The hottest Journalism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

On "Internews"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 13541 implied HN points • 08 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. USAID has secretly funded a group called Internews Network with nearly half a billion dollars. This money has helped create a lot of media outreach and training for journalists.
  2. Internews Network has worked with thousands of media outlets and has produced many broadcasts that have reached millions of people.
  3. There are concerns about Internews supporting social media censorship, which raises questions about freedom of speech and information.

The two crises in the news business

Slow Boring • 5699 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
📰 News Journalism
  1. The news industry is facing crises that impact both journalists and democracy.
  2. Journalists must adapt to being more indispensable in a shrinking industry.
  3. Local news coverage is crucial but often overlooked due to increased competition in the industry.

Bari Weiss: American Regeneration

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 6070 implied HN points • 02 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. The importance of unity is highlighted through Benjamin Franklin's cartoon from 1754, which called for American colonies to come together against common threats. Fighting together was seen as crucial for survival back then.
  2. The cartoon represents America's early form of media and communication, showing how ideas could spread before modern technology existed. It was like the first American meme when it was published.
  3. As we celebrate Independence Day, it's a reminder not just of historical events, but of the ongoing choice to uphold the values of freedom and togetherness that those events represent.

In Defense of Terry Moran

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 6746 implied HN points • 12 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. Media companies need to decide if reporters should have personal opinions or just report the news. It's confusing for journalists when they are expected to be both.
  2. Terry Moran was fired for expressing his view about a political figure on Twitter, which raises questions about how personal social media use affects reporters' jobs.
  3. This situation shows the conflict in today's media. Reporters are told to be public personalities but also face backlash for sharing their thoughts.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Happy Independence Day, NPR

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 5087 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. The Senate voted to cut $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. This means NPR might lose federal support after many years.
  2. The vote is seen as a win for those who believe the government should not fund media, regardless of political views.
  3. While NPR claims this is an attack on press freedom, the reality is that a small part of its budget comes from federal funds, meaning it can still survive without it.

Trump is Trolling the AP

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 11641 implied HN points • 19 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. The Associated Press claims the White House is telling them how to report, which some see as censorship. This seems ironic since the AP has always had strict rules about language in their articles.
  2. People are discussing how Trump is mocking the AP's situation, pointing out the contradiction in their messages about free speech.
  3. There's a lot of debate about what it means for the government and the media to control language and how it affects honest reporting.

Big Technology Turns Five: Here’s What I’ve Learned

Big Technology • 5504 implied HN points • 27 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Journalism
  1. Big Technology is thriving after five years of operation. It's clear that there's still a strong interest in tech journalism.
  2. Collaboration and community support are essential for success in this field. It really does take a village to create great content.
  3. New platforms like YouTube and tools like ChatGPT are helping drive growth and engagement in unexpected ways.

The 25 Best Online Articles of 2024

The Honest Broker • 13863 implied HN points • 26 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Journalism
  1. The list features 25 of the best longform articles from the past year. These articles cover a variety of topics, showing that good writing can be found in many different subjects.
  2. Supporting quality journalism is important. The writers highlighted in the list often rely on the support of their readers, so consider helping them as a new year's resolution.
  3. Many pieces explore unique personal stories and experiences. From a former Goldman Sachs trader to a psychic, these articles are interesting and reflect a wide range of human experiences.

Classic Takes: How I Murdered The Weekly Standard!

Emerald Robinson’s The Right Way • 5535 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics 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.

Note on "Timelines"

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 10237 implied HN points • 22 Feb 25
📰 News Journalism
  1. A new interactive library is being created to help people find important news documents much more easily. This project aims to gather primary sources that are often hard to locate.
  2. There is a problem with many news outlets not linking to original documents in their stories, making it tough for readers to find the truth. Having direct access to these sources can help people make better decisions.
  3. The project encourages readers to contribute by suggesting documents that deserve attention. It's a community effort to protect important information and combat the issue of disappearing online sources.

15 things I consumed this week

Maybe Baby • 706 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Journalism
  1. A single standout longform article can be flagged as a must-read and cut through the usual noise.
  2. Sharing a simple, nostalgic family recipe invites readers to try it and ties food to personal memories.
  3. Short weekly roundups that mix links and personal notes make a sustainable recurring format, with some items sometimes reserved for subscribers or seasonal breaks.

