Choosing Your Own News Sources
There is a new way of setting up our news flow that is changing the way we are receiving news, and often taking out the $$-driven middle humans, advertisers, and politically-motivated Darth Vaders. We can sign up to receive journalist’s content directly.
Digest this.
Heather Cox Richardson, the heralded daily newsletter journalist who brings the latest political news to her readers through the lens of U.S. history, has more then 1.3 million daily subscribers. She uses Substack, a platform for writers, where the writer has total independence, and Heather is the recipient of money raised by those subscribing. 10% is paid to substack for managing the platform, but the rest goes to her. No advertisers. No corporate hierarchy dictating her content.
For perspective, MSNBC’s Morning Joe is watched by 1.3 million people on average. She is as big as Morning Joe. Marinate in that over your morning coffee.
You can receive her newsletter daily for free, or you can subscribe and support her for $50 per year. Run the numbers. If 500,000 of her 1.3 million subscribers pay, she makes $25m dollars per year. Herself. But perhaps more important, she is responsible to her subscribers, not the corporate office upstairs, shareholders who could care less about what she writing, and advertisers.
Heather Cox Richardson describers her newsletter … “I’m a professor of American history. This is a chronicle of today’s political landscape, but because you can’t get a grip on today’s politics without an outline of America’s Constitution, and laws, and the economy, and social customs, this newsletter explores what it means, and what it has meant, to be an American.”
Companies like MSNBC, CNN, ABC, along with other major news networks, often prioritize clicks and views over true news delivery, which can lead to biased or sensationalized reporting. This issue arises because these networks operate within a commercial framework where ad revenue and ratings are critical. As a result, they tend to focus on stories that generate the most viewer engagement, often at the expense of more substantial or nuanced journalism. The pursuit of high viewership can skew editorial choices, leading to a cycle of echo chambers and polarized content that caters to specific audiences rather than providing balanced and comprehensive news. This model risks compromising journalistic integrity, as the need to attract and retain viewers (and advertisers) can overshadow the commitment to unbiased and unfettered editorial content.
But, there is good news!
The new model for news platforms that Heather Cox Richardson uses is growing. Fast. When journalists receive funding directly from subscribers, creating a more direct and personal relationship between the writer and the reader, it means a journalist has no one directing their writing.
Puck News, for example, exemplifies this trend (although they have funding as well as paying the journalist his subscriber income) by offering a subscription-based service that provides in-depth analysis and insider scoops from top journalists. Unlike traditional media outlets, where ad revenue and corporate ownership can influence content, Puck allows journalists to build their own subscriber base and retain editorial independence. This model encourages quality journalism and transparency, as the writers' income is directly tied to the value they provide to their subscribers, fostering a more engaged and loyal readership.
We the People Dispatch is part of that model. We are on Substack, where some of the great journalists are running their own platforms, receiving the income from their columns, and with zero pressure for talking about things that are click bait based.
The Bulwark is another group of journalists using Substack. You can browse around and start receiving weekly and daily newsletters which give your news.
More on Puck News for your consideration. You join as a member ($100 per year), with news around politics, business, $$, and more. Here is their list of content for members.
Daily articles and breaking news
Personal emails directly from our authors
Gift subscriber-only stories to friends & family
Unlimited access to archives
Bookmark articles to create a Reading List
Quarterly calls with industry experts from the power corners we cover
Who is behind Puck? History. Puck was founded by Joe Purzycki, Jon Kelly, Liz Gough, Julia Ioffe, and Max Tcheyan. The company launched its landing page in August 2021 and debuted in whole in September 2021. In 2021, the company received $7 million in funding from Standard Industries and TPG Growth.
Crafting your own news input is a game changer. Saves time. Puts the $$ in the hands of those who are actually writing it, rather than shareholders. Gives you power over the news you take in.
Please send us your news sources (or list them in the comments section) and we will list your suggestions, and provide information on the people behind them.
Have a great weekend! It was a great week for democracy!