Technology * Publishing * Opinions expressed are my own