Trauma alone can't save Gaza

New Means • 4107 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Journalism
  1. Powerful images and journalism are changing public opinion about Gaza.
  2. Media racism and hatred towards Arabs are endangering lives and hindering peace efforts.
  3. To bring change, we must move beyond awareness and take action through organized efforts and collective power.

If Paul Krugman Didn't Have Enough Juice at the New York Times, Who Could?

Freddie deBoer • 9560 implied HN points • 17 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. Heavy editing can take away a writer's unique voice. It's important for writers to maintain their style even when being edited.
  2. Big organizations may see their employees as replaceable, which can affect morale and creativity. This can lead to a competition where everyone fears losing their job.
  3. The pressures of being in an elite institution can change how content is produced. Writers may face strict guidelines that limit creative freedom.

To My Readers

Unpopular Front • 217 implied HN points • 25 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. The newsletter aims to sharpen readers' judgment about a new and unsettling political era by using historical comparisons and concrete examples. It leans on the idea that judgment is honed through examples rather than rules.
  2. Early fears of broad collapse have been tempered by a mix of alarming episodes and surprising civic resilience and sacrifice. Some once-marginal warnings have become common sense, even as the effort to change minds feels limited.
  3. The plan is to slow the publishing pace and return to longer, more considered historical essays instead of constant news reactions. There's deep gratitude for reader support that turned the project into a sustainable career.

The signal and the noise

Comment is Freed • 94 implied HN points • 21 Feb 26
📰 News Journalism
  1. You can’t fix unclear strategy or a bad product just by improving communications; if leaders aren’t clear about what they want, better messaging won’t change outcomes.
  2. The media environment has fragmented so much that traditional channels no longer reliably deliver attention or credit for policies, and voters often don’t notice or associate actions with the government.
  3. Politicians need to rethink how they reach people instead of simply adding a few social posts to old tactics — new formats and strategies are required to cut through short attention spans and platform limits.

Late night TV has never been more popular

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 199 implied HN points • 28 Jan 26
💼 Business Journalism
  1. Late-night TV is losing viewers on traditional TV but its clips are going mega-viral online, creating huge audiences that networks still haven’t properly monetized.
  2. TikTok’s inconsistent moderation and algorithm shifts are pushing news creators off the platform, so many are prioritizing moving followers to email lists they control.
  3. Media business models are shifting: publishers are leaning on reader revenue, newsletter sponsorships, creator partnerships, and low-cost content strategies to replace declining ad income.

The Debunking of Oliver Sacks

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 593 implied HN points • 23 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Journalism
  1. He popularized neurology through widely read books, films, documentaries, and by inspiring doctors and writers.
  2. Recent reporting suggests he often embellished or even invented details in his case studies, meaning some of his stories may not have been factual.
  3. This episode is part of a broader wave of debunking popular science and serves as a reminder to be skeptical of medical tales that sound too dramatic to be true.

Chúng em xin hứa

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 3914 implied HN points • 25 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Journalism
  1. Sometimes participating in events just for the sake of being part of it can add some color to our otherwise dull lives.
  2. Not everyone accompanying a group is a part of it, some are there just for show and to take photos.
  3. Reflecting on the value of experiences and moments captured can make us appreciate the significance of each opportunity.

A quiet assasination

The Glinner Update • 4284 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. The BBC's bias in gender debate coverage was highlighted in an interview involving Lynne Pinches.
  2. The lack of balanced reporting and consideration for women's experiences led to criticism of BBC Wales and BBC Sport.
  3. The editorial process at the BBC seemed focused on activism rather than accurate reporting, with calls for improved coverage.

NYC Mayor Posts Misleading Tweet, Echoing Media Bias in Gracie Mansion Protest Story

Silent Lunch, The David Zweig Newsletter • 26 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
📰 News Journalism
  1. News outlets and the mayor used vague language that obscured who actually threw the explosive devices, so many readers could easily assume the anti-Islam protesters were responsible.
  2. Police and witnesses showed a counter-protester ignited and threw real IEDs at the rally, but that key fact was often buried or omitted in headlines and posts.
  3. How events are framed matters a lot: highlighting protesters' bigotry while downplaying who committed violence can mislead the public and wrongly conflate protected speech with criminal acts, so officials and journalists need to be precise.

