I heard about Platformer from listening to Kara Swisher's podcast and I recently binged Hard Fork and now I want more! I think your reporting is smart while still being accessible - as a reader, I feel like I'm along for the ride. Can't wait to see how these projects develop!
Like a lot of us: I first learned of Platformer on Pivot when you were still Kara's tenant. (And had some fun trading barbs with you on Twitter before I fled after...you know.) I had some thoughts for youa as someone who is a budding content creator and communications pro. Firstly, as my media company starts its next phase (we have a podcast network that is too hard to explain here, but we basically are "voices on the ground" from the heart of the midwest, since the coastal legacy media folks constantly get our story wrong): I would consider hiring you as a coach. Not sure if you've considered that, but it would be a terrific resource for us to have someone (even someone in your niche) to bounce ideas off of. Second, and I think this is the only sage advice from someone with my 25-ish year history in media can offer: always, always, always offer an ad-free tier. Offer a Netflix-like pricing model for newsletters and content with ads so the folks who pay a higher tier enjoy an ad-free experience. Lastly, as you continue to ramp up and evolve, if there's one business that's never going away (or at least not for a considerable future) it's YouTube. As the online social media map becomes diffuse and harder to navigate, what we've found on our podcast is that people always find our content there. I'd 100% watch a bi-monthly show for your subscribers with you and Zoe talking about your favorite stories that you're following, or whatever. Think of it as low-key, hangout vibes for your most ardent people that you and your team can bang out a couple times a month. Lastly, in the words of Billy Murray from Stripes: You can't leave or all the plants will die. I wish more journalists had your entrepreneurial spirit. At some point in history, the people who started the publications for which they all work surely did. Here's to year four.
Awesome news. Running a business and being your own daily motivation isn’t for every reporter, but I do hope others join in. In 2024, they may not have a choice.
Great piece and congratulations on your success. You are correct - for enterprising journalists out there, there’s a plethora of subjects to tackle. Understanding that the news isn’t always served up in one’s email box separates the great from the ordinary.
Congrats on year 3, and welcome to Lindsay! May I suggest adding both Zoë and Lindsay to the About page (only Casey appears in the people section at the bottom today)?
Today I got wondering about the word "platform," and I went back to the Platformer launch post https://www.platformer.news/p/welcome-to-platformer . One line in particular caught my eye: "Something special happens when a publication shrinks down all the way to a single reporter’s point of view." How does that change, if at all, now that Platformer at 3 has grown to three people?
Added a masthead to the bottom of that page, thanks! And I think our coverage will evolve as we add perspectives, though I intend for our core coverage areas and basic worldview to be consistent with what Platformer has always delivered.
Hi Casey I just became a paid subscriber! Really inspired by your dedication to independent journalism and savvy for pulling different levers that move the needle for the media industry. I'm attending a Trust and Safety research conference at Stanford next week, maybe I'll see you there?
Finally got a chance to read this. I've been following your work since the Verge and I consider this the best newsletter I follow.
Regarding ads: I'm perfectly fine with having an ad or two, even in the paid version (though I agree with Rachel Parker's comments about having an ad-free tier if that's possible).
That being said, I have some feeling about having that sort of traditional news/business divide and would rather not have you working and choosing the advertised companies directly. Or if it has to be that way to avoid hiring an additional person, I'd want there to be as much transparency as possible to avoid impressions of bias (I trust your work and judgement, but I still think its a perception worth keeping in mind)
I heard about Platformer from listening to Kara Swisher's podcast and I recently binged Hard Fork and now I want more! I think your reporting is smart while still being accessible - as a reader, I feel like I'm along for the ride. Can't wait to see how these projects develop!
Thanks so much Sim!
I came for the Twitter dishing you and Zoe did, and I stay for the awesomeness.
I get a little giddy when I see the notification of a new Platformer post.
Aww that makes me so happy, thank you Geoff!
It is really a no brainer to keep the sub alive.
