Keeping our Edge: Media Consumption for Strategists

Working in the fields of digital and creative services requires us to do our homework – that is, to stay up to date on current trends and events. We accomplish this by checking our favorite websites throughout the day, reading e-newsletters religiously, tearing through books, listening to podcasts, and being sure not to miss a single event from our list.

Here’s an inside look at some of the media the NJI Media Strategy & Client Services Team follows to stay sharp at work and sound smart at cocktail parties:

Andrew Fimka 

My media consumption is driven by three equally proportionate interests – Politics, Business and Boston Sports. For the purposes of this blog post, I will spare everyone how I keep up with Tom Brady’s arm strength and questionable fashion choices and focus on how I try to monitor the intersection where business, policy, politics and the media meet. 

• Recent books: New Power by Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms, The Soul of America by Jon Meacham, Tailspin by Steven Brill
• Recent podcasts: Business Wars (Wonderly), Freakonomics Radio, Hidden Brain (NPR)
• Websites you check throughout the day: Axios, Digiday, PR Week, Bloomberg, Politico, Wall Street Journal
• E-Newsletters you read religiously: Axios AM, Washington Post Daily 202, New York Times DealBook, Finimize, Politico Huddle, The Hustle, The Bridge
• Events you never miss: Whenever Arthur Brooks (President at AEI) speaks, Public Affairs Council Roundtables, Sarah Fischer’s Axios Media Trends events

Nate Politi

It is important to understand and keep up with current trends in our area and industry, but equally important to avoid getting stuck in an echo chamber of ideas and approaches. What I read/watch/listen to outside of NJI Media’s walls isn’t always directly related to what we do, but, new ideas (and especially good ideas) can offer fresh outside perspective, and be applicable when you least expect.

• Recent books: Origin Story – A Big History of Everything
• Recent podcasts:  The Daily; Science Friday
• Websites you check throughout the day: BigThink.com
• E-Newsletters you read religiously: My Morning Routine
• Events you never miss: NJI Media House parties

Erin Bergmeister 

With a BA in Environmental Policy, I definitely don’t have the most traditional path into digital marketing and therefore, my media habits have played a key role in cultivating what was an interest into an expertise. As I continue to grow in my career, I’ve become more demanding of the publications I follow and really value outlets that don’t just increase that knowledge base but challenge it. Adweek, in particular, is really great about celebrating agencies/brands who are thinking outside the box.

• Recent books: Copywriting – Successful Writing for Design, Advertising, and Marketing
• Recent podcasts:  TED Radio Hour, Hidden Brain, Freakonomics
• Websites you check throughout the day: Adweek, CNN, Twitter
• E-Newsletters you read religiously: Skimm, Adweek (Morning Digest, Social Pro Daily, AdFreak, Brand Marketing Daily, Advertising and Agency Daily, Digital and Tech Daily)
• Events you never miss: Creative Mornings, AD 2 DC

Paul Paliga

I find my media outlets reflect a balance of personal interests that help my mind restart and recharge, and staying on top of media trends permeating the industry. Finding resources that distill industry news and then allow you to go more in-depth on your own is hard to come by, but Axios has really knocked it out of the park with their Media Trends newsletter. In the downtime around client work, I listen to football (aka Soccer) pundits have it out about the Champions League and who is going to bring home the hardware from Russia! 

• Recent books: Designing Brand Identity by Alina Wheeler, Tenth of December by George Saunders
• Recent podcasts: Reply All, Revisionist History, BBC 5 Football Daily (It’s World Cup season!)
• Websites you check throughout the day: BBC News, PR Week
• E-Newsletters you read religiously: Axios Media Trends
• Events you never miss: General Assembly, Brightest Young Things

Victoria Langton

While we pride ourselves on being experts in our primary creative camps: design, development, strategy, and video production; it is equally important for us to be up to date on all digital trends, even those outside our wheelhouse. As a busy schedule and client services go hand in hand, when I do have free time to engage with digital or topical content, it’s important that it’s purposeful but also relevant to me. My focus tends to lean towards the more abstract, with focus on human behavior and understanding the driving force behind trends and decision making. 

• Recent books: Hit Makers – The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction by Derek Thompson
• Recent podcasts: Hidden Brain; Why’d You Push That Button
• Websites you check throughout the day: The Verge
• E-Newsletters you read religiously: CreativeMornings
• Events you never miss: FamousDC, General Assembly Happy Hours, Anything hosted by NBWA

Lisa Kripowicz 

I’m a neuroscience major and science geek, so I love to read books and listen to podcasts that explain psychological phenomena, like the Unknown Brain podcast by TED Radio Hour. I’m also a college student (go Hokies!) and have a packed schedule, so I need my daily newsletter to be a quick dose of the day’s business news, which is why I subscribe to Morning Brew.

• Recent books: 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, All Marketers Are Liars Tell Stories by Seth Godin
• Recent podcasts: The Unknown Brain (TED)
• Websites you check throughout the day: CNN, LinkedIn
• E-Newsletter you read religiously: Morning Brew
• Events you never miss: VT and DC Sporting Events