Big data and editorial intelligence in branded content and the new media business models

Abstract

This article studies the use of data in the branded content departments of the Spanish media. The editorial intelligence generated by content creators, together with technology departments and their audience analysis and monitoring tools, compose an emerging phenomenon. These processes provide new business units with the opportunity to offer editorial brands various strategies and products with high added value to cope with a highly complex advertising context. The methodology used in creating editorial products such as native advertising is reviewed based on qualitative fieldwork using in-depth interviews and a qualified sample of branded content managers for the main Spanish media outlets. The results corroborate the involvement of technological roles with knowledge of the digital ecosystem, as well as the analysis departments, which contribute to generating in-depth knowledge of audiences and their behavior. This gives rise to new business models associated with data to finance the media. This research is important because it provides insight into the processes used to create content for brands via legacy media titles, vertical media, and digital natives. These conclusions could serve as a methodological reference that can contribute to improving these processes.