For the past year, Paul Gillin and have been doing a series of weekly podcasts about new media and PR. We have renamed it MediaBlather and this week we have the privilege of speaking to Pat McGovern, chairman of International Data Group and the world’s most successful technology media executive. McGovern today oversees a $3 billion global media empire that spans more 90 countries and reaches more than 220 million people.
Amidst the constant churn in the information technology market, IDG has patiently grown and adapted through a philosophy of diversification, reader service and global expansion. In this interview, McGovern discusses:
- How the economics of electronic media make it a better business model than print;
- How Scandinavia and Asia are the leading the way in Internet innovation;
- How IDG’s experience with taking a business unit public convinced him of the value of keeping the company private;
- IDG’s new “Internet-first” strategy;
- How investments in Chinese entrepreneurs has transformed IDG’s business.
Pat McGovern’s success demonstrates the power of staying focused, adapting to change, experimenting and sticking with a long-term vision. You can listen to him and download the podcast here.
Fascinating and insightful information from Pat’s experience even though we are a software publisher. From my perspective of “I want a printed magazine to read”, it’s become clear why I have to embrace the online and podcast publications as the source for communications.