Observed Signal · Sep 22, 2026 · Hiring · Source: Digiday · Impact: 1/5 · Sentiment: Neutral
Semafor Redefines Head of Video Role
Semafor has appointed Adam Banicki as its new head of video, a role that now spans both editorial and commercial operations. Banicki reports to co-founder and editor-in-chief Ben Smith, with a dotted line to chief commercial officer Rachel Oppenheim. His responsibilities include developing video programming ideas with the newsroom and collaborating with the commercial team on go-to-market strategy, pricing, and closing video-related deals. Semafor plans to launch a new tech-focused show in October, hosted by tech editor Reed Albergotti, bringing its portfolio to four shows, with a daily news show in development. Banicki emphasizes collaboration between the newsroom and sales team to ensure commercial interests do not dictate editorial content. He previously held a similar role at Fortune, where he was general manager of video. The appointment reflects a broader industry trend of integrating video leadership across editorial and business functions.
News about a staffing change at a niche publisher, relevant to media but not industry-shifting.
Track Semafor Signals & Market Shifts in Real-Time
Polaris7 autonomous intelligence agents track regulatory filings, primary sources, executive changes, and deal flow 24/7. Create your Polaris7 workspace to monitor these entities.
Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Semafor appointed Adam Banicki as head of video, a role spanning editorial and commercial operations.
- Banicki reports to co-founder and editor-in-chief Ben Smith, with a dotted line to chief commercial officer Rachel Oppenheim.
- Semafor will launch a new tech-focused show in October, hosted by Reed Albergotti, bringing its portfolio to four shows.
- Semafor plans to develop a daily news show featuring reporter-to-reporter conversations.
- Banicki previously served as general manager of video at Fortune.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mapped“Semafor technically had a head of video before Adam Banicki stepped into the role this summer.”
“At Fortune, where I was previously, that was where I kind of started to move into this type of role informally.”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Semafor Bets on 'Anti-Scale' Video
Semafor is expanding its video operation and has hired Adam Banicki, formerly general manager of video at Fortune Media, as its first head of video. Banicki — who spent more than five years at The Wall Street Journal — will run both editorial and commercial sides of Semafor’s video business and report to chief commercial officer Rachel Oppenheim. The four‑year‑old publisher, which generated $40 million in 2025 and raised $30 million at a $330 million valuation earlier this year, is pursuing an "anti‑scale" approach that prioritizes high-value C‑suite audiences and long‑term sponsor integrations (Google and PwC are cited as sponsors) rather than volume-driven pre/mid‑roll advertising. Semafor’s video revenue has grown 150% year over year and the company has at least five new shows in development as it integrates video with its events business.
My Code Names New CRO, CFO and COO as It Expands into Video
My Code, a multicultural media and marketing firm targeting growth audiences, has completed its executive leadership team under CEO Amani Duncan with three new appointments. Luis Romero joins as Chief Revenue Officer, bringing over 20 years of experience from Canela Media and The Guardian. Ying Miao is appointed Chief Financial Officer, previously serving as CFO of Converge and recognized as Marketing Industry CFO of the Year. Dave LiCalzi is promoted internally to Chief Operating Officer, having held senior roles at The Arena Group, Paramount, and ESPN. These moves support My Code's expansion into video with Remezcla Más, a bilingual streaming service, and the development of an 'intelligence center' offering audience data products. The repositioning, under private equity owner Ariel Alternatives, also includes partnerships with Hershey and Experian.
Stagwell acquires Freestar to bolster publisher ad sales
Stagwell, a US-based agency group, has completed the acquisition of Freestar, a publisher monetization platform, marking a strategic move closer to the sell-side of the advertising ecosystem. The deal, announced on October 26, 2026, gives Stagwell access to Freestar's technology, services, and customer relationships, including a network of over 1,000 publishers such as Fortune, Boston Globe Media, The Associated Press, and Essence. Freestar processes nearly one billion ad requests daily. Stagwell aims to leverage this to enhance its audience intelligence, shorten supply paths, and support its AI Media Machine for agentic media buying. Freestar will continue to operate independently under its existing leadership and brand, with Stagwell promising not to interfere in its relationships with DSPs, SSPs, or other ad tech providers. The purchase price was not disclosed. This acquisition supports Stagwell's supply-side buildout and 'Future of News' initiative, though industry observers raise transparency concerns.
Receive all future signals for Semafor & competitors in your briefing
Never miss material M&A deals, leadership changes, account wins, or product rollouts. Polaris7 monitors 20,000+ primary sources 24/7, delivering verified telemetry directly into your executive briefing.