Substack is the best thing to happen to journalism since, I don't know when. I subscribe to Greenwald, Taibbi and Weiss and I'm sure the list will grow, I hope they'll act to allow for package pricing (multiple authors) or even full Substack access for say $300/year. It's the only hope of the public getting access to unbiased, non-polarizing, uncensored news.
Yeah, I just realized I am at almost $1000 annually when I add it all up. On the one hand that’s not much more than a Ny times/wsj subscription but it’s still pretty steep for most people. I’d love a one fixed price all access deal,
Couldn't agree more. It's too much of a good thing. There are too many good products to subscribe to them all for $5-10 month. Package pricing - perhaps dividing up revenue behind the scenes per a reasonable value-added formula based on who brought the subscribers in, or how much readership they generate, would be the killer app that would wipe out legacy dinosaurs like the NYT.
Generating "readership" would end up creating the same issues that are discussed in the post - the push to put out more content and more lowest common denominator content to "generate readership" vs pushing out actual good journalism.
And perhaps the advent of a platform like Substack will convince "legacy dinosaurs like the NYT" to sweep the maggots off what little remains of their rotting carcasses and start delivering well-researched journalism again.
Astral Star Codex ("Scott Alexander"), The Dispatch, John McWhorter (before he bailed to go the NYT), a couple of others I don't recall offhand. Matt Yglesias charges $80/year. I stopped counting when I was looking at > $300/year. :-)
"Apps are more independent than sites..." - not true. Apple can pull the Substack app like they pulled Parler, or pressure them about content. Once a substantial fraction of Substack customers uses the app, Apple and Google will have leverage. I'll bet Substack authors already violate various app store Terms of Service. Maybe Substack is looking for plausible deniability when they are "forced" to limit speech. Websites are much less constrained, as web hosting is a commodity and Substack could even run its own servers.
I doubt the Substack people are consciously doing this to prepare for some kind of censorship push. They just want to grow the "platform," but therein lies the problem.
Email lists are extremely resilient because they're based on decentralized tech, but that also means you can't growth hack them with algorithmic recommendation systems. If Substack wants platform-style-growth, they will by definition be forced to centralize and eventually give up on their free speech principles.
Also...(separately from the censorship angle)...Once a tech services company becomes a "platform," the incentives get all out of whack. If everyone in this comment section gets used to reading all their favorite authors in the Substack App, Taibbi just lost his audience. Now we belong to Substack.
As of right now, Matt could bail on Substack and we'd follow him to some other newsletter service, because email is email. The Substack App is an entirely different ballgame. Be careful Matt. This might be the ol' bait n' switch.
Money may well be changing hands behind the scenes and Apple has deep pockets. We have no idea, except the knowledge that very few tech-millenials have stood up for principles.
I just downloaded it. You are my only current subscription. "Full name", "Link your Twitter Account", "These subscriptions appear in your public profile". I was able to override all of them, but the feeling of my privacy being usurped was the same as most every other app.
I'm skeptical about the app, and apps in general. Does Google control whether the app gets published? Does the app use Google Services, which gathers information about you and stores it in Google's databases? Is the app open sourced so that everyone can see what it's doing, and everyone can use this source code to build the app themselves?
I prefer to use a non-big-tech secure email service that costs $4 a month. Isn't that worth some privacy? I also use a non-big-tech privacy-oriented web browser which is absolutely free. And I use a non-logging VPN to keep people from snooping through my Wi-Fi network and my ISP.
Apps provided by Google are notorious for being nosey tattle tales.
Check out ProtonMail. Swiss-based encrypted email, along with VPN & hardened cloud storage options. Email accts are free to start, with reasonable pricing for premium bundles.
I use protonmail, brave browser, duck duck go, a vpn, linux and any other non FANG service I can find. But it's getting harder to use these as the hardware side is being captured by these big software companies.
Note that DuckDuckGo today started censoring/deprecating articles on "Russia"...following down the commode of Google and others, sadly. This is the first step down a demonstrably slippery slope. DuckDuckGo users are bailing as fast as they can.
The only honest search engine I know out there is metager.org. Keep your fingers crossed that it stays that way.
I use all that as well. However, the VPN can cause some issues. With NORD VPN, I cannot access MS Outlook mail on the iphone unless I choose a U.S. server. I prefer servers in non 5, 9 and 14 Eyes participating countries. Guess it's OK, but I do not trust the U.S. Govt. Not sure VPN is even safe in the U.S.
