Digiday Research: 88% of publishers say they will miss forecasts this year
This research is based on unique data collected from our proprietary audience of publisher, agency, brand and tech insiders. It’s available to Digiday+ members. More from the series →
In a new survey examining business confidence, Digiday Research found that 88% of publishing executives surveyed expect to miss their business goals this year due to the outbreak.
Ninety-five executive-level publishers were surveyed this week in a snap poll to understand the effects of the outbreak on their business. Of them, 85% said also that they expect to see a decline in ad revenue due to the pandemic.
That problem is an exceptionally difficult one. Coronavirus dominates news coverage, and with levels of worry skyrocketing, plus a lot more people working from home, means more people are consuming news. But publishers have found it difficult to monetize this coverage with advertising: Many big brands are staying away from spending adjacent to coronavirus coverage, and throwing associated keywords into their block lists.
About 79% of publishers surveyed said they also expect, unsurprisingly, to see a decline in event revenue due to the outbreak. Events have been a particularly important source of revenue for publishers across B-to-B and consumer media. With large gatherings effectively banned, this important source of revenue is essentially decimated.
Right now, only 38% of publishers say they expect to lay off staff due to the outbreak.
More in Media
WTF is behind the explosion of faceless creators?
Brands are rapidly increasing their spending on faceless creators, showing the unique benefits of working with this type of influencer.
In Graphic Detail: As ‘Grow a Garden’ booms, a new report shows the marketing power of Roblox
The explosive growth of “Grow a Garden” has brought new attention to Roblox — and rejuvenated marketers’ interest in its advertising power.
Brand deals surge for golf creators as the sport’s popularity spikes
Golf is booming, and so is influencer marketing. As a result, golf creators are signing an unprecedented number of brand deals in 2025.