In this week’s link Herd we’ve news of Tumblr creating an agency – the strongest example of Zebra Eclipse’s philosophy we’ve seen this year. We’re all publishers now. Also; you’ll notice a new look to this little blog. Black, white and read all over.

• Are media owners now more attractive than media shops?
  Media Week explores the issue of whether marketers would now be better off working for media platforms rather than media shops (whatever a media shop is today).
• Tumblr Launches Creative Agency to Connect Artists With Advertisers
  We’re all publishers now – and Tumblr knows that. It has created an agency called “The Creatrs Network” for media agencies and brands to tap into. It should be a win-win for everyone involved; with the brands offering cash and audiences and creatrs offering talent and audiences.
• Flipboard launches new Promoted Items function for advertisers
  Flipboard has added the ability for publishers to promote their content. Levi’s and NARS Cosmetic will be the first two brands to distribute on the new Promoted Items feed.
• Will media agencies become the new creatives?
  A look by Media Native’s David Brennan on whether “media agencies” are becoming the new “creatives”. It’s an interesting approach to this old question with some relevant points. I suspect the answer is both creative and media agencies are becoming something else entirely – although this article seems to suggest creative agencies are less happy about it.
• Google is now a more trusted source of news than the websites it aggregates
  What does this mean for newspapers? People trust Google’s aggregated view of the news more than any one piece of coverage. Does this mean people want filtered views?
• How crowdfunding helps haters profit from harassment
  We’re all publishers now and that includes the trolls of gamergate. Some of these trolls are making money off crowdfunding and ads. At what point does hate become a business?