How to write

Striking 13 • 2475 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
📚 Literature Journalism
  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.

Me and a Stapler of My Own

The Fry Corner • 2278 implied HN points • 22 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Journalism
  1. Many newspapers and magazines have fun questionnaire sections that ask interesting personal questions. These can reveal your favorite books or who you'd like to have dinner with.
  2. Some publications have a quick Q&A format that saves time and keeps things light. It’s an easy way for readers to learn about someone's daily life without deep interviews.
  3. People can often answer these questions through email, making it super convenient. This way, they can participate without the hassle of meeting in person.

Why Is Music Journalism Collapsing?

The Honest Broker • 24402 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🎶 Music Journalism
  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.

Soon Will Come a Day That None of This Exists

Discourse Blog • 3400 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
📰 News Journalism
  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.

The "1984" Theory of Bari Weiss

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 422 implied HN points • 24 Dec 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. Some people who look bad at public‑reason journalism are actually doing a different job: they publicly submit to powerful figures and recruit others to follow that ritual.
  2. Viewed through an "1984" lens, authoritarians want public affirmations of falsehoods, and certain media actors deliberately signal loyalty by endorsing or defending power even when it contradicts obvious facts.
  3. That kind of signaling can be rewarded in today’s media economy, so incompetence at traditional journalism can coexist with commercial success and real influence.

Why legacy news outlets are embracing Substack

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 449 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
📰 News Journalism
  1. Traditional news outlets are increasingly using Substack as a distribution platform to reach broader audiences and collect email addresses they can own and monetize. It functions like a social network and a direct-marketing channel that publishers can use for sponsorships and subscriptions.
  2. The user experience — the container, interface, and product — matters as much as the journalism itself, and publishers lost attention when platforms offered easier, cleaner ways to consume content. Improving UX and distribution is now central to rebuilding audience and revenue.
  3. AI is severely disrupting the copywriting industry, with many companies replacing or downgrading writers in favor of AI-generated drafts that humans only edit. That shift is drying up freelance work and forcing the industry to rethink roles and monetization.

The Anti-Abortion Movement’s Language War

All in Her Head by Jessica Valenti • 5660 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. The anti-abortion movement is pressuring journalists to stop using the word 'ban' and replace it with terms like 'consensus' or 'standard'.
  2. Conservatives are trying to redefine the term 'ban' to make anti-abortion laws sound more acceptable and are pressuring media outlets to comply.
  3. It is crucial for pro-choice activists and lawmakers to monitor and call out any changes in language used by publications regarding anti-abortion legislation.

My favorite articles of 2025

Maybe Baby • 524 implied HN points • 10 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Journalism
  1. A yearly roundup highlights fifteen favorite articles of the year. The selections come from reading many pieces and applying a picky, rigorous standard.
  2. The recurring "15 Things" format usually showcases exactly five articles, and it sometimes drops to four when the choices don’t meet the standard.
  3. The full post is behind a paywall and requires a paid subscription or sign‑in to read.

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 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.

How do we fund slow journalism?

The Novelleist • 304 implied HN points • 29 Dec 25
📰 News Journalism
  1. Publish fewer, much longer, deeply researched essays as digital and print pamphlets to reclaim attention and produce higher-quality, evergreen work.
  2. Cover costs with a blended funding model: annual subscribers and paid tiers, direct sales on platforms like Metalabel, plus patronage or organizational sponsors to fund design and print.
  3. Publishing less often is a financial risk, but it yields stronger, better-tested ideas and allows commissioning custom art and research, making niche, slow journalism sustainable for dedicated readers.

Is Honest Writing the Next New Thing in Journalism?

The Honest Broker • 18551 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Journalism
  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.

Things Worth Remembering: How P.J. O’Rourke Skewered the Swamp

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2313 implied HN points • 03 Aug 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Journalism
  1. P.J. O'Rourke used humor to explain how American government works, making complex topics more understandable.
  2. His experiences as a foreign correspondent gave him a unique perspective, allowing him to analyze the U.S. system critically.
  3. The book 'Parliament of Whores' is both funny and insightful, and it's become an important guide for understanding politics.