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S2 | E1 — Hamish McKenzie (Co-founder and Chief Writing Officer at Substack), on the Future of Media, Navigating the Culture Wars, and Empowering Creators.
Jul 4, 2024
Hamish McKenzie, co-founder and Chief Writing Officer at Substack, discusses his journey from New Zealand to leading a transformative platform for writers and creators. He delves into Substack's role in reshaping media, tackling culture wars, and enhancing direct reader support. McKenzie shares insights on the challenges of content moderation and the influence of AI in content creation. He also reflects on his time at Tesla, revealing lessons learned while working with Elon Musk that inform his vision for empowering independent creators.
38:36
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Quick takeaways
- Substack has evolved into a comprehensive platform facilitating direct relationships between creators and audiences, promoting monetization through subscriptions.
- Hamish McKenzie highlights the importance of accountability in publishing and the necessity to foster open discourse amidst polarized cultural debates.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Substack
Substack has transformed from a platform initially focused on writers and paid newsletters into a comprehensive publishing tool for various creators, including podcasters and video producers. It aims to serve as a new economic engine for culture, providing a sustainable business model that emphasizes direct relationships between writers and their audiences. By allowing creators to monetize their work through subscriptions, Substack supports both established authors and emerging voices, effectively democratizing the creation of quality content. This model enables creators to retain ownership of their audience and content, thus fostering a more independent media ecosystem.
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