Change at CNN and Google

This week, we discuss how to turn the ship at two very different companies facing different challenges: CNN and Google. At CNN, former New York Times CEO Mark Thompson is looking to reinvent the still very profitable broadcaster into a more nimble, digitally focused operation as its viewership and cultural importance fade. Google is facing its biggest threat yet in the form of AI and signs with Gemini AI image search that there might just be something to those complaints about a “woke culture.” Plus: nostalgia for websites, invisible paywalls and Substack’s next chapter.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Opening Banter and Homework Check00:05 Diving Into Mark Thompson's Memo and Corporate Speak01:20 Introducing People vs. Algorithms01:49 The Challenges at CNN and Google02:29 CNN's Transformation and Strategy Discussion07:13 Exploring the Impact of AI and Invisible Paywalls11:38 The Future of Publishing and Websites17:08 Debating the Role of Websites in Media Today27:52 Substack's Strategy and the Future of Content Creation33:32 Reimagining CNN's Strategy in the AI Era45:27 Exploring Perplexity's Innovations and Potential46:57 The Future of News: AI and Media Evolution47:14 Navigating the Challenges of Legacy Media in the Digital Age49:01 The Blurred Lines of Modern Media Brands57:17 The Dilemma of Independence in the Media Landscape58:57 Google's Leadership and Innovation Challenges01:00:14 The Cultural and Structural Issues at Google01:14:53 Redefining Product Management in Tech01:17:04 The Essence of Good Content: Vice and Beyond01:22:18 Closing Thoughts and Future Engagements