Reflection 7

The first news outlet that I looked at was Buzzfeed. From my observations, it seems as if they get a lot of money from advertisements. The homepage and articles are filled with various advertisements up and down the page. Buzzfeed also has become present on Snapchat. People who are using Snapchat can go on and gain access to various Buzzfeed articles and news that the outlet provides. In addition, the organization has different apparel and other Buzzfeed themed items for sale. Buzzfeed is also a media model that is strictly digital and does not utilize print. The decision to do this not only appeals to the younger, tech-orientated population that they are targeting, but also saves them money by not having to spend money on print and risk the decline of the use of print media.

Buzzfeed has done a great job of building a name for themselves and growing financially and socially. Financially, they jumped from an $850 million valuation to $1.5 billion from 2014 to 2015. They have grown their popularity by incorporating a wide variety of information. From their iconic quizzes, to the factual news information that they provide, Buzzfeed effectively appeals to a younger generation who desires news, but also wants entertainment. They have increased their popularity by becoming a part of Snapchat, which is predominantly used by the younger generations. The appeal that Buzzfeed has to younger age groups will allow it to expand and continue to grow along with their readers.

On the other hand, USA Today is a media outlet that has been struggling in recent years. The company has been losing money, mainly a result of their print media. They are beginning to shift their focus to expanding their digital media presence, but currently are not performing at the level of competitors. Their website includes advertisements, but not nearly as many seen on Buzzfeed’s page. In addition, they are not present on Snapchat and do not have a large social media presence. In the future USA Today may have the potential to have an effective digital presence, but currently this is lacking from the company and causing the profit and popularity to be hurt.

Overall, when comparing the two media outlets, the one that focused more on digital media rather than print media was more successful. In today’s technologically-driven society, it is key to make digital media the main focus of a news organization. The digital media allows for higher profits through advertisements and sponsors, and increased popularity through a social media presence. This is the main factor that makes Buzzfeed a more successful media outlet than USA Today

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