Branded content is a strong strategy for today’s COVID-influenced market and for consumers influenced by viral videos, on-demand entertainment, and unique experiences.

“Why Branded Content Fits This Advertising Moment” shares the findings of the U.S.-based Branded Content Project, a joint initiative of the Local Media Association and the Local Media Consortium. The Project is based on a survey of 40 diverse local news organisations in the United States that found high-profit margins, high renewal rates, and increasing revenue potential with branded content.

Case studies from eight news media companies in six countries bring home what the data lays out. Featured case studies are from ABP, Grupo RBS, LNP Media, News Corp Australia, Newsday, Ringier Axel Springer Poland, Skyline, and South China Morning Post.

The report looks at how news media companies are:

• Leveraging the value of storytelling.
• Building awareness and increasing brand loyalty.
• Capitalising on influencers and social media.
• Creating conversion tactics and measuring success.

Who should read the report?

Advertising and revenue executives, branded content experts, senior managements

Authors

Michelle Vielma is vice president of digital at Southern California News Group, and Julia Campbell is branded content manager at Local Media Association, both based in the United States.

Detailed overview

Branded content is a strong strategy for today's COVID-influenced market and for consumers influenced by viral videos, on-demand entertainment, and unique experiences.

“Why Branded Content Fits This Advertising Moment” shares the findings of the U.S.-based Branded Content Project, a joint initiative of the Local Media Association and the Local Media Consortium. The Project is based on a survey of 40 diverse local news organisations in the United States that found high-profit margins, high renewal rates, and increasing revenue potential with branded content.

Case studies from eight news media companies in six countries bring home what the data lays out.

The report looks at how news media companies are:

• Leveraging the value of storytelling.
• Building awareness and increasing brand loyalty.
• Capitalising on influencers and social media.
• Creating conversion tactics and measuring success.

Research and case studies in “Why Branded Content Fits This Advertising Moment” shows how branded content creates trust and lucrative relationships between media publishers, advertisers, and audiences when done with an authentic voice, across multiple platforms, and backed by data.

Authors Michelle Vielma, vice president of digital at Southern California News Group, and Julia Campbell, branded content manager at Local Media Association, give context to the Branded Content Project research findings while INMA Editor Paula Felps adds in case studies from LNP Media, Newsday, and Skyline in the United States, Grupo RBS in Brazil, ABP in India, News Corp Australia, Ringier Axel Springer Poland, and South China Morning Post in Hong Kong.

“We are an industry searching for paths forward – especially on the revenue side of the business,” said Earl J. Wilkinson, executive director and CEO of INMA. “This report ties together crucial research in the United States and best practices internationally to show where branded content fits in the business model mosaic that is coming together for media companies.”