Help Jonah Peretti in the formation of digital media – can he do it again?

Jonah Peretti’s profession has been defined so far by continuous re -innovation. As an executive founder and president BuzzfeedPERETTI was at the forefront of digital media for nearly two decades, as the changes were transmitted as the small startup company once turned into, at some point, the power of multimedia.

But as the company is old, one question extensively: Did it make it an unavoidable Peretti campaign to innovate entrepreneurship to the point that it does not lead Buzzfeed to stability in the long run?

“The beautiful thing in this field,” Peretti, “Do you do something (different) all the time. It was not 20 years of one job. 20 years have passed since an emerging company operates, then runs the partition company, then know how to get the public company.

Peretti was to adapt and stay at the top of the curve as a distinctive feature of the success of Buzzfeed. Years ago, Buzzfeed has been almost unique successful in its strange ability to participate. (One video chip, focusing on the reason for the Disney princes manufacturing “their terrible friends”, has achieved 77 million views over the years.)

Today, Buzzfeed focus is on artificial intelligence, including artificial intelligence tests and others Content created by artificial intelligence. It also pours some of its resources in a product in development called BF Island, a social network aimed at integrating artificial intelligence while creating content “spreading joy and empowering fun creative expression.” So Axios said last month, anyway.

Peretti routinely discusses the company’s upcoming projects with MediumEven when they are still in their cradle. Question about the reason, tells Techcrunch: “The idea of ​​talking about the things you are working on is to make the product better.

This direct engine has fueled many of the most famous Buzzfeed projects. The company was a pioneer in viral tests and menus, then it was determined to a more dangerous press with Buzzfeed News. But not all of these transformations have resulted. It is worth noting that despite its early success, Buzzfeed News was closed In 2023, leaving behind questions about whether the company should hold a clear vision instead of jumping between them.

Buzzfeed shareholders may think at the same time after the cylinder boat journey on it. Buzzfeed was announced through a purpose vehicle in 2021, and as part of the transaction, it acquired a media company and complex networks for $ 300 million in cash. Today, Buzzfeed is still circulating publicly, but it does not have this work; He sold it almost 108 million dollars last year. Recently, Buzzfeed sold another one of the complex networks deal – first to be – in a separate state 82.5 million dollars The deal of all of the sword. (Pertti explains from both sales, “They are not large technical companies. They are more productive and heavy talent.”)

Buzzfeed shares, at a price of $ 10 at first, is now trading $ 2.20 per share.

This is the place where stress lies. PERETTI’s embrace of continuous meeting is amazing, but it also means that the company’s strategy often felt a series of experiences instead of a long -term coherent plan. Experiments also come at a cost. Pertti says BF is a 10 million dollar gambling, which is not expected to achieve any revenues this year. He adds that “basic works” for Buzzfeed is profitable.

It is a fair question whether Buzzfeed will be better presented by an individual and consistent vision for the future – such as the New York Times managed to achieve it – instead of betting on a new idea after another.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to know the answer. The media industry has long preferred stability, but Pertti is not a mistake to believe that the current wave of childish artificial intelligence is a revolution in how people create and share them. Also, as it seems excited about the possibilities, Pertti appears clear about the risks.

“The big thing is that Buzzfeed has given us a lot of experience with new formats,” he says. “We got a lot of people who have ideas and want to cooperate with us.”

“I think the deeper understanding of the next level is that just doing the same over and over again and trying to grind it in reality a more dangerous strategy than innovation, experience, experience new things, and try to discover new ways or new ways to win a truly difficult market,” adds peretti, who is now accustomed to balancing growth with financial pressures.

You can hear more of our interview with Peretti in an upcoming episode of A strict download; New episodes decrease every Tuesday.