The hottest Journalism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Literature Topics

Is Honest Writing the Next New Thing in Journalism?

The Honest Broker • 18551 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Journalism Writing Honesty Media Communication
  1. Honesty in writing can be a powerful tool to break down obstacles and strengthen your writing and thinking.
  2. There are many reasons why writers are dishonest, such as to please editors, gain favors, or increase popularity.
  3. Embracing an 'honest writing style' can lead to a shift in your writing, making it more conversational and impactful.

State TV Slobbers Over State of the Union

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 12779 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics News Opinion Journalism
  1. The article discusses how state media in various historical regimes may have praised a leader's speech as enthusiastically as Joe Biden's State of the Union address.
  2. The post highlights the reaction of ABC's chief Washington correspondent and his colleague after Joe Biden's speech.
  3. The article teases a discussion between correspondents about the effectiveness of Biden's speech, requiring a subscription to read further.

Happy Anniversary!

Steady • 32155 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
📰 News Community Newsletter Journalism
  1. Dan Rather and Team Steady are celebrating their anniversary on Jan 20, 2024.
  2. The Steady community's support, guidance, and friendship have been crucial to their success.
  3. Dan Rather expresses gratitude and dedication to the readers for their continued support.

The Silly Furor Over "Allegedly"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 10370 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
📰 News Journalism Media Politics
  1. Kristen Welker of Meet the Press faced criticism for using the word 'allegedly' when talking about Trump trying to overturn the 2020 election.
  2. Using 'allegedly' in journalism can spark heated debates and reactions from colleagues and the audience.
  3. Accuracy and choice of words, like 'allegedly,' can lead to intense discussions and interpretations in news reporting.

Why Is Music Journalism Collapsing?

The Honest Broker • 24402 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎶 Music Journalism Music Industry Streaming platforms Artists
  1. Music journalism faces a crisis with major layoffs and company mergers.
  2. The decline in music journalism mirrors broader issues in the music industry, like layoffs in music companies and streaming platforms.
  3. The root cause of the crisis includes industry focus on old music, passive listening, and AI-generated tracks, leading to a lack of support for new artists.
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How to write

Striking 13 • 2475 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📚 Literature Writing Journalism Non-fiction Curiosity Emotions
  1. Writing is about being in touch with your feelings and having confidence in sharing them.
  2. Good non-fiction writing starts with curiosity and understanding that everything can be interesting if approached correctly.
  3. Boredom and frustration when writing is a guide to improve the content for readers by finding ways to present information in engaging ways.

What Really Happened to George Floyd?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 7776 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
📰 News Crime Journalism Documentary Trial Narrative
  1. A new documentary challenges key parts of the George Floyd story: the knee-on-the-neck hold as Chauvin's signature move, asphyxiation as the cause of death, and whether Chauvin received a fair trial.
  2. The full footage of the incident shows more context than the viral clip - officers had tried to place Floyd in the squad car and Chauvin's knee was not on Floyd's neck for as long as widely believed.
  3. Chauvin's criminal trial presented an opportunity to reassess the evidence and public opinion, with the prosecution having to prove Chauvin's actions constituted assault and caused Floyd's death.

Classic Takes: How I Murdered The Weekly Standard!

Emerald Robinson’s The Right Way • 5483 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism Media Opinion Journalism
  1. The author's essay on 'The Collapse of the Never Trumpers' led to significant consequences in conservative media.
  2. The essay sparked a public war among conservative intellectuals and contributed to the downfall of the Weekly Standard and the expulsion of key figures like Jonah Goldberg.
  3. The author's actions and writings challenged the traditional conservative narrative and had a notable impact on media personalities and institutions.

The Free Press in Israel: A Special Limited Series

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2796 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Israel Middle East Conflict Journalism Civilization
  1. The decision to go to a place of conflict can be a mix of practical concerns and emotional ties, but the desire to witness and understand can be a driving force.
  2. Meeting people face-to-face and being on the ground for reporting provides a depth and understanding that remote communication cannot match.
  3. Experiencing a war-torn region firsthand brings a deeper perspective on the impact and realities faced by those living in conflict zones.

