What a well written piece! As someone with a media studies background, how traditional publications and media are adapting with the ever-evolving tech and financing model and balancing them with their core values revolving around factual & quality reporting is always an intriguing tension to observe. I'm looking forward to seeing how digital field notes can evolve into a new form of journalism.
One trend that I've seen increasing is how journalists evolve into a brand themselves, and now institutions seems more fractured and closely related to a figure (eg: Ezra Klein, Cleo Abrams, or HowTown, or just how substack operates). Though these seems to induce a question on what is the future of media institutions looks like. So many questions!
Thanks, Alvin! For that thoughtful comment and for your support!
You're spot on with the observation. It does to an extent signify an erosion of the media as an institution, but there can also be many readings of what's happening. It could be that the personas media organisations have operated with in the past are not suitable with a social media-first environment. There may be less reverence for established brands and more need for personal authenticity. But I don't believe in a future without media institutions. We still need them, and their work will continue to be relevant. What I'm doing here will never substitute for the more ambitious work that can only happen within media institutions (because reporters need editors, fact checkers, etc). The way I'm seeing it is that this is a different kind of work. Still important (at least I'd like to think so), but different. And I'm making a bet that people are looking for something different, too.
Looking forward to getting more of your feedback in future posts!
What a well written piece! As someone with a media studies background, how traditional publications and media are adapting with the ever-evolving tech and financing model and balancing them with their core values revolving around factual & quality reporting is always an intriguing tension to observe. I'm looking forward to seeing how digital field notes can evolve into a new form of journalism.
One trend that I've seen increasing is how journalists evolve into a brand themselves, and now institutions seems more fractured and closely related to a figure (eg: Ezra Klein, Cleo Abrams, or HowTown, or just how substack operates). Though these seems to induce a question on what is the future of media institutions looks like. So many questions!
Thanks, Alvin! For that thoughtful comment and for your support!
You're spot on with the observation. It does to an extent signify an erosion of the media as an institution, but there can also be many readings of what's happening. It could be that the personas media organisations have operated with in the past are not suitable with a social media-first environment. There may be less reverence for established brands and more need for personal authenticity. But I don't believe in a future without media institutions. We still need them, and their work will continue to be relevant. What I'm doing here will never substitute for the more ambitious work that can only happen within media institutions (because reporters need editors, fact checkers, etc). The way I'm seeing it is that this is a different kind of work. Still important (at least I'd like to think so), but different. And I'm making a bet that people are looking for something different, too.
Looking forward to getting more of your feedback in future posts!