The Zeitgeist: May 16, 2025

Today's Edition: Secondhand Shopping, Substack and Airbnb

Good morning. Today, New Jersey Transit engineers went on strike, potentially affecting 350,000 commuters who use the third-largest transit system in the country. The disruption is likely to ripple across the region’s economy, with delayed meetings, staffing shortages and increased pressure on NYC transit alternatives. Follow along for live updates.

Also this week, Columbia Journalism Review in partnership with the University of Southern California’s AI for Media and Storytelling Initiative published a piece on how media leaders, from reporters to executives, are using AI. It’s a sharp look at the balance between experimentation and editorial values, and worth a read.

Campaigns

Earned-friendly campaigns & clever moments

Also, Arby’s napkin merch for National Barbecue Day (5/16), Knorr x Martha Stewart’s Unlimited Time Menu, JetBlue x Dunkin’s branded plane, Megan Thee Stallion x Airbnb’s Otaku Hottie Quest experience, Mountain Dew x Papa Johns’ Cini Dirty Soda and Temptations’ Cat Dad campaign.

Culture 

Snackable bites of consumer culture

Corporate

Commerce

Shopper society snapshot

Connections

Feed intelligence

Media Moves:

  • Kimberly S. Johnson, formerly deputy chief news editor at The Wall Street Journal, is now consumer and industries editor at The New York Times on the Business team, overseeing a group of reporters covering manufacturing, agriculture, retail, food and logistics.

  • Charles Rollet, formerly senior writer at TechCrunch, is now San Francisco tech correspondent at Business Insider.

  • Annabel Burba, editorial assistant at Inc., is now writing its “Founder Focus” newsletter, focusing on stories, tested strategies and hard-won lessons from the people building businesses. The newsletter runs on Wednesdays and is only available to subscribers.

  • Megan Rose Dickey, formerly reporter at Gazetteer San Francisco, is now associate director at GrowthX AI.

  • Elsie Boskamp, formerly deals editor at Reviewed, is now senior coupons editor at Forbes Vetted.

  • Zoe Moore, formerly social media producer at ABC’s Good Morning America, has left the network and has yet to announce her new role.

  • Megan Gray, formerly e-commerce editor at NBC, is now shopping writer at Apartment Therapy.

  • Sophie Cannon, formerly commerce strategy and development manager at The New York Post, is now business development specialist at CNN, covering commerce.

  • Isley Zegas, formerly executive editor at US Weekly, is now senior executive editor at MediaCo, working on special projects and brands including Star Magazine and starmagazine.com.

Also... check out these visuals from Information is Beautiful ranking how accurate “true story” films really are.

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