Postcard from the Edge of the Media Shift

When Journalists Go Solo

Image created with ChatGPT

Trying Something New

If you haven’t noticed, lately I’ve been craving a little more room to experiment—especially midweek when a full-blown newsletter feels like too much, but I still have something to say.

So this summer I’m going to play around with a couple of new formats. Some might be what I’m calling postcards—a quick snapshot of something I’m noticing, wrestling with, or just want to put out into the world. Think of it like a note sent from the road (or my desk), offering a glimpse into what’s been on my mind.

Other times I might do a quick video, share some art or do a photo series. The world is my oyster.

Let me know what you think—do you like this lighter, more reflective format? Does it spark any thoughts of your own?

---

This week, one thing I’ve been thinking a lot about why so many journalists are going solo.

Last week, The Atlantic’s Derek Thompson announced he’s leaving to launch his own Substack because he wants the freedom to pursue and write about the topics he thinks need more attention. On my podcast recently, I asked Atlantic CEO Nick Thompson about this trend. His answer was refreshingly honest: institutions are struggling to keep talent who crave independence, personal brand growth, and a better upside.

The core of the issue is where do the economic incentives lie? Going alone or having the institutional support of an organization?

When I told this to Hamish McKenzie, co-founder of Substack, he offered a different lens: “They just need a simple lens flip (support vs own) and they’re there.” His podcast episode with me drops tomorrow. Make sure to tune in to hear more of his thoughts on this phenomenon.

This all made me think…

• I also stay independent because I want that same creative and intellectual freedom. I want to choose my projects. This includes a path where the newsletter and podcast can be my core job—and consulting is something I can be more discerning in terms of the projects I take on.

• We’re at a tipping point. Journalists, creators, technologists—we’re not waiting around anymore for gatekeepers to tell us what to make. AI may replace some roles, but it might also enable new ones—I think it could be an independent creator who figures out innovative ways of using AI instead of legacy orgs as they are more willing to experiment. (Side note: this tends to happen with political candidates too where those who are written off or lower in the polls are willing to take more chances. See Obama and Trump.)

• And if Substack is the new newsroom, what happens when Notes becomes the new newsfeed? Or our inbox? What does personalization mean when it’s about people, not algorithms?

The power shift is real. So is the risk. But I’d rather be on the edge of a new model than stuck in an old one.

More with Hamish tomorrow. Make sure to tune in.

P.S. What do you think—is the Substack shift good for our information environment? Do you prefer solo voices or institutional ones? Or is it a combo? Doesn’t have to be either or. Let me know in the comments. And if you’re trying your own version of independence, I’d love to hear about it.