Note to Readers: On the Border Protests

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 4986 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📰 News Journalism
  1. The author is planning to cover the 'Take Our Border Back' convoy protest in person
  2. The author is looking for people who are planning to attend the protest and would allow a journalist to accompany them
  3. The author aims to provide more watch-and-see content in their platform Racket this year

Gamifying the Self for Status and Profit

Freddie deBoer • 5844 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social media Media Journalism
  1. Web 2.0 principles underlying online platforms can be toxic and damaging to journalism and media.
  2. The pressure for individuals in the reporting and opinionating business to be on Twitter created a culture where tweeting was perceived as necessary for existence in the industry.
  3. Twitter and similar constant mass-broadcasting services can lead to peer pressure, conformity, and hinder independence of thought in journalism and commentary.

Editor's Note: On "UK Files, Part 2"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 4511 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Labour Party Propaganda Journalism
  1. The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) is revealed to be a partisan project connected to Labour Together, rather than just a neutral watchdog as portrayed in the media.
  2. The article highlights the importance of independent journalism in uncovering political ties and holding powerful institutions accountable.
  3. Efforts like digging up IRS applications and filing FOIA requests demonstrate the ongoing need for transparency and journalistic diligence in the face of narrowing speech environments.

NOW FREE: The Monologue That Got Tucker Carlson Fired

Emerald Robinson’s The Right Way • 3380 implied HN points • 11 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Speech Leadership Journalism Media Government
  1. Politicians should not censor speech or control thoughts; citizens have the right to criticize leaders.
  2. There is opposition to violence, such as against violent crime, late-term abortion, and the war in Ukraine.
  3. Discussions around January 6th events and the characterization of violence are debated, including the actions of Ray Epps.

UPDATE: A case study in unethical journalism

Popular Information • 14406 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23
📰 News Journalism Media Ethics LGBTQ+ Education Credibility
  1. Popular Information reported on a school district in Florida instructing to remove books with LGBTQ characters.
  2. Social media played a role in spreading the report which was later confirmed by various media outlets.
  3. There was controversy surrounding a news report from certain TV stations presenting a different story and eventually taking down the report.

Aimee Walleston: War Lore

Do Not Research • 439 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Film Photography Art Social media Journalism
  1. Many people struggle to engage with fiction and film outside of their own beliefs and expectations, as seen in reactions to a movie trailer depicting a civil war scenario.
  2. The way we interact with images, particularly technical images, has changed drastically, leading to a shift in how we interpret and relate to them.
  3. There is a tendency in today's society to manipulate and be manipulated by images, often refusing to engage critically and instead seeking comfort in familiar narratives, even if they are fictional or misleading.

Old Friends, Memories, And The Work

Steady • 29265 implied HN points • 10 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Memories Documentary Journalism
  1. New York City was a significant part of the author's life, professionally and personally.
  2. The author reflects on their career through a documentary that was premiered at a film festival.
  3. The author highlights the importance of journalism and the support they received from friends and colleagues.

Judgment Day Has Arrived for the Journalism Business

The Honest Broker • 30220 implied HN points • 07 May 23
💼 Business Journalism Media Subscription Advertising AI
  1. Media platforms struggling with advertising rely on gimmicky clickbait strategies that eventually fail.
  2. Subscription-based models are becoming successful in journalism, shifting the focus back to quality writing.
  3. AI-generated articles, the latest gimmick in media, reduce writing costs but sacrifice quality and are doomed to fail.

Why did CNN do it?

Robert Reich • 30051 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Media Republicans Democracy Journalism
  1. CNN's decision to give Donald Trump an hour of prime-time television was criticized for promoting lies and insults.
  2. The shift in CNN's news coverage towards more conservative guests and avoiding certain terms was linked to corporate interests and right-wing billionaire influence.
  3. Criticism of CNN's decisions highlights the importance of maintaining journalistic integrity and not giving a platform to misinformation and demagoguery.

The Empire's Weakness Is That It Still Needs Normal People To Turn Its Gears

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1681 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Propaganda Journalism Leaks Imperialism Genocide
  1. The empire relies on regular people to keep running but these people are starting to realize the lies they've been fed.
  2. Internal conflicts within mainstream media outlets reveal cracks in the system, causing concern and leaks amongst staff.
  3. The empire's dependence on ordinary individuals and constant propaganda is causing a clash, leading to a struggle in maintaining control.

