Kara Swisher, a renowned podcaster and tech journalist, discusses the future of media in 2025. She candidly shares her experiences with monetizing podcasts and the necessity for journalists to build personal brands outside traditional media. Swisher offers intriguing insights into her plans for acquiring The Washington Post and reflects on Rupert Murdoch's role in modern media. The conversation also touches on the challenges of transitioning to entrepreneurship in journalism and the impact of AI on marketing agencies.
Kara Swisher's transition from traditional journalism to personal branding exemplifies a significant shift in how media professionals can achieve success today.
Swisher highlights the importance of understanding the financial aspects of media, emphasizing the necessity of negotiating lucrative contracts for sustainable income.
The podcast discusses the evolving landscape of media, where traditional companies struggle to innovate amidst the rising significance of digital platforms and content convergence.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Kara Swisher's Career
Kara Swisher's journey highlights the shift from traditional journalism to the contemporary digital landscape, where many journalists are becoming brand-centric influences. She began her career writing for established institutions like the Wall Street Journal and New York Times but later found more value in establishing her own brand. This transformation reflects a broader trend where journalists now seek autonomy and establish their presence beyond traditional media outlets. Swisher's success illustrates the potential for journalists to leverage their unique voices and experiences to build personal brands in an evolving media environment.
Monetizing the Podcasting Landscape
Swisher discusses the financial aspects of podcasting, revealing that she has negotiated lucrative contracts, with earnings potentially reaching eight figures. Her deals often include a combination of guaranteed salary and performance-based incentives, thus aligning her interests with those of her production partners. This financial transparency is not common among journalists, yet Swisher emphasizes the importance of understanding the business side of media. By embracing her worth and negotiating effectively, she has crafted a successful model that many aspiring media professionals can learn from.
The Changing Media Landscape
The conversation shifts to the ongoing evolution in media, particularly the convergence of traditional and digital platforms. Swisher notes that traditional media companies often struggle to innovate while adapting to changes driven by technology and audience preferences. The potential for content to transition between formats, such as podcasting and video, points to a larger trend of blurring lines between different types of media. As this transformation occurs, there’s a growing need for media professionals to recognize and adapt to these shifts to remain relevant.
The Importance of Ownership in Media
Ownership of intellectual property is underscored as a vital aspect of media success. Swisher stresses the significance of retaining control over creative content to maximize potential earnings and maintain creative freedom. She reflects on her experience in creating content for large institutions, which often ended up owning the material, prompting her to push for ownership in her current endeavors. By owning her own brand and content, she ensures flexibility and adaptability in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Challenges for Aspiring Journalists
Swisher candidly addresses the difficulties faced by many aspiring journalists who wish to replicate her success. She acknowledges that not everyone has the same entrepreneurial drive or skill set to thrive outside traditional media environments. Providing mentorship to emerging talents, she encourages those with potential to pursue independent ventures, yet also recognizes that this path is not for everyone. The conversation emphasizes that while there are opportunities, the demanding nature of entrepreneurship requires passion and commitment beyond conventional reporting.
Kara Swisher has been a reporter, an editor, a founder, and is now one of the most successful podcasters in the world. This week, Ben and Max bring on the host of On with Kara Swisher and co-host of the popular tech podcast Pivot to talk about the business of media in 2025. She talks unabashedly about her own income, and whether other journalists can and should break out of big media companies to build brands like hers. She’s also got unexpectedly kind words for how Rupert Murdoch – “Uncle Satan” as she calls him – is handling the current media moment, and an update on her bid to buy The Washington Post.