Brian Morrissey

New York

Writer, Editor and Founder at The Rebooting

Host at People vs Algorithms

Columnist at Medieninsider

Writing about sustainable modern media businesses at The Rebooting.

Articles

The debate format

1 week ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

I’ve become mildly obsessed with the life of sea turtles lately. It turns out that they’re born with magnetic imaging that allows female turtles to drift for decades in the ocean to then find their way back to the beach they were born to begin the process anew. Evolution is inevitable. What we’re seeing now in part of the media market is the evolution of publications into a new phase of life as intellectual property assets to be harvested.
Volatility

2 weeks ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

Some things to know about:The Rebooting is partnering with Marketecture Media for the New Growth Agenda salon at Cannes on June 17. We will both be holding small-group discussions at our space just off the Croisette. We’re also having a cocktail. Looking forward to collaborating on this with Ari, Jermey and ATG. See more information here and get in touch for partnership opportunities.
The niche-down playbook

2 weeks ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

A couple things to know about:The Rebooting’s next online forum, sponsored by Marigold, will discuss how Metro UK successfully uses dynamic content, preference-based onboarding, and first-party data to improve performance and build loyalty. The interactive discussion will take place on April 23 at 1pmET. RegisterHeading to Possible?
The Ultimate Media Business Model

2 weeks ago | peoplevsalgorithms.com | Troy Young |Brian Morrissey |Alex Schleifer

POD: Media, narratives, markets with Nick Denton, EP 138. Gawker Media founder Nick Denton joins the show to discuss how narratives and memes run the world, and why it’s better to trade on them than run the old media playbook of the attention economy. Apple | Spotify | other podcast platforms.Watch PvA on YouTube.Out everyFriday AM. Too long… Read in the browser. PVA CONVERSATIONTROY: I know Nick Denton is doing heavy rounds right now, but I really wanted to have him on the podcast.
Elon Musk is on Nick Denton’s mind

3 weeks ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

I’m on my way to the SABEW conference in Arlington, Virginia, to discuss how journalists are forging an independent path on Substack and beyond. Let me know if you’ll be at the event. Today, I have a member essay I wrote based on a conversation I had with Nick Denton yesterday for an episode of People vs Algorithms that will be out tomorrow morning.
Stakeholder media

3 weeks ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

We have kicked off our latest research project in collaboration with WordPress VIP. We are surveying product leaders at publishers in order to understand how teams are allocating limited resources, navigating AI, and rethinking infrastructure in 2025. The survey takes less than five minutes. Take the survey. This week, a conversation with Semafor CRO Rachel Oppenheim about stakeholder media and on PvA, an examination of how taste can act as a moat in media.
Unsentimality

4 weeks ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

Reminder: We have kicked off a new research project in collaboration with WordPress VIP. It is focused on the product priorities at publishers. If you’re a product leader at a publisher, please take the survey. This week’s piece for TRB Pro members focuses on how we are going through an unsentimental period across society and in the media business in particular, as unsentimental operators take control of distressed assets. Upgrade to TRB Pro for $200 a year or $20 a month.
The limits of vibes

4 weeks ago | therebooting.com | Lucas Quagliata |Brian Morrissey

Lucas Quagliata is a marketer who has spent time in the field in various industries for the last decade plus. He writes the State of Play newsletter. Fake it til you make it. An old adage but honestly not bad advice. When you’re building a media business you need hype. To survive, though, you also need a strong business. You can launch without one and you have some runway before you need to be profitable, but you need to bring in revenue to justify your existence. This is true even when you have hype.
Monetizing IP vs monetizing the carcass

1 month ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

Before we get into the newsletter, a few things to know about:The Rebooting’s next research project, in collaboration with WordPress VIP, is surveying product leaders at publishers to understand their key priorities, particularly around the deployment of AI. Take the survey. If you haven’t already, see The Rebooting’s research with Omeda on the new playbook for audience development. Get the research. We are holding a New Growth Agenda salon in Cannes this year.
Media abundance

1 month ago | therebooting.com | Brian Morrissey

Thanks for the notes about whether South Tribeca exists. It turns out that most agree it does not, unless you’re in the real estate business, which once tried to rebrand Hell’s Kitchen to Clinton. In today’s member’s piece, I write about how the media industry like the Democratic Party needs its version of an abundance agenda. Reminder: Upgrade to TRB Pro for full access to The Rebooting’s content. Couple other things to know:We are bringing the New Growth Agenda to Cannes.