

315: Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium, On Human Curation, Subscription-Driven Quality, and Fixing the Internet
20 snips Dec 23, 2024
Tony Stubblebine, CEO of Medium and former founder of Coach.me, discusses the importance of human curation in the digital age. He explains how Medium revamped its recommendation system to prioritize thoughtful content over algorithms. The conversation explores the transition to a subscription-based model, highlighting its role in enhancing content quality. Stubblebine also critiques the ad-driven internet, arguing for a shift towards value-driven practices, and emphasizes the need for human wisdom in crafting impactful narratives.
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Value of Amateur Writing
- Amateur writing is valuable because it comes from lived experience, not just polished words.
- This is especially true in niche areas where professionals may lack firsthand knowledge.
Medium vs. Social Media
- Social media's short-form content provides fragmented thoughts, unlike Medium's in-depth approach.
- Medium prioritizes fully formed ideas and encourages thoughtful discussions.
Business Models and Content Quality
- Ad-driven models incentivize attention-grabbing content, not necessarily quality.
- Medium's subscription model allows them to prioritize reader satisfaction over ad revenue.