The Daily Skimm is a popular email newsletter that delivers concise, easy-to-read summaries of the day's top news stories, primarily catering to millennial women. Founded by former NBC News producers Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, the newsletter has gained significant traction since its inception.
Content and Style
The Daily Skimm is characterized by its casual, conversational tone and skimmable format. It presents news in a friendly, non-pretentious manner, often using humor and pop culture references to make complex topics more accessible. The newsletter typically covers 5-6 news stories daily, providing brief summaries called "skimms."
Structure and Delivery
The newsletter is delivered via email each weekday morning, with a recently added Saturday edition called "Daily Skimm: Weekend." Its structure typically includes:
- An opening quote linking to a larger story
- A breakdown of one major story into sections like "What's Going On" and "What's the Response"
- A 3-4 sentence summary called "theSkimm" for readers wanting the bare minimum
- Additional sections covering various topics such as tech, sports, and current events
- Advertisements, promo codes, and community engagement features at the bottom
Editorial Approach
While positioning itself as nonpartisan, theSkimm has been noted to have a slight left-leaning bias. However, it maintains a high reliability rating and provides factual reporting that appeals to readers across the political spectrum. The newsletter prioritizes topics that are likely to come up in everyday conversations, interviews, or family dinners.
Business Model and Revenue Streams
TheSkimm generates revenue through several channels:
- Targeted advertisements
- Paid subscription services
- Branded products (e.g., books)
- Partnerships and sponsored content
Expansion and Additional Offerings
Beyond the Daily Skimm, the company has expanded its offerings to include:
- Other newsletters: Skimm Shopping, Skimm Well, Skimm Money, Skimm Parenting, and SKM Report
- A mobile app with news, podcasts, and calendar integrations
- The "9 to 5ish" podcast featuring career advice from successful women
- Skimm Guides: 500-800 word articles explaining ongoing news topics
Critique and Reception
While praised for making news accessible, some critics argue that the newsletter's brevity might lead to superficial understanding of complex issues. However, supporters contend that theSkimm serves as an entry point for readers to engage with news, providing links to more in-depth sources for those interested in further exploration.
In conclusion, the Daily Skimm has successfully carved out a niche in the digital media landscape by offering a unique blend of news, pop culture, and lifestyle content in a digestible format. Its growth and expansion into various media formats suggest a strong potential for continued success in the evolving digital news ecosystem.
