What WordPress Media Operators Need to Know in 2025, With Jacob Donnelly

The PublishPress Podcast

Jacob Donnelly is the founder of A Media Operator (AMO) Over the last five year, he's grown AMO from a newsletter to a fully-fledged media organization. Soon after launching, Jacob moved from Substack to WordPress with the goal of owning his platform and audience.

Jacob and AMO have covered huge changes in the publishing industry over the last few years, and his insights will be fascinating for WordPress publishers.

On this episode of the PublishPress Podcast we talk about subscription-based business, AI and other hot publishing topics. But we also talk about the importance of events for publishers. Jacob runs a big annual conference for AMO and believes that events are vital for fostering community and generating revenue. Jacob introduces the three-legged stool model of combining media, events, and data to create a robust business framework.

Timestamps for this episode:

• 00:00 Introduction to AMO and Jacob's Background
• 02:41 Evolution of AMO: From Newsletter to Media Company
• 06:25 Transition from Substack to WordPress
• 14:33 The Role of Events in the Media Business
• 20:43 The Three-Legged Stool: Media, Events, and Data
• 25:55 Navigating Disruption in Media and Events
• 33:03 The Evolving Role of AI in Publishing
• 39:30 Building an Audience-First Media Company
• 45:55 The Future of Media: Resilience and Niche Markets

Topics covered in this episode:

• AMO started as a newsletter and evolved into a media company.
• Jacob's background includes both journalism and business roles in media.
• The transition from Substack to WordPress was driven by the need for flexibility.
• Events play a crucial role in building community and revenue for media companies.
• The three-legged stool model combines media, events, and data for business strength.
• Building a loyal audience is essential for successful events.
• Jacob believes in the power of in-person connections in media.
• The subscription model is challenging but necessary for media businesses.
• AMO's content strategy has expanded to include multiple reporters and freelancers.
• The annual conference has validated AMO's potential and business model.
• Events are becoming a more secure business model compared to data and media.
• Data businesses face challenges from AI companies potentially scraping their information.
• Publishers may need to implement paywalls and validation mechanisms to protect their content.
• AI can enhance efficiency but is also causing traffic declines for traditional publishers.
• Newer media companies are more likely to embrace events as a revenue stream.
• Understanding the audience is crucial for media companies to succeed.
• The future of media may involve more direct monetization from audiences.
• Niche markets are becoming increasingly important in the media landscape.
• Friction in media products may become a differentiator in an AI-dominated world.