Normally Android gets an app up within days and Apple 2-3 weeks. Not sure why Android isn't up yet. But I'd like to echo the concerns that both Android and Apple have a history of censorship and killing apps that support free speech, so Hamish and Chris aren't 'selling out' the unique, and incredibly valuable, attribute of being a place for free speech for actual journalists. And I know I use the term 'journalist' loosely when I see that Robert Reich is on Substack.
You are correct, the monetization for IOS apps blows Android out of the water, in spite of more folks owning Android devices. That’s generally been the reason for IOS first, although many app devs nowadays will build both OS’s simultaneously (although that costs more $$$)
Yes, I'm triggered by IOS, but not Android! And when it does come to Android, I hope it's not like every other "app" on my phone which has less ability to adjust text size than the web browser. I find that extremely annoying, and thus I really don't do apps period. I would also echo the calls below for at least the most basic of Substack package deals. How much would it cost me to get an "all access" Substack subscription? Almost no matter what, I would pay it.
Substack is the best thing to happen to journalism since, I don't know when. I subscribe to Greenwald, Taibbi and Weiss and I'm sure the list will grow, I hope they'll act to allow for package pricing (multiple authors) or even full Substack access for say $300/year. It's the only hope of the public getting access to unbiased, non-polarizing, uncensored news.
Yeah, I just realized I am at almost $1000 annually when I add it all up. On the one hand that’s not much more than a Ny times/wsj subscription but it’s still pretty steep for most people. I’d love a one fixed price all access deal,
Good for you, and thank you. That's $1,000 towards saving our Country.
Couldn't agree more. It's too much of a good thing. There are too many good products to subscribe to them all for $5-10 month. Package pricing - perhaps dividing up revenue behind the scenes per a reasonable value-added formula based on who brought the subscribers in, or how much readership they generate, would be the killer app that would wipe out legacy dinosaurs like the NYT.
No shit. At least give me a tote bag.
....and a monogrammed water bottle.
I settle for saving the country
What? You didn't get your half-slice toaster yet? I'll send you mine.
Generating "readership" would end up creating the same issues that are discussed in the post - the push to put out more content and more lowest common denominator content to "generate readership" vs pushing out actual good journalism.
Very True. The Devil's in the details. You wouldn't want to just replicate the clickbait internet.
And perhaps the advent of a platform like Substack will convince "legacy dinosaurs like the NYT" to sweep the maggots off what little remains of their rotting carcasses and start delivering well-researched journalism again.
Those are great ideas.
It could be the new version of newspapers/magazines, with no ads, agendas, or censoring. Then they could start working on a video equivalent.
Yep, that's the downside to Substack. It's not cheap to follow all the interesting writers at $100/year for each.
Well, my three are $50, but yes, it adds up.
@ jhc ❔
Who is it, that writes on SubStack, that charges "100/year for each."❔
As Usual,
EA☠
Astral Star Codex ("Scott Alexander"), The Dispatch, John McWhorter (before he bailed to go the NYT), a couple of others I don't recall offhand. Matt Yglesias charges $80/year. I stopped counting when I was looking at > $300/year. :-)
Cheers -
You could be paying $100/month! https://willywoo.substack.com/
Wow! I'd seen that blog but didn't know the price. I see it's closed to new subscribers now.
And no, I wouldn't be paying that... anymore than I'd pay for advice from someone who thinks s/he can forecast short term stock market trends.
This is not an endorsement, but there are such things as smart money and dumb money. Probably the smart money is keeping quiet though.
Great idea
Substack's free speech promises become more precarious if they centralize distribution inside a closed system...Make sure you keep that email list...
"Apps are more independent than sites..." - not true. Apple can pull the Substack app like they pulled Parler, or pressure them about content. Once a substantial fraction of Substack customers uses the app, Apple and Google will have leverage. I'll bet Substack authors already violate various app store Terms of Service. Maybe Substack is looking for plausible deniability when they are "forced" to limit speech. Websites are much less constrained, as web hosting is a commodity and Substack could even run its own servers.
I doubt the Substack people are consciously doing this to prepare for some kind of censorship push. They just want to grow the "platform," but therein lies the problem.
Email lists are extremely resilient because they're based on decentralized tech, but that also means you can't growth hack them with algorithmic recommendation systems. If Substack wants platform-style-growth, they will by definition be forced to centralize and eventually give up on their free speech principles.
Also...(separately from the censorship angle)...Once a tech services company becomes a "platform," the incentives get all out of whack. If everyone in this comment section gets used to reading all their favorite authors in the Substack App, Taibbi just lost his audience. Now we belong to Substack.
