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> 2. What's the future of what we now call journalism? Is it all Substack (a YC company)? Can we run the global-scale world with that model? I'm new to HN and
by wombatmobile 6y ago
> 2. What's the future of what we now call journalism? Is it all Substack (a YC company)? Can we run the global-scale world with that model?
I'm new to HN and was interested to read PG's answer, because I like the civility and on-pointedness of HN, which I think is a result of its rules of engagement. So, first I looked at Substack, which I hadn't heard of before.
PG's answer suggests he values journalism, but I was surprised that Substack doesn't address the main problem of journalism, which is not a lack of "individual domain experts" - it's a lack of a viable business model to support people who practice journalism.
Advertising is what used to pay for journalism when journalism was published on newsprint. Since advertising went to online, journalism has been decoupled from the business model. Now less than half the number of journalists are employed in USA and Australia than at the peak, less than 20 years ago.
Can anyone point me towards attempts to find a new business model to sustain journalism?
- samatman 6y ago> I was surprised that Substack doesn't address the main problem of journalism ... a lack of a viable business model to support people who practice journalism. It... does, though? Substack is a way for writers to offer subscriptions for their content. Two friends of mine are benefiting from this, one has managed to pay her bills this way and the other is well on his way. I don't consider it a magic bullet, but it's clearly a step in the right direction.
- wombatmobile 6y agoSure, Substack is what it is, and that's good. I'm looking for ways to repopulate newsrooms that send journalists out into the field to cover breaking news. That's a different set of logistics, scale, and costs.