60 Comments
User's avatar
Helen Rietz's avatar

BRavo. Sounds like Racket News is aspiring to become what The Free Press once tried to be.

Michael Kelly's avatar

This is just the natural progression of successful newsletters. They either shrink, stay level, or grow into a full blown news site.

Don Reed's avatar

01/13/26: I hereby do not volunteer.

Rather Curmudgeonly's avatar

Who knew that honest journalism would be a growing industry?

Ann Robinson's avatar

Maybe more people are figuring out that honest journalism is necessary to a sane public life.

Nathan Woodard's avatar

Right?!? As Brett Weinstein often says...zero is a very special number. If journalism is destined to be restored in the mainstream sense, then....let there be growth!

Nathan Woodard's avatar

Let me know if there is any demand for washed-up ex-physicists!! :):) Think Doc Brown, or an aging Buckaroo Banzai. :) :)

But seriously, folks: I’m glad you’re building on your property. The stakeholders behind legacy media aren’t stupid — they know their old assets are irrelevant. So they are starting to do what conglomerates always do as they finally wake up: buying their way back to relevance. In this case by acquiring the most valuable new-media properties.

The cynics will howl, and teeth will be gnashed. But if journalism is going to be restored in the West, this is the only visible path.

Carry on, boys. Carry on.

Meanwhile… can anybody tell me where to find 1.21 gigawatts so I can get the fuck out of here?!?

Kevin's avatar

“John Big Booty” has been found! “No matter where you go, there you are!”

Nathan Woodard's avatar

love that movie. :) :) :)

Libertarian Overwatch's avatar

I just started my independent writing journey with deep dives on regime changes starting in 1997! Glad to see Racket giving voice to new journalists!

PattiCosh's avatar

Why is The south still so overlooked by so many! We are not a monolithic region!

Ann Robinson's avatar

But we are the most complicated.

norica's avatar

Wish I had the desirable skills to take advantage. Good luck to all who apply!!

Thunderlips's avatar

Timely message. I was just thinking how it's nice to have the ATW pods to bookmark the week but Matt really needs to get back out on the road. Good luck finding qualified candidates and building the brand. I really enjoy the Saltzman contributions.

Brian williamson's avatar

Would there be any interest in local residents sponsoring a racket reporter for their specific home towns and or states ?

Mattykelly's avatar

I can make things up.

Don Reed's avatar

01/13/26: Then you have come to the wrong door. However, the New York Times is right down the street (not the wonderful ex-Times building closer to Times Square that Pinch typically fumbled away, losing millions of dollars--- HORRAY FOR NEPOTISM!). Tell them that Jason Blair sent you.

Carlos Marighella's avatar

Good luck with taking on new staffers, Matt. I hope you find some real talent to make Racket even better.

Full disclosure: I briefly worked as a reporter from 1994 to 1996. I worked for a couple of small town papers in Ohio and North Carolina. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for reasons I won't go into, so I changed careers. That turned out to be just as well, because newspapers are a dying industry anyway, and I should know, because my local paper is going to shut down this May.

I would love to work for Racket, but I just don't have the background you're looking for, and I'm so rusty at this point that you would have to mentor me just like a kid out of college, and I don't want to put you through that.

RAO's avatar

How exciting! Wish my sons (both English/Communications majors) were finished with college. I'd urge them to apply! So glad Racket is growing, Matt!

CynthiaS's avatar

Why wait?! They should go for it. Maybe there’s room for interns!

RAO's avatar

There's a thought!

ERIN REESE's avatar

Totally left field but I'll share that I'm available for intuitive insight consulting for any internal staff or field members of Racket.

Ann Robinson's avatar

Me too. Sliding rates.

Tom Steadman's avatar

I'd love to work with youse guys....but I don't know how you are able to do what you do and do it so well! Happy to see growth in the New Media.

A Reader's avatar

Cool. I'll always pay for factual reporting.

steven t koenig's avatar

Just like the good old days of classified ads in the newspaper. No trees were harmed with this post.

Gary Ogden's avatar

I write well (at least that's what my mommy says), but am totally telephone-averse, so that lets me out. Thanks for the offer, anyway!