NN: That moment when you realize there's 11 days til 2019

[View this email in your browser]( [NewsWhip]( Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Hi there, Whether you're ready or not, 2019 is right around the corner. What will the new year bring? 2018 was a rollercoaster ride for social media platforms, publishers, agencies, and brands alike. Some weathered the shifting algorithms and the changes in audience behavior. Some did not. And still others found a way to thrive. This week, we highlighted our picks for 2018's top [publishers]( and top [brands](. (Congrats! [You did it]( We also welcomed experts in social publishing to give us their [predictions]( as to what's ahead in 2019. You can check out the full predictions report [here]( featuring insights from the New York Times, JOE Media, and social media whisperer, Matt Navarra. But in case you're already three cups into the office eggnog, here's the TL;DR: - The roles of social media editors will evolve in tandem with publisher distribution strategies - Walled gardens like messaging apps and groups will continue to grow - Bots and AI will deliver more sophisticated experiences - The popularity of the 'Stories' format will continue to grow - Challenges from misinformation, trolling, and data/privacy hacks will continue, especially within the walled communities - News organizations will have to focus on making their offerings into a habit - With mistrust at a peak, reputable publishers will have a golden opportunity to step in For all of the predictions, [check out]( report]( The top stories of the week Using our [NewsWhip Spike]( platform, we ranked the stories that drove the most Facebook engagements this week. The top story was about an Iowan school district adding a hunting class to their curriculum. The death of actress Penny Marshall appeared four times in the 15 most engaging stories. Trump appeared for two stories. Other top stories were holiday-themed. A story about Former President Obama handing out gifts at a children's' hospital appeared twice. For more of the top trends, [check out NewsWhip Spike](. Whippies Awards 2018: The top publishers on social ​ [Read here >]( Whippies Awards 2018: The top brands on social [Read here >]( Trends for holiday content on Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and Instagram [Read here >]( Noted - Here's an early holiday present -- Twitter is allowing users to go back to a [chronological timeline]( - Just 50 really [great tweets]( from 2018 - The biggest [search trends]( this year, from Google - Cringeworthy: Influencers are posting [fake brand deals]( to appear successful - According to a new report, [Instagram]( was the most effective platform for the Russian IRA during the 2016 U.S. election - Trust in the media is starting to make a [comeback]( - For fun: If you're not following the [Monterey Bay Aquarium]( on Twitter, you really should be On that note, this is my final newsletter at NewsWhip. I'm introducing our new managing editor, [Benedict Nicholson]( who will be guiding our research and editorial direction in 2019. Tell him what you'd like to see the research team focus on next year! Or subscribe to the newsletter [here]( if you haven't already. Have a wonderful weekend, Gabriele and the NewsWhip team. [NewsWhip Spike]( [NewsWhip Analytics]( [Reports]( [Blog]( [Contact]( Millions of stories, videos, and social posts are published each day, sparking billions of interactions. NewsWhip transforms this ocean of social data into actionable insights to inform your content strategy. NewsWhip products show you what audiences are engaging with in real time and what has performed best historically – in every vertical. Copyright © 2018 NewsWhip, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you opted in for the NewsWhip blog newsletter and updates. Our mailing address is: NewsWhip 47 Merrion SquareDublin, Ireland [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.