Talk presented 2014-11-12 at Quantcast Supernova conference, WTC 4, 54th floor. ( http://www.quantcastsupernova.com/agenda/ )

1. data science @ The New York Times
and how a 163-year old content company became
data-driven
chris.wiggins@columbia.edu
chris.wiggins@nytimes.com
@chrishwiggins

2. 1. the path

3. biology: 1892 vs. 1995
biology changed for good.

4. data science: web scale

5. example:
163 yr old

6. example:
millions of views per hour

9. data science: the web

10. data science: the web
is your “online presence”

11. data science: the web
is a microscope

12. data science: the web
is an experimental tool

13. data science: the web
is an optimization tool

14. 1. the path

15. data science:
- people,
- process,
- technology

16. 2. data science: process

17. “data”:

18. “data”:
“metrics”
“business analytics”
“Excel”
“reporting”

19. Reporting

20. business as usual Reporting

21. Learning
Reporting
business as usual

22. (esp. supervised) Learning
Reporting
business as usual

23. supervised learning, e.g.,
“the funnel”

24. Learning
Test
Reporting
(esp. supervised)
business as usual

25. Learning
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”; Test
RCT
Reporting
business as usual

26. Learning
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”; Test
RCT
Some of the most recognizable personalization in our service
is the collection of “genre” rows. …Members connect with
these rows so well that we measure an increase in member
retention by placing the most tailored rows higher on the
page instead of lower.
Reporting
business as usual

27. Learning
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”; Test
RCT
Reporting
business as usual

28. Learning
Test
Optimizing
Reporting
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”;
RCT
business as usual

29. Learning
Test
Optimizing
Reporting
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”;
RCT
(i.e. reinforcement
learning)
business as usual

30. Explore
Learning
Test
Optimizing
Reporting
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”;
RCT
(i.e. reinforcement
learning)
business as usual

31. Explore
Learning
Test
Optimizing
Reporting
aka “segmenting”
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”;
RCT
(i.e. reinforcement
learning)
business as usual

32. Explore
Learning
Test
Optimizing
Reporting
aka “segmenting”
(esp. supervised)
aka “A/B testing”;
RCT
(i.e. reinforcement
learning)
business as usual

33. aka “segmenting” Explore
“segments”

34. aka “segmenting” Explore
“soccer mom”
“segments”

35. Learning
Optimizing
Reporting
tech company

36. Reporting
“model” company

37. Reporting
fake company

38. Explore
Learning
Test
Optimizing
Reporting
startups:

39. “a startup is a temporary organization in search of a
repeatable and scalable business model” —Steve Blank

40. every publisher is now a startup

41. data science:
- people,
- process,
- technology

42. your questions?
chris.wiggins@columbia.edu
chris.wiggins@nytimes.com
@chrishwiggins