As of right now, Matt could bail on Substack and we'd follow him to some other newsletter service, because email is email. The Substack App is an entirely different ballgame. Be careful Matt. This might be the ol' bait n' switch.
Maybe he should try ghost. Substack's 10% is a big fee for tarted-up web-hosting. https://ghost.org/vs/substack/
Money may well be changing hands behind the scenes and Apple has deep pockets. We have no idea, except the knowledge that very few tech-millenials have stood up for principles.
Untrue. They virtuously stand for any principle they can impose on others.
If I wasn't so lazy, I'd log on to both my wife's and daughter's laptop and like this comment two more times.
Looking forward to the Android app.
Substack has needed a dedicated app -- that's great.
I've been pushing so many people to TK News that they're probably under the impression that I'm on your "street marketing team."
So what I'm saying is: Matt, pay me.
🤣😜🤩🙄🤔💥
I just downloaded it. You are my only current subscription. "Full name", "Link your Twitter Account", "These subscriptions appear in your public profile". I was able to override all of them, but the feeling of my privacy being usurped was the same as most every other app.
I'm skeptical about the app, and apps in general. Does Google control whether the app gets published? Does the app use Google Services, which gathers information about you and stores it in Google's databases? Is the app open sourced so that everyone can see what it's doing, and everyone can use this source code to build the app themselves?
I prefer to use a non-big-tech secure email service that costs $4 a month. Isn't that worth some privacy? I also use a non-big-tech privacy-oriented web browser which is absolutely free. And I use a non-logging VPN to keep people from snooping through my Wi-Fi network and my ISP.
Apps provided by Google are notorious for being nosey tattle tales.
Check out ProtonMail. Swiss-based encrypted email, along with VPN & hardened cloud storage options. Email accts are free to start, with reasonable pricing for premium bundles.
I use protonmail, brave browser, duck duck go, a vpn, linux and any other non FANG service I can find. But it's getting harder to use these as the hardware side is being captured by these big software companies.
Note that DuckDuckGo today started censoring/deprecating articles on "Russia"...following down the commode of Google and others, sadly. This is the first step down a demonstrably slippery slope. DuckDuckGo users are bailing as fast as they can.
The only honest search engine I know out there is metager.org. Keep your fingers crossed that it stays that way.
I use all that as well. However, the VPN can cause some issues. With NORD VPN, I cannot access MS Outlook mail on the iphone unless I choose a U.S. server. I prefer servers in non 5, 9 and 14 Eyes participating countries. Guess it's OK, but I do not trust the U.S. Govt. Not sure VPN is even safe in the U.S.
The app is great, but I can’t help but feel it’s a step away from Substack’s mission. They’re now at the whim of a third-party; Apple.
As an app drives revenue & growth for a platform, does it not increase the power of those who govern such apps?
Very true. Apple & Google can do what they want when they want.
I downloaded the app but when I went to the e-mail link it wouldn't open. Anyone else have this problem? I have an iPhone so it should work.
Sounds interesting. And two cheers for the Substack model.
But like other Android users, I'm wondering why developers will ignore 75% of the smart phone market in order to deliver to 25% (iOS) first.
I know Android's not the single-company-managed monolith that iOS is - but still they could target Samsung and Google devices as a start.
It comes out for ios first...the preferred platform for the rich. We plebs on Android will have to wait.
Normally Android gets an app up within days and Apple 2-3 weeks. Not sure why Android isn't up yet. But I'd like to echo the concerns that both Android and Apple have a history of censorship and killing apps that support free speech, so Hamish and Chris aren't 'selling out' the unique, and incredibly valuable, attribute of being a place for free speech for actual journalists. And I know I use the term 'journalist' loosely when I see that Robert Reich is on Substack.
You are correct, the monetization for IOS apps blows Android out of the water, in spite of more folks owning Android devices. That’s generally been the reason for IOS first, although many app devs nowadays will build both OS’s simultaneously (although that costs more $$$)
Thanks Matt! Another add to my addiction list!
Yes, I'm triggered by IOS, but not Android! And when it does come to Android, I hope it's not like every other "app" on my phone which has less ability to adjust text size than the web browser. I find that extremely annoying, and thus I really don't do apps period. I would also echo the calls below for at least the most basic of Substack package deals. How much would it cost me to get an "all access" Substack subscription? Almost no matter what, I would pay it.
That Goddamned Taibbi withholding news from me...no, wait...
Thank you for sharing. Had you not, I would have assumed that Substack still didn't have an iOS app.
Thank you!
Great news!
A hot mobile app is Substack's valuation. Can't think of another purpose for it. I wonder what steak Matt has in advertising it so fulsomely.