You've blazed a trail not only for journalists but tech people no longer in industry - voluntarily or not. This is a huge milestone. Congrats.
Thank you Katie!!
Like a lot of us: I first learned of Platformer on Pivot when you were still Kara's tenant. (And had some fun trading barbs with you on Twitter before I fled after...you know.) I had some thoughts for youa as someone who is a budding content creator and communications pro. Firstly, as my media company starts its next phase (we have a podcast network that is too hard to explain here, but we basically are "voices on the ground" from the heart of the midwest, since the coastal legacy media folks constantly get our story wrong): I would consider hiring you as a coach. Not sure if you've considered that, but it would be a terrific resource for us to have someone (even someone in your niche) to bounce ideas off of. Second, and I think this is the only sage advice from someone with my 25-ish year history in media can offer: always, always, always offer an ad-free tier. Offer a Netflix-like pricing model for newsletters and content with ads so the folks who pay a higher tier enjoy an ad-free experience. Lastly, as you continue to ramp up and evolve, if there's one business that's never going away (or at least not for a considerable future) it's YouTube. As the online social media map becomes diffuse and harder to navigate, what we've found on our podcast is that people always find our content there. I'd 100% watch a bi-monthly show for your subscribers with you and Zoe talking about your favorite stories that you're following, or whatever. Think of it as low-key, hangout vibes for your most ardent people that you and your team can bang out a couple times a month. Lastly, in the words of Billy Murray from Stripes: You can't leave or all the plants will die. I wish more journalists had your entrepreneurial spirit. At some point in history, the people who started the publications for which they all work surely did. Here's to year four.
These are really cool ideas and I would be right there watching a Platformer youtube channel
Congratulations on all the success and thanks for everything you do to keep us informed and entertained!
Congratulations, Casey. I started on Substack 6 months ago. Was never a content creator before. I agree on diversifying income streams.
That said, the asynchronous nature of this is hard so trying to manage the mental health aspect of this journey.
Awesome news. Running a business and being your own daily motivation isn’t for every reporter, but I do hope others join in. In 2024, they may not have a choice.
This is my big fear!
Great piece and congratulations on your success. You are correct - for enterprising journalists out there, there’s a plethora of subjects to tackle. Understanding that the news isn’t always served up in one’s email box separates the great from the ordinary.
go go Casey (and team)!
Thank you my friend!!
Voice of Fleabag's dead friend: "This is an excellent one"
Congrats on year 3, and welcome to Lindsay! May I suggest adding both Zoë and Lindsay to the About page (only Casey appears in the people section at the bottom today)?
Today I got wondering about the word "platform," and I went back to the Platformer launch post https://www.platformer.news/p/welcome-to-platformer . One line in particular caught my eye: "Something special happens when a publication shrinks down all the way to a single reporter’s point of view." How does that change, if at all, now that Platformer at 3 has grown to three people?
Added a masthead to the bottom of that page, thanks! And I think our coverage will evolve as we add perspectives, though I intend for our core coverage areas and basic worldview to be consistent with what Platformer has always delivered.
Hi Casey I just became a paid subscriber! Really inspired by your dedication to independent journalism and savvy for pulling different levers that move the needle for the media industry. I'm attending a Trust and Safety research conference at Stanford next week, maybe I'll see you there?
Thank you so much! I'm going to be at the Code Conference but hope to bump into you at another T&S conference down the road!
Keep up the good work, Casey! Congrats, 3 years in internet time is like 12 years in the real world. 💚 🥃
Finally got a chance to read this. I've been following your work since the Verge and I consider this the best newsletter I follow.
Regarding ads: I'm perfectly fine with having an ad or two, even in the paid version (though I agree with Rachel Parker's comments about having an ad-free tier if that's possible).
That being said, I have some feeling about having that sort of traditional news/business divide and would rather not have you working and choosing the advertised companies directly. Or if it has to be that way to avoid hiring an additional person, I'd want there to be as much transparency as possible to avoid impressions of bias (I trust your work and judgement, but I still think its a perception worth keeping in mind)