What a COVID-19 Food Fight Says About Scientific Discourse

The Honest Broker Newsletter • 1089 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🔬 Science Discourse Partisanship Debate Journalism COVID-19
  1. One strategy in science partisanship is to associate opponents with unpopular political figures to discredit their views without engaging with the substance.
  2. Another strategy is to argue that certain debates are harmful to scientific goals, leading to avoiding critique that might impact funding or research opportunities.
  3. Partisanship in science can also involve associating legitimate arguments with totally unacceptable views, like labeling individuals with terms that discredit their opinions.

Soon Will Come a Day That None of This Exists

Discourse Blog • 3400 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📰 News Media Journalism Digital Media Publishing Online Content
  1. Legacy media is being replaced by something worse, with media-wide layoffs being a visible sign.
  2. Publications are struggling and dying due to financial issues, particularly affecting traditional print media.
  3. The future of journalism looks bleak, with the rise of individual-driven media leading to misinformation and lack of accountability.

Platformer’s Reporting On Substack’s Supposed “Nazi Problem” Is Shoddy And Misleading

Singal-Minded • 3933 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
📰 News Journalism Controversy Reporting Ethics Platform
  1. The controversy about Nazis on Substack led to different responses from users and platform
  2. Some publications were removed from Substack due to violation of content guidelines
  3. There were discrepancies in the reporting of the number of Nazi accounts on Substack, leading to criticism of the reporting process

mRNA Injury stories - British journalist Mike Dickson, who attacked World #1 Tennis player Novak Djokovic for being unvaccinated, died suddenly during Australian Open - journalists and medical fascism

COVID Intel - by Dr.William Makis • 2731 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🏥 Health Politics COVID-19 Vaccines Journalism
  1. British journalist Mike Dickson, who criticized Novak Djokovic for being unvaccinated, died suddenly during the Australian Open.
  2. The incident sparked discussions about journalists and medical fascism.
  3. The story highlights the importance of understanding the risks and consequences of mRNA injuries.

Andrea Long Chu’s ‘New York’ Cover Story About Trans Kids Is, Above All Else, Lazy

Singal-Minded • 941 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Transgender rights Journalism Medicine
  1. The article discussed critiques about a cover story on trans kids, emphasizing that the argument for everyone to have access to sex-changing medical care was poorly defended and seemed more like trolling than meaningful discourse.
  2. There was criticism of the way the coverage of youth gender medicine was framed as a rights versus medical issue, highlighting that minors' decision-making capacities are different from adults and need to be considered.
  3. The piece also highlighted how the author viewed the anti-trans movement, pointing out that, according to them, the biggest opposition surprisingly came from liberals rather than the expected groups.

Assange, Gaza, And The Ugly Reality Of War Crimes

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1792 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics War Crimes Journalism Palestine US
  1. The post discusses the gruesome reality of war crimes, portraying them as cruel and brutal power abuses against civilians.
  2. Journalists play a crucial role in documenting and exposing war crimes, highlighting the importance of press freedom.
  3. The article emphasizes the potential consequences of extraditing journalists like Julian Assange, setting a dangerous precedent for press freedom worldwide.

Meet the Censored: Me?

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 22417 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social media Free speech Media Coverage Censorship Journalism
  1. The project to uncover Twitter Files revealed a complex and organized system of content policing involving various government agencies and tech platforms.
  2. Suspension of journalist accounts for sharing information about Elon Musk's private jet highlighted the tensions between free speech and censorship.
  3. Elon Musk's involvement in the transparency of Twitter was met with conflicting reactions, ultimately leading to unexpected clashes with platforms like Substack.

The political takeover over journalism

Striking 13 • 2555 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Media Politics Journalism Power Values
  1. Journalism and politics are increasingly blurred, making it hard to differentiate between the two.
  2. Some individuals operate simultaneously as journalists and politicians, creating a dangerous scenario where roles get mixed up.
  3. Journalism is not just about spectators; it holds the power to change history and should be grounded in truth and journalistic values.