This is not just a print media phenomenon. TV has been dealing with subscriber streaming services for years. Both Substack newsletters and streaming TV operate on the same principle: provide vertical curated content (focused on singular topics or interests) to people willing to pay for it without having to suffer through advertising. (I say this as someone who has spent 43 years in advertising and public relations). Choice and customization reign!
I like fashion, NFL and ballet. No one would put those together in a single publication. But I can subscribe to experts in each! I get deep content and insights on single topics - instead of old-school newspapers who provide a smattering each of dozens of topics.
This is such a timely post given the Washington Post drama that hit us all this afternoon. Having control over your own content and the ability to publish what you want just became even more valuable (if that’s even possible). I can say that I have made more purchases from Becky and Leandra’s substacks in 2024 than I have from any other media source, including print and Instagram content. What’s funny about substacks is that it flys in the face that long form print is dying-it’s not-give us the opinions of people we trust and not only will we read it, we will pay to do so.
I went to journalism school in the late 90s, right when this all started happening. I got an internship with MTV writing content about local bands and concerts for their website, and I specifically remember the lead professor in the department telling me that this (whatever we called the internet then??) was a fad and he wouldn’t sign off on the internship. I found another professor who would, but that would still be my second to last journalism job. I couldn’t make it on what the job I got outside of college paid. I have spent the past 20 years as a technical writer in the climate space, which is great, but I do wonder sometimes what might have been. I think a lot of people here have had similar experiences, which is why I love this platform so much.
Willfully blind to changes in media will doom any company. While I love magazines, there are few that target me. Martha Stewart is gone, Real simple got weird and woke, vogue pay for play, and all my knitting fashion magazines are gone. I just paid $15 for a Martha Stewart, Thanksgiving , Christmas and New Years issue. Advertisements were just her products. I really miss magazines.
This is not just a print media phenomenon. TV has been dealing with subscriber streaming services for years. Both Substack newsletters and streaming TV operate on the same principle: provide vertical curated content (focused on singular topics or interests) to people willing to pay for it without having to suffer through advertising. (I say this as someone who has spent 43 years in advertising and public relations). Choice and customization reign!
I like fashion, NFL and ballet. No one would put those together in a single publication. But I can subscribe to experts in each! I get deep content and insights on single topics - instead of old-school newspapers who provide a smattering each of dozens of topics.
This is such a timely post given the Washington Post drama that hit us all this afternoon. Having control over your own content and the ability to publish what you want just became even more valuable (if that’s even possible). I can say that I have made more purchases from Becky and Leandra’s substacks in 2024 than I have from any other media source, including print and Instagram content. What’s funny about substacks is that it flys in the face that long form print is dying-it’s not-give us the opinions of people we trust and not only will we read it, we will pay to do so.
I went to journalism school in the late 90s, right when this all started happening. I got an internship with MTV writing content about local bands and concerts for their website, and I specifically remember the lead professor in the department telling me that this (whatever we called the internet then??) was a fad and he wouldn’t sign off on the internship. I found another professor who would, but that would still be my second to last journalism job. I couldn’t make it on what the job I got outside of college paid. I have spent the past 20 years as a technical writer in the climate space, which is great, but I do wonder sometimes what might have been. I think a lot of people here have had similar experiences, which is why I love this platform so much.
Honestly my head almost exploded reading that media package. And listen: I would KILL for 9000 subscribers 🤪
Willfully blind to changes in media will doom any company. While I love magazines, there are few that target me. Martha Stewart is gone, Real simple got weird and woke, vogue pay for play, and all my knitting fashion magazines are gone. I just paid $15 for a Martha Stewart, Thanksgiving , Christmas and New Years issue. Advertisements were just her products. I really miss magazines.