5 Questions with The Lily: The Washington Post’s Bold Experiment for Millennial Women
Sometimes in the process of news gathering or carrying out coverage, a defining moment happens to a news agency or blog. Welcome to our new Beyond Bylines series: Five questions about the big stories you’re covering.
The first U.S. newspaper for and run by women was established in 1849.
The Washington Post is bringing it back to life with its new experimental site for millennial women, The Lily.
Launched in June 2017, the site is a first-of-its-kind project for The Post. Its mission is to empower and inform on of-the-moment stories that are important for its audience — calling attention to a diverse set of perspectives.
The Lily is “a place for the curious minded and for those who want to be heard,” it says, on the site. “Expect to feel uncomfortable. To agree and then passionately disagree.”
Its platform-specific storytelling is found on Medium, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Readers can also subscribe to a twice-weekly newsletter, called Lily Lines, to get highly-curated news delivered straight to their inbox.
I chatted over email with The Lily’s editor-in-chief and creative director Amy King, who pitched the site concept. Here’s what she had to say about The Post’s pop-up publication for women.
1. What drove the idea for The Lily? Why did The Post need this site right now?
I work on a team called Emerging News Products, and our goal is to reach new audiences. The Lily was started as a way to reach millennial women and deepen our engagement with this audience. Every day, The Post publishes articles about women or that elevate issues critical to women’s lives. With The Lily, we can provide even more visibility to these important stories by surfacing them for our audience across a number of social channels. We also offer original content.
2. The Lily has a very unique, bold design. What’s the inspiration or reasoning behind it?
The design is purposefully contrary to what people are used to seeing for this audience. There was a general sense on our team that women are tired of pink publications full of abbreviations and slang. Aesthetically, the goal is classic and striking. Editorially, we want to have a normal, intelligent conversation with our readers. We are reaching people in social feeds. In these streams of endless words and images, I knew it’d be necessary to create an instantly recognizable brand that stands out and people could come to trust. Both our visual and editorial voice were crafted to give people a reading experience they cannot find elsewhere.
3. How is the #MeToo conversation driving or changing your content plan?
In addition to the very straightforward discussion around high profile men abusing their power, we have tried really hard to examine sexual assault in places where people aren’t often looking. For example, we published a perspective on what it means that this movement has reached Iran. And soon, we’ll have an essay about sexual assault in nursing homes.
"It's important to tell your stories, but it should not just be on us." https://t.co/u2gKS8hNOP
— The Lily (@thelilynews) November 11, 2017
4. What’s the most important story The Lily has told so far?
It’s hard to choose just one story. We’ve written about mental health, sexual abuse and harassment, breast and ovarian cancer, being pregnant in the workplace, the pay gap and so many more important topics. A recent story that resonated with our audience is about women who redesigned the speculum, as it was originally designed by a man. We’ve had a story about female rebel soldiers reintegrating into society in Colombia. We’ve heard from inspiring women like Malala Yousafzai, Marley Dias, Shonda Rhimes, Lisa Ling, and Jessica Williams. Another reader favorite comes from cartoonist and illustrator Katie Wheeler, who draws a weekly comic for us with strong commentary on topics like sex education, body hair and equality in marriage.
Best of luck to @Malala as she starts at @UniofOxford. Here's our Q&A with her while she was on #GirlPowerTrip: https://t.co/RIaNbl2Sb3
— The Lily (@thelilynews) October 10, 2017
5. What sets you apart from other digital news sites for women?
We pair high quality journalism with beautiful visuals — both are equally important in our mission. Our editorial voice is unique in this space. We don’t speak in trendy slang, abbreviations, or emoji. We banned the exclamation point. We are against hyperbolic language. We don’t want to look back in a few years and cringe at the way we were communicating with readers. We are direct and conversational, we do not pander or patronize.
Does your newsroom or blog have a great story to tell? Email us at media.relations@cision.com and tell us why we should ask you five questions next.
Anna Jasinski is senior manager of audience relations at PR Newswire and a former magazine journalist. Follow her on Twitter at @annamjasinski.
For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
very informative articles or reviews at this time.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
I appreciate you sharing this blog post. Thanks Again. Cool.
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!
For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.
very informative articles or reviews at this time.
I very delighted to find this internet site on bing, just what I was searching for as well saved to fav
naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.
I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
For the reason that the admin of this site is working, no uncertainty very quickly it will be renowned, due to its quality contents.
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
There is definately a lot to find out about this subject. I like all the points you made
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.
There is definately a lot to find out about this subject. I like all the points you made
naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.
I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
Very well presented. Every quote was awesome and thanks for sharing the content. Keep sharing and keep motivating others.
naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
Awesome! Its genuinely remarkable post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this post
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
This was beautiful Admin. Thank you for your reflections.
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
I am truly thankful to the owner of this web site who has shared this fantastic piece of writing at at this place.
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
This is my first time pay a quick visit at here and i am really happy to read everthing at one place
I just like the helpful information you provide in your articles
I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will
Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
I like the efforts you have put in this, regards for all the great content.
You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great post on our site. Keep up the great writing
I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Many thanks for providing these details.
I do not even understand how I ended up here, but I assumed this publish used to be great
Great! Get ready for great games on https://tiny-fishing.co/
Excellent blog you have here. It is hard to find quality writing like yours these days.I believe that you ought to write more on this topic, it might not be a subject but typically folks don’t talk about these issues. To the next! Cheers!!
The Lily, The Washington Post’s bold experiment for millennial women, has truly captured the essence of what it means to create a unique and empowering space in the media world. With its focus on high-quality journalism and striking design, it’s refreshing to see a platform that challenges traditional gendered media narratives and encourages intelligent conversations. The Lily’s editorial voice stands apart by avoiding trendy slang, embracing directness, and not pandering to its audience. It’s clear that platforms like this are reshaping how we engage with news. If you’re also seeking great deals online, don’t forget to check out the latest offers, like a stylewe coupon code, to shop without breaking the bank!