{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The WP Minute+","title":"Publishers Still Choose WordPress","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":2407,"description":"In this episode of the WP Minute+ Podcast, Matt sits down with Steve Burge, founder of PublishPress, to discuss why publishers choose WordPress despite growing competition and shifting industry trends. Steve shares his journey from teaching and writing books to building and managing a suite of WordPress plugins focused on content management. His experience with government agencies, universities, and major publishers has shaped his approach to developing tools that enhance WordPress for organizations that require structured publishing workflows.The conversation touches on the strengths of WordPress as an open-source publishing platform, the challenges posed by competing tools like Substack and Ghost, and the ongoing debates around the future of WordPress. Steve also sheds light on the role of Newspack, the impact of AI in publishing, and the need for greater clarity and governance within the WordPress ecosystem.Matt and Steve discuss the evolving landscape of web development, how agencies and publishers should navigate the changes, and what the future holds for WordPress as both a publishing and website-building tool.Key TakeawaysWordPress & The Publishing IndustryWordPress remains dominant for publishers, universities, and government organizations that require structured editorial workflows.Platforms like Newspack, Paywall Project, and LEDE are pushing innovation in WordPress-based publishing.The rise of Substack, Beehive, and other newsletter platforms is pulling smaller publishers away from WordPress.Steve’s Journey from Training to PluginsSteve transitioned from in-person and online training to building WordPress plugins.PublishPress originated from the need for editorial workflows in WordPress, inspired by Drupal’s access control features.Acquired and improved various plugins, including MetaSlider and Co-Authors Plus.Challenges & The Future of WordPressThe WordPress ecosystem is facing fragmentation and governance concerns.AI and closed-source platforms like...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Sc_eJunw7xigqxjwbAQZm4WVha2xRuUoFYgmWEEXnaU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hODUy/NDIxOTQzZmFmNDk3/ZDk4ZGUzZTQ3NzA3/NTk5MC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}