The Changing Relationship Between Publications and Their Audiences

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The internet initially expanded the audience reach for local publications, allowing stories to garner millions of views. However, the reliance on social networks and search engines shifted traffic away from publication homepages, eroding the direct relationship between publishers and their audiences. This shift led to publishers having a stream of transient users instead of a dedicated audience. The rise of publishers like Buzzfeed, with massive page views, was followed by a downturn when tech platforms deprioritized news, impacting the entire news ecosystem.

Layoffs are hitting newsrooms and publishers again, as tech platforms, ad markets and artificial intelligence reshape the internet. Kevin Roose and Casey Newton have ideas for solutions. Then, one of the most influential investors in crypto companies lays out where the industry went wrong, and why he still thinks blockchains are the future. And finally, a round of HatGPT with the week’s tech headlines, including a spicy LinkedIn post and an A.I. test that disturbs Kevin and Casey’s sense of reality.

Today’s guest:

Chris Dixon, partner at Andreessen Horowitz

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