Cortex 171: Casey Newton – State of the Workflow
63 snips
Sep 15, 2025 
Casey Newton, the insightful writer behind the Platformer newsletter, shares his journey navigating the complex world of tech journalism. He discusses his unique workflow for writing and publishing, from idea capture to maintaining journalistic integrity while interacting with industry power players. Stephen Hackett adds a heartfelt touch, reflecting on his family's experiences with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, emphasizing the importance of community support. Together, they explore the evolving landscape of content creation, digital tools, and the significant impact of personalized storytelling.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Use A First-Draft Roadmap
- Begin writing with a rough first draft to defeat the blank page and make editing easier.
- Outline the beats (past event, new development, quote, analysis) to write a 1.5–2 hour column reliably.
Overflowing Tips During Twitter Upheaval
- When Elon Musk gutted Twitter's workforce, Casey's inbox flooded with tips he could not keep up with.
- He remembers that period as a golden era of reporting with abundant, fast-breaking sources.
Daily Notes Beat Grand PKM For Writing
- Time-based daily notes clear Casey's mind and create a modest time-capsule advantage.
- Deep, heavily linked personal PKMs felt less useful than simple search and outlines for him.