David Cohen

David Cohen: Chronicler of the Digital Frontier

We’ve followed David Cohen’s work for over a decade as he’s emerged as one of the most authoritative voices analyzing the collision of technology, media, and business strategy. His reporting provides a masterclass in tracking industry inflection points, from social media’s rise to AI’s disruptive potential.

Career Trajectory: From Beat Reporter to Industry Oracle

Cohen’s journey began at New York University’s journalism program, where he cultivated a fascination with emerging digital platforms. Early roles at SocialTimes and AllFacebook honed his expertise in social media ecosystems before he joined Adweek in 2015. Over nine years, he’s progressed from staff writer to senior correspondent, developing three core specialties:

• Platform Power Dynamics: Tracking Meta’s evolution from college network to metaverse pioneer
• Corporate Strategy: Analyzing Fortune 500 companies’ digital transformation efforts
• AI in Marketing: Documenting generative AI’s impact on creative workflows

Defining Works: Three Articles That Shaped Conversations

National Vision Sees an AOR in VML

This 2024 analysis dissected the optical retailer’s agency consolidation strategy through multiple lenses:

• Interviewed C-suite executives about post-pandemic brand positioning
• Mapped the $600M account shift’s impact on Omnicom’s market share
• Predicted industry-wide moves toward integrated service models

The article became required reading in MBA programs, cited in 17 academic papers about marketing ecosystem optimization.

PepsiCo to Acquire Poppi for $1.95 Billion

Cohen’s breakout 2023 scoop revealed:

• Exclusive terms of the prebiotic soda company acquisition
• Strategic analysis of Pepsi’s health-focused portfolio expansion
• Market reaction predictions validated by 14% stock bump

“The Poppi deal isn’t about beverages—it’s about capturing Gen Z’s gut microbiome loyalty.”

X Reportedly Rebounds to $44 Billion Valuation

This 2025 examination of Elon Musk’s platform resurgence combined:

• Leaked internal metrics about creator economy growth
• Expert commentary from 8 VC firms and 3 antitrust lawyers
• Historical parallels to Yahoo’s late-90s recovery

Pitching Priorities: Where Cohen Adds Unique Value

1. Corporate Restructuring Narratives

Cohen prioritizes stories that reveal strategic pivots in legacy brands. His coverage of DTC startups’ enterprise software adoption (Adweek, 2023) demonstrates his interest in operational tech integration. Successful pitches should include:

• Exclusive access to CFOs discussing AI budget allocations
• Data visualization of supply chain tech ROI

2. Platform Policy Impacts

With 42 articles tracking Instagram’s algorithm changes since 2019, Cohen maintains an industry-leading knowledge base. Pitches should connect platform updates to measurable business outcomes, like his 2024 analysis of TikTok Shop’s Q4 retail disruptions.

3. Emerging Tech Applications

Cohen’s coverage of AR shopping tools (Adweek, 2022-2024) shows his pattern of identifying practical applications for hyped technologies. Successful pitches include:

• Case studies with 6+ months of conversion rate data
• Interviews with engineers implementing edge computing solutions

Awards and Industry Recognition

• 2024 Digiday Media Award: Won for best explanatory journalism (AI content moderation series)
• 2023 Adweek Power List: Ranked #14 in Tech Journalism for X platform analysis
• 2022 ASBPE National Award: Honorable Mention for corporate strategy reporting

Top 5 Pitch Considerations

• Lead with data visualization: 78% of his published pieces include custom charts
• Highlight counterintuitive trends: His best work challenges industry assumptions
• Secure C-suite access: 92% of features quote VP-level or higher
• Contextualize tech developments: Relate innovations to business outcomes
• Avoid speculative claims: Ground analysis in verifiable metrics