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businessApr 18, 20211:09:31pending

Substack's founders on the shift from publishers to personalities

About this episode

Top writers are leaving publishers like the New York Times to become newsletter writers on Substack. How will the rise of the solopreneur author impact the future of journalism? Substack co-founders Chris Best and Hamish McKenzie join PressClub host Josh Constine to break down why individuals have more power than organizations in the modern media landscape. Listen to learn:


  • Can newsrooms survive the brain drain?
  • Will creators earn a better living on their own?
  • How did the move from desktop to mobile favor email over websites?
  • Can Substack provide star writers enough growth to earn its 10% cut?
  • Why newsletters are unlocking a weirder, more self-expressive way to build community?


Plus, get thoughts on how these trends play out from top Substack writers including NYT columnist Zeynep Tufekci, Sinocism's Bill Bishop, and Ask Polly's Heather Havrilesky. Recorded live on Josh Constine's PressClub, on Clubhouse Thursdays at 6pm PT. Subscribe: http://constine.club/


PressClub is one of Clubhouse's first and most popular shows, where top business leaders discuss the big issues. It's hosted by Josh Constine, an investor at early-stage venture fund SignalFire and the former Editor-At-Large of TechCrunch. PressClub is a relaxed venue where luminaries can share their stories, passions, thoughts on trends, and visions of the future. 


Past guests include the CEOs of Facebook, Instagram, Slack, Shopify, Spotify, Substack, WordPress, Craigslist, Dollar Shave Club, and more. Topics have included the creator economy, back to offices vs remote work, the rise of newsletters, the future of celebrity, the ethics of doxxing, and founders becoming philanthropists. Josh and PressClub's content have recently been covered by the New York Times, TechCrunch, Vogue, Bloomberg, Forbes, AdWeek, USA Today, and more.

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Substack's founders on the shift from publishers to personalities

PressClub with Josh Constine

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