The Outline CEO Josh Topolsky: Online ads are stuck in the '90s

Channels with Peter Kafka

Vox Media Podcast Network

Business News, News, Tv & Film, Technology

4.4 • 585 Ratings

🗓️ 10 May 2018

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Josh Topolsky, CEO and editor in chief of The Outline, talks with Recode's Peter Kafka about the importance of good internet-native design for both advertising and editorial content. Topolsky dismisses the idea that everything publishers put out will move behind paywalls, arguing instead that when ads are done well, they can engage readers and support free content. Most of the time, though, online media companies have forced boring ads on their audiences, who have learned to ignore them. He also talks about his past life as a music producer, picking a fight with Mike Bloomberg and what it's like to raise money when you have a reputation as someone who can be difficult to work with. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today's show is brought to you by IBM.
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0:25.9	HBO's Silicon Valley is as timely as ever as Pied Piper founder Richard Hendrix
0:30.2	pivots to build a decentralized internet free of ads and data tracking.
0:34.5	But as the saying goes, new internet, new problems.
0:38.9	Watch new episodes of Silicon Valley Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO. I watch it every week.
0:47.8	This is Recode Media with Peter Kafka. That's me. I am part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. I'm
0:53.2	here at Vox Media headquarters in New York City.
0:56.3	Before we get started, one very quick request, tell someone else about this show. You're smart.
1:01.6	You listen to Recode Media. You know how to do it. I will stop asking you now.
1:05.4	Okay, I'm back here with Josh Topolski. My script says, formerly of the verge.
1:10.2	Also formerly of Engadt, formerly of Bloomberg.
1:12.6	Yeah. Many other things. People describe me as a co-founder of Vox Media.
1:17.4	First time in this building. First time I've ever been in the new building.
1:21.1	Wait, wait, before you go into history, you're currently the CEO of the outline. That's true.
1:26.7	Josh Topolski, welcome. Thank you. Describe the outline. The CEO of The Outline. That's true. Josh Topolski, welcome. Thank you.
	...

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