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RSSFrom his journey as a teacher to becoming a leader in media technology, Johnny Levy shares insights on data’s transformative power for local media and offers his perspective on how authentic connection can fuel business growth.
In the latest episode of Small Press, Big Ideas, I sat down with Johnny Levy, CEO of DataJoe and founder of the Media Data Collaborative.
We started the conversation with Johnny sharing his unconventional career path, which saw him go from aspiring comic book creator and poet to teacher, sales person, and eventually to becoming CEO of DataJoe, a software company serving business journals, magazines, and trade publications.
Data Joe creates tools like Book of Lists, research-driven publications ranking top local businesses in various industries. The work that they do shows that well-curated data can engage communities and drive revenue through advertising, offering local media unseen pathways to financial sustainability.
Another key focus of our conversation is the Media Data Collaborative (MDC), a monthly group that Johnny founded to bring publishers and vendors together for discussions on the future of data in media.
Through MDC, Johnny seeks to address the industry’s pressing questions, like how to leverage emerging technologies to enhance user engagement.
One example of this was a recent conversation in the group on customer data platforms. CDP’s are powerful and expensive software solutions that collect and unify data into a single customer profile.
The group’s conversations underscore that, while these platforms are powerful, smaller publishers can achieve significant results through simpler, more affordable tools. For Johnny, the goal is always about helping local media outlets find actionable strategies that meet their specific needs, without unnecessary costs.
Johnny also delves into his passion for connecting people, a theme he expands on in his book, The Superpower Quest. In the book, Johnny explores personality archetypes, including the “super connector” role he identifies with.
As a connector, Johnny describes how he’s drawn to people, seeing his role as someone who fosters meaningful relationships both inside and outside the local media industry.
He emphasizes that, rather than focusing on transactions, he prioritizes relationships, believing that long-term success grows from authentic connections rather than immediate deals. This approach has allowed him to help publishers and vendors forge partnerships that create real value for the industry.
We wrapped up our conversation with Johnny discussing People of Media, a series he’s started to spotlight media professionals who are doing exceptional work. The idea for the series came from the amazing conversations that Johnny was having as a connector in local media that he thought others could find value through.
Through this series, he aims to amplify the stories of those who embody integrity, generosity, and innovation in media. By sharing these stories, Johnny hopes to inspire others in the local media industry to embrace a more collaborative and relational approach to business.
Johnny’s insights in this episode show that the true power of data lies not just in monetization but in fostering community and bringing people together—a message that resonates with my vision for Small Press, Big Ideas.